In 1987, a number of community leaders wanted to provide help, healing and hope to the abused and neglected children of Nevada. With this goal in mind, they flew to Nebraska to convince Boys Town to bring treatment services to their community. In 1989, 22 acres of land were purchased for five Treatment Family Homes. One year later, the Homes were built and the site was able to admit their first youth in February of 1991. Since opening 850 youth have been helped to become responsible contributing members of society.
In 1994 the Assessment and Short-Term Residential Center opened to provide refuge to girls and boys in crisis, including runaway, homeless, court-placed or abused children until a permanent and safe placement could be found. Since opening in, 3,900 youth have been assisted in moving forward with their lives.
In 1998, Boys Town Nevada began its Common Sense Parenting Program; these classes incorporate proven methods that were researched and developed at the original Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home. Each skill and technique parents learn can be adapted and applied to any home environment and will help build and reinforce healthy family relationships. All classes are offered free to anyone in the community.
In July of 2005, Boys Town Nevada expanded once again to include In-Home Family Services, offering an intense Family Preservation Program and a coaching Family Support Program. This service is an in-home skill based treatment program for families in crisis. Boys Town consultants work directly with parents and youth to build upon their strengths, heal their pain and keep them together as a functional and vital family unit. Since offering this program to Clark County 571 children have been kept from placement out of their home and enabled to remain in a stronger more healthy family.
The Boys Town Behavioral Network was begun in 2006 as an internal team of program professionals who provide individualized treatment recommendations for children referred to Boys Town Nevada. The goal is to have children receive an efficient behavioral, medical, academic and clinical assessment, with recommendations for the treatment services they require prior to admittance into a Boys Town program. Youth and family referrals are accepted from Clark County, the State of Nevada, local school districts, courts and private placements.
The Family Reunification Program was initiated in 2007 to provide In-Home Family Services for specific families of youth placed in the Family Treatment Homes. The program design is to significantly strengthen the family environment to become more successful and effective, while the child is placed out of the home to meet their own treatment needs. The goal is to return the youth to their family in a shorter period with both the family and the child functioning more successfully and effectively.
In October of 2007, Boys Town Nevada was awarded a grant in the amount of $350,000 from the Nevada Women’s Philanthropy group. These funds will be used towards the construction of two sibling homes on Boys Town’s existing campus in Northwest Las Vegas.
In November of 2007, Boys Town Nevada was named Charity of the Year by the Nevada Community Foundation.