For 50 years, Boys Town’s Family Home Program has provided stability, guidance and hope to children in need. But what makes this model of care so effective? The answer lies in Boys Town’s unwavering commitment to research and evidence-based care.
From the start, research played a critical role in shaping and sustaining the Family Home Program, ensuring it remained relevant and effective even as society and the needs of children evolved.
A Research-Backed Transformation
The Family Home Program didn’t happen by chance. In the early 1970s, Boys Town was introduced to the Teaching-Family Model, a structured yet nurturing approach rooted in behavioral science. This model emphasized positive reinforcement, skill development and individualized care—all core values of Father Flanagan’s original mission.
Recognizing the potential of this evidence-based method, Boys Town made a bold decision: it restructured its entire residential program around the Teaching-Family Model. This wasn’t just a change in living arrangements—it was a philosophical shift. Boys Town committed to using scientific research to inform every aspect of care, setting a precedent for data-driven decision-making in child welfare.
Guided by Research, Adapting for the Future
One of the Family Home Program’s most remarkable strengths is its ability to evolve. While the fundamental principles remain unchanged, Boys Town has consistently adapted the program based on the latest research, ensuring it meets the ever-changing needs of children and families.
Over the past five decades, societal shifts—ranging from the rise in childhood trauma to advances in mental health care—have required continuous innovation. Boys Town has embraced translational research, applying scientific findings directly to its care model. Studies on behavioral health, trauma recovery, social skills training and family dynamics have shaped training for Family-Teachers and guided interventions for children.
This commitment to research has allowed the Family Home Program to remain at the forefront of child welfare, producing strong, positive outcomes for children regardless of the era in which they enter the program.
A Model of Innovation and Impact
Boys Town’s dedication to research-driven care has done more than sustain the Family Home Program—it has influenced child welfare practices nationwide. The program’s success proves that when care is informed by science, it remains effective across generations.
This commitment to research extends beyond Boys Town’s residential programs. Today, the same principles that made the Family Home Program a success are shaping new approaches to care, including in-home family support, mental health services and school-based interventions. These efforts continue to help children and families thrive, reinforcing the idea that research is not just a tool for innovation—it’s a lifeline for those in need.
From Research to Real Life: A Story of Resilience and Hope Research continues to shape how we care for children—but behind every data point is a real-life story of transformation. Moniece’s journey is one of those stories.
Her path through trauma to triumph is a powerful reminder that research isn’t just theory—it’s the foundation for healing, growth and second chances. At Boys Town, the Family Home Program gave Moniece not only a safe place to live but a chance to be seen, heard and understood. That care, rooted in evidence and delivered with heart, helped her rewrite her future.
As Boys Town continues expanding its research efforts, the Family Home Program stands as a living example of how data-driven decisions transform lives. But its impact doesn’t stop there. In our final blog, we’ll explore how insights from the Family Home Program are now shaping preventative care—helping families before crisis strikes.
