When it comes to youth services agencies unless you happen to need their services many of us don’t really know their names. So for those of you who are not familiar with the Boys Town here is a look at how the organization has chosen to describe its location in South Florida, “Boys Town South Florida opened in 1991 and provides a variety of In-Home Family Services^SM to assess children’s needs and keep struggling families together. Trained Boys Town South Florida Family Consultants work in the homes of families to enhance parenting skills and make sure children are safe. Through School and Family Support Services, children are screened for social, emotional and behavioral issues, and Consultants assist the family to learn to get their child on track for success in school. The site also is part of Primary Project, which is available in select Palm Beach County elementary schools. Project goals include improving students’ adjustment to school and enhancing their social and emotional well-being.”

Sadly this organization has to cut back on workers in order to make its funding work. The south Florida location is getting ready to drop about 81 jobs. The company filed a WARN notice with the state in order to prepare for a mass layoff action. For those of you who are not familiar with the idea of a mass layoff action here is a look at how the federal government defines the term, “The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program collects reports on mass layoff actions that result in workers being separated from their jobs. Monthly mass layoff numbers are from establishments which have at least 50 initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) filed against them during a 5-week period. Extended mass layoff numbers (issued quarterly) are from a subset of such establishments—where private sector nonfarm employers indicate that 50 or more workers were separated from their jobs for at least 31 days.”

Interestingly enough other locations seem to be thriving. In a recent announcement another Boys Town announced the opening of a new location, “Boys Town is excited to announce our new Behavioral Health Clinic in Grand Island! The clinic offers outpatient services to children of all ages with emotional or behavioral problems. Services also include family therapy and psychological assessments.”

Of course this is not the only youth mental health program to feel the pinch in recent months. Some of you may recall our earlier coverage of job cuts to another mental health provider that is geared towards children and teens, “…a program called YouthConnect… Well apparently the company has decided that they can do that without about 100 of its workers, as they are getting ready to close their psychiatric residential treatment program at the end of the summer. This kind of a job cut will, in addition to leaving many young boys looking for a new source of  mental health care, qualify as a mass layoff action under the current federal guidelines.” With so many agencies feeling the pinch one has to wonder what is going to happen to children who are in need?