Boys Town Five-Year Study: Success on Many Fronts

The Boys Town National Research Institute recently completed a Five-Year Follow-Up Study to measure the effectiveness of our Treatment Family Home Program. The study drew on responses from former Boys Town youth who had departed the program. Boys Town wanted to know how these young adults were doing compared to other young people from across the United States of similar age, gender and ethnicity. The respondents included youth from Boys Town Treatment Family Homes across the country.

The results showed that former Boys Town kids, as young adults, are much like others in their age group. In several significant categories that define good citizenship and being a productive member of society, our former residents match or exceed the national norms for young adults. Most importantly, these findings indicate that our kids were empowered to maintain significant and lasting change in their lives long after they left Boys Town.

Graphs from the Five-Year Follow-Up Study illustrate how our former youth who completed the Boys Town program compare with national norms in areas that reflect good citizenship, good character and healthy relationships.

These results are even more striking considering the myriad of severe behavorial, emotional and psychological problems youth are experiencing when admitted to a Boys Town residential program. Upon completion of treatment, these youth problems have decreased dramatically, along with activities tied to delinquency.

These comparisons provide proof of the transformation kids experience while in our program and of how they are empowered to make better decisions as young adults. The tremendous progress these troubled youth experience while at Boys Town, and the strides they make after they leave, defines the effectiveness of the program and the Boys Town Model.

Well-Being

5 Years After Departure

Former youth surveyed were near the national norms in the areas of being in excellent-to-good physical health (90%) and positive mental health (70%).

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Education and Employment

5 Years After Departure

In the areas of having a high school diploma or higher education (91%) and employment (66%), former youth surveyed were above the national norms.

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Spouse/Partner Relationships

5 Years After Departure

In spouse/partner relationships, former youth surveyed were at or above the national norms in terms of closeness, caring, and amount of conflict.

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Religious Beliefs

5 Years After Departure

Eighty-seven percent of former youth surveyed said religion/spirituality is an important part of their lives, and 81% said their religious beliefs influence their decisions. Both numbers exceed the national norms.

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