Boys Town North Florida

In our mission to change the way America cares for her children and families, boys Town North Florida provide a continuum of care that strengthens them in mind, body and spirit. Our integrated continuum of family services includes these programs at Boys Town North Florida:

Boys Town offers an integrated continuum of services that provides children and families with the right care in the right service at the right time. This system is linked in philosophy and in the methods used. To support this integrated continuum, certain fundamental principles, values, and services must cut across all levels of these services and programs. Some of the more important include:  Spirituality/Religious Helping children and families build a strong spiritual and religious foundation is an important part of Boys Town’s mission. Positive character traits like respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship provide the framework for a child’s value education. Medical Care Boys Town owns and operates the Boys Town National Research Hospital, which provides clinical and surgical services to patients from Boys Town’s own programs and for children and families across the country. Education Services Education is integral to providing effective treatment for children. In many of the Boys Town residential programs, specialized educational services are embedded within the programs. Care Coordination Boys Town attempts to provide the right services to children and families at the right time and in the right program. Boys Town’s Care Coordination programs provide intensive case management services for children in a variety of settings or levels of care.

Treatment Family Homes for Adolescents
Treatment Family Homes for Adolescents is a family-style, community-based residential program which can serve six to eight males or females, usually ages 10 to 18. Married couples called Family-Teachers are the primary treatment agents, along with a full-time Assistant Family-Teacher. Family-Teachers are responsible for structured supervision of youth in daily living and treatment activities. The couple and their assistant work on both treatment and skill building in the home, and with community and family resources in the child’s life.  A major focus of this program is teaching older youth functional skills – often referred to as independent-living skills – that can help them achieve success in school, their families, and work settings. Boys Town North Florida has five Treatment Family Homes in Tallahassee.

Treatment Foster Care
Treatment Foster Care is a community-based program operated by specially trained and supervised Treatment Foster Parents to serve foster children with treatment needs. Treatment Foster Parents care for youth of all ages – infancy through adolescence – who need more attention and treatment than is provided in a traditional foster care placement. Boys Town recruits, trains, and supervises Treatment Foster Parents, enabling them to care for youth with special needs in their private homes. A major focus of this program is teaching older youth functional skills – often referred to as independent-living skills – that can help them achieve success in school, their families, and work settings. Treatment Foster Parents receive 24-hour, on-call support and treatment advice from Boys Town professionals. 

Traditional Foster Care
In Traditional Foster Care, trained foster parents provide care to youth of all ages – infants through adolescents – who are in need of a safe, placement while on a path to a permanent placement.  Usually, these children do not require the intensive treatment and intervention that is provided to children in Specialized Treatment Foster Care or Treatment Foster Care.  Boys Town recruits, trains and supports agency foster parents, preparing them to welcome children into their homes and provide a caring, nurturing environment.  Foster parents receive 24-hour support from Boys Town professionals. 

Boys Town National Hotline (800.448.3000)
The Boys Town National Hotline was established in 1989 and receives more than 400,000 calls every year.  Trained, professional counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Callers’ problems range from relationship and parental discipline issues to depression and suicide.  In crisis situations, counselors assist callers and provide community resources and emergency intervention.  The Hotline provides referrals to agencies throughout the United States and responds to anyone in need of assistance, with a special focus on children and families.  Anyone in a crisis situation, especially children and families, can call 800.448.3000 for help anytime.