Boys Town Residential Treatment Center, located on the Boys Town National Research Hospital campus in Boys Town, Nebraska, is a psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) serving youth in crisis. Since opening in 1995, the program has provided secure, medically directed residential care for children and adolescents, with dedicated treatment and learning environments tailored by age. For many families, the Residential Treatment Center is considered when a young person’s behavioral health needs are severe enough that outpatient services are not sufficient and a structured 24/7 setting is needed.

The program describes a developmentally informed, individualized approach, emphasizing evidence-based interventions and comprehensive treatment planning. Each youth is paired with a licensed clinician for individual, group, and family therapy, and treatment goals are anchored in established diagnostic frameworks. The clinical model is built around the Boys Town Psycho‑Educational Treatment Model (PEM), which coordinates medical, psychological, and social treatment and places strong emphasis on reinforcing positive behavior (often described as “catching kids being good”) while teaching practical, pro‑social skills.

Daily life is designed to address both mental and physical health needs. Boys Town highlights around-the-clock supervision and consultation by trained staff, integrated physical and behavioral healthcare, and an ongoing medication evaluation and reduction program intended to support overall well‑being. On-site education is part of the treatment experience: the center offers a licensed grade-level school program and credit recovery supports so students can keep moving forward academically while they receive care.

The Residential Treatment Center includes two main age-group settings. A Children’s Center serves youth in kindergarten through fifth grade (approximately ages 5–11), while an Adolescent Center is designed for pre-teens and teens (approximately ages 12–17). This structure is intended to keep programming age-appropriate and to support peer culture and classroom learning that fits a student’s developmental stage.

Family involvement is woven into treatment and discharge planning. Boys Town notes family-centered training to help parents and caregivers build the tools needed to support change at home, along with structured aftercare planning as youth transition back to school and community supports. Families considering the program can review admission criteria and services through the center’s website and connect with the intake team to discuss whether a residential level of care is appropriate.