For more information, please contact:
Marie McGeehan
Director of Communications
Boys & Girls Town of Missouri
Phone: 314-535-7911
Fax: 314-535-6632
marie.mcgeehan@great-circle.org

Boys & Girls Town South Central Missouri Campus in St. James
Increases Number of Children and Family Members Served in 2008

St. James, Mo. (Aug. 11, 2009) – The Boys & Girls Town South Central Missouri Region Campus in St. James served 2,181 children and family members in 2008 – a 43 percent increase compared to numbers served in 2007. 

Residential care comprised the largest treatment program. New community-based programs including foster care case management and intensive in-home prevention and reunification services were added in 2008.

Need for Services Remains
Figures from the Citizens for Missouri’s Children’s 2008 Missouri Kids Count Data Book Online indicate 1,562 children in counties contiguous to and including Phelps County were identified as abused or neglected – an average of 37.4 children per 1,000 population. The average for Missouri statewide was 32.6.  Numbers are likely much higher than this as not all abuse or neglect is reported. 

Boys & Girls Town also serves hundreds of children from throughout the state through recreational treatment programs at the Meramec Adventure Learning Ranch in Steelville. Outdoor activities facilitate the delivery of therapeutic treatment and helps children develop positive relationships with others along with confidence and self-esteem.

Where do Boys & Girls Town children come from?
In 2008, Boys & Girls Town helped children from 95 of Missouri’s 114 counties plus the City of St. Louis representing 83 percent of the state. Phelps County was the fourth largest county of origin for children in Boys & Girls Town treatment programs. Greene County continues to be the primary county of origin followed by St. Louis City and St. Louis County.

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About Boys & Girls Town of  Missouri
Founded in 1949, Boys & Girls Town of Missouri is a nationally accredited organization that provides extensive treatment through residential, foster care case management, outreach and family therapy programs for troubled youth with a history of abuse, neglect, severe behavior disorders and psychological problems. The organization's mission to "improve the lives of children with emotional and behavioral problems through superior, family-focused services" is fulfilled through campuses in St. James, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia, MO.  BGTM helps redirect the lives of more than 6,700 boys and girls and their family members annually.  For more information, please visit the website at www.bgtm.org

About Edgewood Children’s Center
Founded in 1834, Edgewood Children’s Center provides compassionate care and treatment to restore children and strengthen families through intensive therapy, education, case management and support services. Many of the children served have been physically, sexually or emotionally abused; neglected; or abandoned. Edgewood offers a broad array of treatment, education, prevention and support services for children and families, active child advocacy, professional consultation and training. Edgewood Children’s Center is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit, nonsectarian, United Way agency. For more information please visit the Web site at www.eccstl.org.