Boys Town, formerly Girls and Boys Town and Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, is a non-profit organization

Non-profit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

 dedicated to caring for its children and families, with national headquarters in the village of Boys Town, Nebraska

Boys Town, Nebraska

Boys Town is a village in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 818 at the 2000 census. Boys Town is a suburb of Omaha.The village of Boys Town was established as the headquarters of the Boys Town organization, also known as "Father Flanagan's Boys' Home", founded by Father...

. The property was listed as a National Historic Landmark

National Historic Landmark

A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...

 on February 4, 1985.

The original Boys Town was founded as a boys' orphanage

Orphanage

An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...

 in December 1917 by Edward J. Flanagan

Edward J. Flanagan

Father Edward Joseph Flanagan was a priest of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. He was the founder of what is arguably the most famous orphanage—Boys Town...

, a Roman Catholic priest

Priest

A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...

 working in Omaha

Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...

. The "City of Little Men" pioneered development of new juvenile care methods in 20th century America

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, emphasizing social preparation as a model

Modelling (psychology)

Modelling or modeling in psychology is:# a method used in certain techniques of psychotherapy whereby the client learns by imitation alone, without any specific verbal direction by the therapist and...

 for public boys' homes world

World

World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....

wide.

Today, Boys Town is a national leader in the care and treatment of children and families through its research-proven treatment for behavioral, emotional and physical problems. Boys Town also has taken a leadership role in advocating for change in the current child care system, which often offers fragmented and ineffective treatment.
Boys Town has grown and now provides care to children and families across the country.