Boys Town Pennsylvania

In our mission to change the way America cares for her children and families, Boys Town Pennsylvania provides a continuum of care that strengthens them in mind, body and spirit.  Our integrated continuum of family services includes these programs at Boys Town Pennsylvania:

Boys Town offers an integrated continuum of services that provides children and families with the right care in the right service at the right time. This system is linked in philosophy and in the methods used. To support this integrated continuum, certain fundamental principles, values, and services must cut across all levels of these services and programs. Some of the more important include:  Spirituality/Religious Helping children and families build a strong spiritual and religious foundation is an important part of Boys Town’s mission. Positive character traits like respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship provide the framework for a child’s value education. Medical Care Boys Town owns and operates the Boys Town National Research Hospital, which provides clinical and surgical services to patients from Boys Town’s own programs and for children and families across the country. Education Services Education is integral to providing effective treatment for children. In many of the Boys Town residential programs, specialized educational services are embedded within the programs. Care Coordination Boys Town attempts to provide the right services to children and families at the right time and in the right program. Boys Town’s Care Coordination programs provide intensive case management services for children in a variety of settings or levels of care.

Assessment and Short-Term Residential program is a short-term residential program providing assessment, crisis stabilization, and emergency care in a caring and nurturing environment for girls and boys who are typically ages 10 to 18.  Many youth who are served through this program are abused, neglected, runaway youth, or have been in trouble due to criminal or delinquent activities.  Referrals come from a variety of sources, including state agencies, juvenile courts, and private sources.  This program provides mediation and counseling to strengthen families and emphasizes family reunification, if it is in the best interest of the youth.  During their stay, youth participate in individual treatment planning to help them deal with their problems.  Facilities where the program is offered may be described as staff-secure detention centers, emergency shelters, or short-term residential centers.

Aftercare Services are designed to maintain and improve the treatment gains youth made in Boys Town services after youth have left the programs.  Aftercare staff work with children who have completed other Boys Town services and help them make smooth transitions back to their families or other environments.  Aftercare interventions enable children from a variety of programs to find and maintain success at home, in school, and in their community.  For older youth who are continuing their education or entering the work force, staff members provide ongoing support and reinforcement of social and independent-living skills that will help them achieve success.

Boys Town National Hotline (800.448.3000) was established in 1989 and receives more than 400,000 calls every year.  Trained, professional counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Callers’ problems range from relationship and parental discipline issues to depression and suicide.  In crisis situations, counselors assist callers and provide community resources and emergency intervention.  The Hotline provides referrals to agencies throughout the United States and responds to anyone in need of assistance, with a special focus on children and families.  Anyone in a crisis situation, especially children and families, can call 800.448.3000 for help anytime.