​​​This article is written by Robert Pore. It was posted August 11, 2016 on theindependent.com.

An open house took place on Thursday at Boys Town Grand Island to welcome the new director of Central Nebraska operations, Megan Andrews.

Andrews holds a master of science in youth and family services from Bellevue University. She began her career with Boys Town as a youth care worker in Grand Island in 2007 and was promoted to Intervention and Assessment Services Supervisor in 2009.

“I am eager to continue to help Central Nebraska families and children gain access to our important programs and fulfill this need in our community,” Andrews said.

Andrews launched the In-Home Family Services program in 2013. Under her direction, it grew from two staff members to 15 with offices across Central Nebraska.

As director of Central Nebraska operations, Andrews will oversee programs and offices in Grand Island, Kearney, Columbus, Duncan and North Platte. She takes over from Dave Reed, who held the position for nearly 20 years and will now serve as Senior Director for Family Services for Nebraska/Iowa.

“This promotion will allow me the opportunity to help Boys Town take care of more children and families over a wider area,” Reed said.

Reed said he will still work in the Central Nebraska area.

“What I will remember the most is that there is always something new going on here every day, so you never know what is going to happen here,” he said. “We had a lot of successes here and have been able to help a lot of children and families.”

When he started at the Boys Town facility in Grand Island, it provided mostly residential care. Now, Reed said, more than 75 percent of the children are served in their home or the community.

Last year, they served 821 children in Central Nebraska, Reed said.

Andrews said becoming the new director of Central Nebraska operations is an exciting opportunity.

“We want to be able to serve more youth and families here in Central Nebraska,” Andrews said. “We want to continue our efforts to keep kids in their homes and keep them safe and help them succeed.”

Andrews said Boys Town needs more foster parents.

For more information about becoming Boys Town foster parents, contact Shawna Hammond at (308) 381-4444 or shawna.hammond@boystown.org.