THE OMAHA HOME FOR BOYS

The Omaha Home for Boys Grant Proposal

Abstract

Founded in 1920, The Omaha Home for Boys is a personally funded youth care provider dedicated to supporting and strengthening youth and families with the most of residents obtaining care at no cost. The Home's Residential Care program presents a safe, structured living environment in a cottage setting with caring House Parents, balanced meals and educational support for boys ages 10 - 18 years. Each year more than 100 boys are taught rudimentary behavioral, disciplinary and living skills. All youth attend public school. Additionally, over 50 young men and women who have aged-out of group home programs can extend to obtain help as they are educated how to reside individually and transition into adulthood through the Home's Independent Living program.

The Omaha Home for Boys Grant Proposal

Project Description

The Omaha dwelling for young men is a non earnings 501(c)(3) charitable association whose mission is to support and reinforce youth and families. The Home's residential care program presents a safe, structured living environment in a cottage setting with loving House Parents, warm clothes, nutritious meals and educational support for children and teenagers ages 10 - 18 years. Each year over 100 boys are educated basic behavioral, disciplinary and living skills. All youth attend public school. Additionally, over 50 young men and women, ages 17 - 21, who have “aged-out” of group home programs can continue to receive assist as they are taught how to live independently and transition into adulthood through the Home's Transitional Living program. Further, over 150 young men annually, ages 14 - 18, receive special psychiatric treatment with total family involvement to assist them function successfully in society through the Home's Cooper Village program. The newest program to the Home is Journeys, a substance abuse treatment program designed expressly for youth ages 12 - 19 years (Olson, 2008).

The Omaha Home for Boys was founded in Omaha, Nebraska on October 12, 1920. After Father Flanagan's Boys Town began preparations to move from downtown Omaha to a new position west of the city, the Chamber of Commerce identified a need for a safe place to drive orphaned, neglected and wayward boys inside Omaha's town limits. Tinley L. Combs, a famous jeweler and President of the Chamber of Commerce at the time, considered the task would be more appropriate for another organization he was affiliated with - the Masons. In addition to Combs, 11 other businessmen belonging to diverse Masonic Lodges in the Omaha area founded a non-denominational safe haven for boys of all socioeconomic and religious backgrounds called the Nebraska Children's Homefinding Association, later to be known as The Omaha Home for Boys.

The Omaha Home for Boys has had three locations over our 85+ year history; 304 North 22nd road from January, 1921 to April, 1923; 2137 South 33rd Street from April, 1923 to July, 1945 (The Megeath House); and the current Inspiration high ground Campus at 4343 North 52nd Street since July 1945 (Larsen, ...