My Nonprofit Reviews

I guess I can say that I was an at-risk youth who was forced to live here. It really didn't help me. We only were provided with therapy once a month, which is far below what would have been needed to help me. I was forced to take a religion class, where whenever I spoke up about homophobia or sexism that was actually being taught in the classroom, I was sent to the office and told to write an apology to the teacher I "disrespected." Their sex education class was also a religion class, so it was based on being anti- contraception and pro-abstinence, (which statistically, is not effective in reducing pregnancy in teenagers. One time I had to eat dinner at the leader 's (not sure what else to call him) house on campus and I was told to not say I was a vegetarian and to "eat around the meat," which was unacceptable to me because I had been vegetarian for a few years and I was very repulsed by meat. Apparently the leader had, in the past, argued with a kid about vegetarianism, which is disrespectful and just not okay. Also I was not supposed to bring up that I was an atheist, as not to get on the leader's "bad side." I did not have a voice at this place. And neither will any child who goes here, whether they are very religious and agree with everything Boys Town has to say. So, If you are considering privately placing your child here for reasons such as mental health issues, depression, anxiety, or poor schoolwork, think again. Consider a therapeutic boarding school or therapeutic wilderness program. Boys Town is based on punishment and reward, not rehabilitation and therapy. I know this from experience. I would say, personally, Boys Town made me more depressed and anxious. Please consider other options, if you have a choice and want a therapeutic environment for your child.