| 30 years of success at Boys Town Nevada | https://www.boystown.org/locations/nevada/news-and-events/Pages/30-years-of-success-at-Boys-Town-Nevada.aspx | 30 years of success at Boys Town Nevada | <p>On September 30, Boys Town Nevada paid tribute to its past, honored its present and celebrated its future with a special anniversary gala marking thirty remarkable years of helping children and families throughout southern Nevada.<br></p><p>Hundreds of longtime supporters, donors and friends gathered at the iconic Keep Memory Alive Event Center in downtown Las Vegas for an unforgettable evening of reflection and celebration. Among the many memorable highlights, there was: </p><ul><li>A salute to nine special honorees - Norm Jenkins, Judge Charles McGee, Tom Waite, Winnie Schulman, Kevin Buckley, Reed Harris, Sarah Popek, Punam Mathur and Marilyn Kirkpatrick - whose advocacy on behalf of children and families has made a profound and positive difference in Las Vegas and beyond.</li><li>An energetic musical performance by “The Ultimate Showman" Earl Turner.</li><li>A heartfelt message from Boys Town President and National Executive Director Father Steven Boes. </li><li>A surprise honor for the evening's emcee, Dave Courvoisier, who received the Voice of Boys Town Award in recognition of his longtime friendship and support.</li><li>A tribute to Boys Town alum Terry Weggeland, whose son Steve announced a generous gift to Boys Town Nevada in honor of his father. </li><li>An exciting auction featuring an array of amazing items, including a custom framed electric guitar signed by Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards of the rock band the Rolling Stones. </li></ul><div style="text-align:center;">
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</div><p>The love, energy and enthusiasm from everyone in attendance helped raise more than $200,000. This generosity will ensure Boys Town's life-changing programs and services can continue to grow and expand to meet the needs of our community.<br></p><p>Boys Town Nevada extends a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone whose contributions over the past 30 years made this celebration possible and whose dedication to the mission of saving children and healing families will be an inspiration for years to come!</p><p>Check out all the moments we
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=BoysTownNevada&set=a.10158765069226997" target="_blank">captured throughout the evening</a>!<br></p>
<p></p> | 2021-10-14T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="" src="/locations/nevada/news-and-events/PublishingImages/Boys-Town-Nevada-30th-sml-bnr.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />
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| Boys Town South Florida Employee Leads Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts | https://www.boystown.org/locations/south-florida/news-and-events/Pages/BT-South-Florida-Employee-Leads-Diversity-Equity-and-Inclusion-Efforts.aspx | Boys Town South Florida Employee Leads Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts |
<p>In 2001, Khalilah Eubanks got her first job in social
services at the Department of Children and Families and was so excited for the
opportunity to make a difference! She recruited her mom to work with her so
they could “save the world one child at a time.”</p><div><p></p></div>
<p>In 2006, Khalilah came across a job posting with Boys Town South
Florida and was hired as a Care Coordination Consultant. Khalilah said, “It’s
been a match made in heaven ever since.”</p><div><p></p></div>
<p>During her time at Boys Town, Khalilah has grown in her
roles and responsibilities, more recently taking on co-chair leadership of the
site’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. </p><div><p></p></div>
<p>Throughout her career, Khalilah has had a special place in
her heart for supporting and empowering the children and families she works
with, especially those that are from marginalized communities. She has a strong
passion for empowering her colleagues and takes pride in being an encouragement
for her coworkers. </p><div><p></p></div>
<p>When Boys Town placed a renewed focus on DEI efforts, Boys
Town South Florida leadership had a vision to implement a DEI committee to help
the site process many of the current events and implement practices of DEI at a
site level. </p><div><p></p></div>
<p>The DEI committee works to implement local efforts to create
a more inclusive and supportive culture at Boys Town South Florida. They have
put together a training series for the site’s all-staff meetings that have
covered topics such as racism in Palm Beach County, gentrification,
micro-aggressions, and implicit bias, and how these topics apply to the
workplace. The committee is also reviewing hiring trends and participating in
the overall Quality Management Council to make recommendations for the site. </p><div><p></p></div>
<p>Khalilah joined the committee and brought valuable insights with
her knowledge of history and her natural wisdom. She believes that creating a
culture where all staff can bring their authentic selves to work will
strengthen the ability to work towards Father Flanagan’s mission of bringing
help, healing, and hope to the community. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
| 2021-10-04T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Boys Town - Khalilah" src="/locations/south-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/KE.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Boys Town in the News: Hurricane Ida Evacuation | https://www.boystown.org/locations/louisiana/news-and-events/Pages/Boys-Town-in-the-News-Hurricane-Ida-Evacuation.aspx | Boys Town in the News: Hurricane Ida Evacuation | <p>On September 4th, youth from Boys Town Louisiana arrived at Boys Town Nebraska to continue their care away from the destruction left by Hurricane Ida. Read and watch how Hurricane Ida has brought these two communities together.<br></p><p style="text-align:center;">
<strong>Nebraska and New Orleans connect over hurricane (WOWT)</strong><br>
<em class="ms-rteFontSize-2">This article was written by Brent Weber. It was posted on
<a href="https://www.wowt.com/2021/09/18/nebraska-louisiana-connect-over-hurricane-again/" target="_blank">wowt.com</a> on September 17, 2021.</em><br><a href="https://www.wowt.com/2021/09/18/nebraska-louisiana-connect-over-hurricane-again/" target="_blank">
<img src="/locations/louisiana/news-and-events/PublishingImages/la-hurricane-evac-wowt.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /></a>
<br></p><p style="text-align:center;">
<strong>‘It really has impacted them’: 24 Boys Town kids displaced due to Hurricane Ida (KETV)</strong><br><span class="ms-rteFontSize-2">
<em>This article was written published by and posted on
<a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/it-really-has-impacted-them-24-boys-town-kids-displaced-due-to-hurricane-ida/37683078" target="_blank">ketv.com</a> on September 21, 2021.</em><br></span></p><p style="text-align:center;">
<a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/it-really-has-impacted-them-24-boys-town-kids-displaced-due-to-hurricane-ida/37683078" target="_blank">
<img src="/locations/louisiana/news-and-events/PublishingImages/la-hurricane-evac-ketv.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /></a><br></p> | 2021-09-24T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="" src="/locations/louisiana/news-and-events/PublishingImages/la-hurricane-evac-sml-bnr.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Boys Town in the News: Hurricane Ida Evacuation | https://www.boystown.org/locations/nebraska/news-and-events/Pages/Boys-Town-in-the-News-Hurricane-Ida-Evacuation.aspx | Boys Town in the News: Hurricane Ida Evacuation | <p>On September 4th, youth from Boys Town Louisiana arrived at Boys Town Nebraska to continue their care away from the destruction left by Hurricane Ida. Read and watch how Hurricane Ida has brought these two communities together.<br></p><p style="text-align:center;">
<strong>Nebraska and New Orleans connect over hurricane (WOWT)</strong><br><em class="ms-rteFontSize-2">This article was written by Brent Weber. It was posted on
<a href="https://www.wowt.com/2021/09/18/nebraska-louisiana-connect-over-hurricane-again/" target="_blank">wowt.com</a> on September 17, 2021.</em><br><a href="https://www.wowt.com/2021/09/18/nebraska-louisiana-connect-over-hurricane-again/" target="_blank"><img src="/locations/louisiana/news-and-events/PublishingImages/la-hurricane-evac-wowt.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /></a><br></p><p style="text-align:center;">
<strong>‘It really has impacted them’: 24 Boys Town kids displaced due to Hurricane Ida (KETV)</strong><br><span class="ms-rteFontSize-2"><em>This article was written published by and posted on
<a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/it-really-has-impacted-them-24-boys-town-kids-displaced-due-to-hurricane-ida/37683078" target="_blank">ketv.com</a> on September 21, 2021.</em><br></span></p><p style="text-align:center;">
<a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/it-really-has-impacted-them-24-boys-town-kids-displaced-due-to-hurricane-ida/37683078" target="_blank"><img src="/locations/louisiana/news-and-events/PublishingImages/la-hurricane-evac-ketv.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /></a><br></p> | 2021-09-24T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="" src="/locations/louisiana/news-and-events/PublishingImages/la-hurricane-evac-sml-bnr.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Boys Town North Florida Receives 1st FFPSA Certification in Northwest Florida Region | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Boys-Town-North-Florida-Receives-1st-FFPSA-Certification-in-Northwest-Florida-Region.aspx | Boys Town North Florida Receives 1st FFPSA Certification in Northwest Florida Region | <p>Back in July, Boys Town North Florida celebrated being named the first Child Caring Agency in the Northwest Florida region to transition their five Family Homes to fit the new Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) legislation. </p><p>Having anticipated this transition for more than a year, Boys Town North Florida is fully prepared for the FFPSA implementation date of October 1, 2021. Boys Town's history of providing quality services and giving priority to youth safety and well-being has made this transition easier. </p><p>The service, delivery, mission, and Boys Town model will not be changing. Boys Town North Florida will continue providing hope and healing to families and children just as they have done since opening their doors in 1983. </p><p>Boys Town North Florida would like to extend their gratitude to the National Boys Town office for their support in adjusting the policies and procedures to further align with FFPSA. They would also like to thank their local Department of Children and Families Licensing Liaison for their continued support through this transition. </p> | 2021-09-22T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/ffpsa-certification.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />
<img alt="First FFPSA Certification" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/ffpsa-certification.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Alize’s Adoption Story | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Alize-Adoption-Story.aspx | Alize’s Adoption Story | <p>In 2019, when Alize came to Boys Town North Florida, she had experienced past trauma and recently lost her grandmother, who was her caregiver at the time. She was placed in a Family Home where she established a bond with her Assistant Family Teacher, Shamara Folks. Alize stated, “I knew she would be my mom.” </p><p>Although she had no children of her own, Shamara instantly connected with Alize and said they had a lot of similarities. In 2020, Alize transitioned into Shamara's home around Christmas. Boys Town North Florida staff, including Care Coordinator Services Consultant Stefanie Jones, continued to advocate for Alize's best interest and provided formal support for Shamara.</p><p>On June 2, Alize received one of her best birthday gifts and was officially adopted, becoming Alize Folks. The adoption took place virtually and there was no dry eye on screen.</p><p>“I believe Alize is an exceptional young lady and a true example of triumph,” said Stefanie. “Through this entire process she maintained all A's. She also completed two summer classes, Chemistry and Geometry, which she took to help lighten her load for senior year.”</p><p>Alize is looking forward to her senior year and has plans to attend either Florida A&M or Florida State University after high school.<br></p> | 2021-09-21T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/Alizes-Adoptions.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Thank You for Choosing Us! | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Thank-You-for-Choosing-Us.aspx | Thank You for Choosing Us! | <p style="text-align:center;">
<strong>We are thrilled to be chosen as the winner in the 2021 Non-Profit category!</strong></p><p>We are humbled and grateful to all of you who voted for us, and for the continued support you give us in our mission of saving children and healing families.<br></p><p>Congratulations to all of the 2021 Best of the Best <a href="https://tallahassee.secondstreetapp.com/2021-Tallahassee-Democrat-Readers-Choice-Winners/" target="_blank">Winners</a>!</p> | 2021-09-20T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/Tallahassee_Logo_Winner-sml-bnr.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Kyle’s Mile 7 – Annual Suicide and Bullying Prevention Ride in Cedar Rapids, IA | https://www.boystown.org/locations/nebraska/news-and-events/Pages/Kyles-Mile-7-Annual-Suicide-and-Bullying-Prevention-Ride-in-Cedar-Rapids-IA.aspx | Kyle’s Mile 7 – Annual Suicide and Bullying Prevention Ride in Cedar Rapids, IA | <p>On Saturday, August 21, Kyle's Mile 7 took place in Cedar Rapids, IA after being cancelled last year due to the pandemic. Spearheaded by Kyle's father, Byron Cooper, Kyle's Mile is an annual suicide awareness and prevention ride where all monies raised goes to the Boys Town National Hotline. Byron lost his son Kyle to suicide 8 years ago. In Nebraska and Iowa alone, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for children ages 15-19.</p><p><strong>On the day of the ride…</strong></p><p>Starting right at 10:45 am, kickstands were up, and the riders left the Metro Harley Davidson Suzuki Can-Am Motorcycle Dealership and headed to their destination at North Point Saloon, almost 100 miles from the start. The ride had two stops along the way with roughly 300 riders, including bikes and a handful of cars. To add an element of entertainment, there was a silent and live auction, raffle, food, and drinks. In honor of Kyle, specialty shirts are made every year and sold to raise funds for the event. As the ride continues to gain attraction, donations are also made by local companies to go towards the endowment Byron started for this ride. Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids matches dollar for dollar up to $25,000. The latest addition to the donor list is University of Perdue Online, which donated $2,500 this year.</p><p>From the words of Byron himself, "Suicide, depression, and bullying are all taboo topics, and we want to talk about them. Never underestimate the power of a kind word or gesture...it may be exactly what was needed to pull someone out of a dark place."</p><p>Kyle's Mile 7 was a huge success, raising a total of $33,512 in donations! Unique to this year's ride, one of the bikers offered to cut his full beard and hair for a donation of $1,000. There is no question that the event is always memorable, bringing together family and friends to honor Kyle and to remember all of those that were lost to suicide.</p><p>Byron and his family would like to thank everyone who came to support the cause last Saturday. It was a huge success and Byron is grateful for that! "It's not because of me, it's about everyone that is there. The community support makes all the difference." </p><p><strong>If you are interested in supporting this event or would like to start your own bike ride to benefit Boys Town, please contact Stan Kontogiannis at 402-315-0156.<br></strong></p><p><img src="/locations/nebraska/news-and-events/PublishingImages/Kyles-Mile.jpg" alt="Kyle's Mile Participants" style="margin:5px;" /><br><strong></strong></p> | 2021-09-16T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Motorcycles from Kyles Ride" src="/locations/nebraska/news-and-events/PublishingImages/Kyles-Mile-thumb.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Behavioral Health Clinic Partners with Healthcare Initiative Foundation to Expand Services | https://www.boystown.org/locations/washington-dc/news-and-events/Pages/Behavioral-Health-Clinic-Partners-with-Healthcare-Initiative-Foundation-to-Expand-Services.aspx | Behavioral Health Clinic Partners with Healthcare Initiative Foundation to Expand Services | <p><em>Boys Town Washington DC is expanding its Behavioral Health Clinic into Montgomery County thanks to an ongoing partnership with the Healthcare Initiative Foundation (HIF), a funder who focuses on bringing equitable healthcare service to the county.</em></p><h3>The role of the licensed psychologists in Boys Town's Model is:<br></h3><ol><li><p><strong>EXPERT EDUCATOR:</strong> Provide expert knowledge to improve the psychological and behavioral health literacy of physicians and provide expert knowledge to improve the psychological and behavioral health literacy of parents of pediatric patients.</p></li><li><p><strong>EVALUATOR:</strong> Conduct behavioral and cognitive evaluations to help physicians detect overlooked disorders that require treatment.</p></li><li><p><strong>COORDINATOR:</strong> Coordinate care with physicians and the parents of pediatric patients to ensure that key influencers are aware of the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment plan, and their respective roles as co-interventionists.</p></li><li><p><strong>HEALER:</strong> Provide research-supported behavioral health interventions that address the cognitive and behavioral issues and skills needed to live a healthier life.</p></li></ol><p> Boys Town's Behavioral Health Clinic provides much-needed pediatric behavioral health services to Montgomery County, including recently assisting a 16-year-old girl who was referred to the program by her pediatrician.</p><p>The youth had a history of self-injurious behavior, substance abuse, problems in school, a learning disorder, depression, and anxiety. She had also been a victim of domestic abuse. </p><p>The nurse who first interacted with the girl during a routine annual wellness visit noticed she seemed dejected and withdrawn. The nurse relayed this to the physician who then asked the girl to complete a depression screener. Boys Town had previously informed the primary care office that if she scored above the cutoff, it would be a signal to make a referral to the Behavioral Health Clinic. The physician followed this advice and prompted their Clinical Care Coordinator to contact Boys Town to set up a visit. That same day, the youth and family members were contacted and services with Boys Town were set up. The girl was clear about wanting to improve her self-esteem, anger problems, and mood issues.</p><p>“I just want to feel better about myself," she said. “I feel like a screw up. I've let my family down. I've let myself down. I want to do better."</p><p>Thanks to the partnership between Boys Town and the Healthcare Initiative Foundation, the girl began<br>treatment immediately.</p><p>She received evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy with an emphasis placed on behavioral activation, value-centric decision making, and developing healthier social networks. Mindfulness practices were also stressed, along with increasing structure, increasing distress tolerance, strategies to improve sleep hygiene, emotional communication techniques, anger management, and other skills to improve relationships with family members.</p><p>There were a total of 13 sessions over six months and the results were impressive.</p><p>She cut approximately 50 percent of her anxiety symptoms and approximately 80 percent of her depression symptoms. She also reported improvement in her social relationships and was able to speak with her mother more cordially. She became more confident in her ability to manage her anger and improved her self-esteem for academics with strategies for attention span and reading comprehension.</p><p>There were also visual signs of improvement as she transformed her bare bedroom into a beautifully decorated artistic masterpiece. She cleaned the room daily without being told. </p><p>Along the way, the Boys Town licensed psychologists made bi-weekly phone calls to the pediatric practice to provide updates and offer recommendations. In addition, the psychologists wrote letters to the primary care physician summarizing the latest results of behavioral evaluations which helped enhance decision making regarding the appropriateness of considering psychotropic medication (i.e., antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, stimulants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers) to complement the behavioral health interventions. The youth and family were aware of this communication and expressed appreciation for putting so much time, energy, and effort into the care. This had a positive effect on the youth and family's engagement.</p><p>It truly was a success story for the partnership between Boys Town Washington DC and HIF.</p><p>“HIF is proud to invest in initiatives that break down barriers to ensure equitable access to health and wellness services," said Crystal Carr Townsend, President and CEO of Healthcare Initiative Foundation. “This innovative collaboration with Boys Town Washington DC and Montgomery County pediatricians does just that by effectively integrating behavioral health in a healthcare setting to provide comprehensive mind and body care."</p><p>In 2020, Boys Town served a total of 455 children through its national Behavioral Health Clinics. Boys Town Washington DC served 57 children through its 2020 grant from HIF.</p> | 2021-09-15T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Boys Town Expanding" src="/locations/washington-dc/news-and-events/PublishingImages/BHC-Expand-Services.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| The Behavioral Health Clinic Journey: Reflections & Projections | https://www.boystown.org/locations/washington-dc/news-and-events/Pages/The-Behavioral-Health-Clinic-Journey-Reflections-and-Projections.aspx | The Behavioral Health Clinic Journey: Reflections & Projections | <p>This fall, we celebrate six years of growth within our <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><a href="/locations/washington-dc/behavioral-health-clinic/Pages/default.aspx">Behavioral Health Clinic</a></span> (BHC). However, to fully understand where our clinic stands, we need to reflect on how it all began. On September 24, 2015, Boys Town Washington DC celebrated its grand opening of the BHC with Dr. Robert Wingfield at the helm.</p><p>In 2016, the clinic had a long waitlist. Dr. Avital Deskalo was hired to help expand the clinic's impact within the nation's capital. </p><p>As clinic growth continued, Dr. Amanda McLean was hired as Lead Senior Psychologist for Northern Virginia (NOVA). Being responsible for the enormous undertaking of implementing the integrated care model, Dr. McLean secured business agreements with two separate pediatric practices in NOVA, laying the foundation for a rapid boom in regional impact and visibility. Dr. McLean has made Boys Town a household name in NOVA.</p><p>During the COVID pandemic, the need for our services grew exponentially. Children and families were experiencing extreme loneliness and anxiety. We quickly hired three additional psychologists – Drs. Erica Featherson, Rebecca Rowland, and Michelle Sobon. Thanks to these additions, the BHC has provided life-changing behavioral healthcare to over 3,000 children and families in the region.</p><h3>The Exciting Journey Ahead</h3><p>The first six years have been adventurous to say the least and also filled with many achievements. The support of Boys Town DC's Board of Directors was vital to achieving important foundational objectives. The next five years and beyond are filled with exciting new partnerships, clinic expansion opportunities, and the launch of The Behavioral Health Clinic Post-Doctoral Training Program.</p><p>This fall, we anticipate hiring our first postdoctoral fellow. This is a major step in ensuring the BHC is not only a premier outpatient clinic, but also a site that offers advanced clinical training for practitioners on the verge of becoming state licensed to practice professional psychology.</p><p>Geographic expansion of the BHC is another objective. Thanks to Dr. McLean, expansion has already been a success in Northern Virginia.</p><p>We are proud of the achievements and grateful for the support.</p><h3>The future is certainly bright!<br></h3><p><img src="/locations/washington-dc/news-and-events/PublishingImages/BHC-clinic-wsdc.jpg" alt="New Boys Town BHC Clinic" style="margin:5px;" /><br><strong><em></em></strong></p> | 2021-09-15T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Boys Town BHC - Ribbon Cutting" src="/locations/washington-dc/news-and-events/PublishingImages/BHC-clinic-wsdc-ribbon.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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