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↖ Family teacher Victoria Shelton and three girls, above, inspect an aquarium that is among the shared responsibilities at their home. The girls at Boys Town serve one another as sources of encouragement — and high fives.
The children — girls were first enrolled in Boys Town programs in 1979 — take turns serving as the household manager, and chores are rotated among them. Girls newly arrived at the house are required to stay in constant contact with a family teacher, but soon cross a “bridge” to greater independence. Privileges include placing three “We are here foods that the girls would rather not eat on a “Yuck List.” Broccoli is to play the prominent among the foods listed. roles of typical Children come to the Famparents, and to ily Home Program after parprovide stability ticipating in other Boys Town programs; through referrals by to children social service or juvenile justice that have been agencies; or through placements made by parents or other carethrough lots givers. The average length of stay of transitions. is 12 to 18 months; children age Here, they see out of the program at 18. After Boys Town, children the same people may return to their families, join every day.” an adoptive family or undertake — Victoria Shelton, independent living. family teacher “We are here to play the roles of typical parents,” Victoria said, “and to provide stability to children that have been through lots of transitions. Here, they see the same people every day.” The Sheltons recognize that one day, they, too, will graduate from Boys Town, and the children they will be mentoring at that time will have another shift to deal with. But today, all is good. The children gather around Leland, the border collie they share, and talk about history tests passed, a Spirit Award won, English credits earned and fun had at the fair. TM
LAWRENCE DAVIDSON
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