Boys Town Pennsylvania

Family Support Consultant Jumps in with Both Feet

Nashia Foreman doesn’t hesitate when she sees a need for her families. Whether she’s getting space heaters, warm clothes from Goodwill or finding a donor to help, the Boys Town Pennsylvania Family Support Consultant jumps at opportunities to steer families toward success.

“Nashia wanted to work with families in their homes,” said Salma Choudhury, site director at Boys Town Pennsylvania. “She felt that family work was critical to making kids successful, and Nashia is who we were looking for when we to reintroduced with our Family Based Consultant program.”

“The kids just seemed to take to me,” said Foreman, worked part-time as a child advocate while attending Pennsylvania University. “I did well with them and found my niche in life.”

Following graduation, Foreman worked as a court liaison, for the Pennsylvania Youth Advocacy Program and for United Cerebral Palsy as a social work advocate before coming to Boys Town Pennsylvania.

Timothy Cleary (left) and his brother, Kevin, deliver the donations.

In November, Foreman’s first family, a grandmother and her 6 granddaughters ages 13-17, lived in a house provided by public housing that, unfortunately, had no heat. The family was awaiting a housing transfer, but was cold in the meantime. Foreman and Joe Morano, maintenance specialist, delivered a space heater to the family. That weekend, Foreman went the extra mile and brought them warm clothing from Goodwill.

To add to the family’s excitement, a donor had contacted Boys Town Pennsylvania looking to adopt a family for the holidays. Foreman suggested the family, and Timothy Cleary provided the family with additional warm clothing and games for the kids.

“They were all so thankful for Mr. Cleary’s generosity,” said Foreman. “He personally delivered the gifts, and that meant a lot to the family.”

Two days before Christmas, Foreman met a second family in the same situation. The family, a mother and her two children, lives in a home with poor insulation and because of the inability to pay their high heating bills, their heat was turned off. Foreman and Barbara Youyoute, shift supervisor at Boys Town Pennsylvania, delivered space heaters to the family.

Besides working directly with families, Foreman also works with probation officers, court liaisons and judges on referrals to Boys Town Pennsylvania’s services. She is currently serving seven youth and their families.

“She’s really jumped in with both feet,” said Choudhury. “We knew we picked the right person for the job when we hired her. She’s had the drive to get the program back up and running.”

“Boys Town really cares about these kids and that’s what’s important,” said Foreman. “Like any new job, you go through a transition phase, getting acquainted with how things work. The people I’ve worked with have provided me with great support and encouragement. I’m looking forward to keeping the program alive and working with the youth and their families.”