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special EDITION
omaha home for boys A century after opening in 1920 as a single house for “orphaned, neglected and wayward boys,” omaha home for boys—long known in the community simply as ohb—now serves more than 1,300 youth, young adults, children and families every year. a continuum of services addresses basic needs and provides the skills and confidence clients need to lead independent, productive lives.
LATE LAST YEAR and in honor of the organization’s upcoming 100th anniversary year, omaha home for Boys (ohB) worked with local advertising agency clark creative group to refresh its Brand and develop a new logo.
lives.”the organization provides a continuum of care to help youth and young adults ages 12 to 26 and families overcome obstacles in reaching their full potential. its core programs represent a comprehensive approach, empowering clients with the skills and confidence needed to transition from a state of crisis to security and growth, and address a spectrum of needs: education, employment, housing, health and wellness, life skills, mental and behavioral health, substance abuse treatment, transportation, and mentorship.
the new logo emphasizes ohB over the full name of the organization for a reason, president and ceo Jeff dewispelare said. the omaha home for Boys name has historical significance, yet “we’re known more as ohB. and we’re not just omaha, not just boys, not just young “it really is a special way to celebrate 100 years, to be children, and not just a home. when you’re a historic organization, your history informs your mission but does doing the work the community most needs from us today,” ohB Board chair kirsten case fuller said. not define it.”
succeed, ohB’s primary programs include residential living, transitional living, independent living, supportive housing, and clinical services.
Inspiration Hill Residential Living
ohB’s inspiration hill residential living program provides a safe, stable environment where youth learn to become productive, independent adults. the program serves high school-age youth who live on ohB’s main campus and attend the ohB school. they also have access to support services, and the program’s behaviorally-based curriculum helps teens learn life skills, develop positive behaviors and advance academically. life skills teachers create a consistent and he added that the new logo’s fresh coloration represents “in 2019, ohB served over 1,300 youth, young adults, structured home environment while acting as positive children and families. we provide a true continuum of new ways of thinking and the overlapping letters are care with programs that are integrated to help youth and role models and mentors for the youth in their care. the evocative of ohB’s continuum of services. “the B has a ladder formation representing steps. we take every kid at families address immediate needs, plan for the future and residential living program also uses the 12-week ultimately become independent and self-sufficient,” chief Belief therapy program to combat the prevalent and whatever rung they’re on and try to take them to the development officer lori Bechtold said. “our new action pervasive impact of trauma on young people. Belief next step.” line, ‘transform a life. strengthen a community.’ truly provides both individual and group therapy as well as embodies what we do at ohB. By helping individuals and staff education and consultation. ohB has come a long way from its 1920 origins families achieve self-sufficient, productive lives, we are responding to the community’s need for a safe place to strengthening our entire community.” send “orphaned, neglected and wayward boys.”the Jacobs’ Place original house, located near 22nd and davenport streets, Transitional Living served a group of boys ages 5 through 15 that grew to “probably the biggest need we fill in the community is ohB began operating an innovative transitional living 67 by the end of its first year. less than three years later, having that whole continuum right on one campus,” program, Jacobs’ place, in 1995. each resident works chief program officer Brandy gustoff said. “another the home moved to a larger facility but was already with staff to create a personalized independent living thing we’re known for is having that niche with young outgrowing it by 1941. in 1945, the residents and staff plan. the independent living classes include cooking, moved to a campus, with residential cottages replacing people who are gang-involved or might be considered a workforce readiness training, ged/diploma assistance dormitories, at 52nd and ames streets. it’s still the hub ‘tough’ person to work with; who’ve been through a lot of and college planning, health and wellness awareness, placements already or may need services but not fit in of many of ohB’s present-day operations. and support in finding safe housing. participants pay with other programs.” rent for accommodations similar to college campus today’s ohB has a mission “to support and strengthen with an ultimate goal to equip youth, young adults and housing and receive up to 80 percent returned to them youth, young adults and families through services that inspire and equip them to lead independent, productive families with the skills and confidence they need to upon successfully completing the program.
restoring dignity HEALING THE homeless omaha home for boys • 10
mmagazine • speciaL eDition 2020
