The Omaha Home for Boys (www.omahahomeforboys.org) has served youth in the Omaha community for 95 years, providing care and support for at-risk youth ages 12-24 as part of its mission of Strengthening and Supporting Youth, Young Adults and Families. The organization is committed to providing services to young men and women through family-style, community-based programs supported by education. Brandy Gustoff is the Program Manager for Transition Services at the Omaha Home for Boys.
Tell us a little about your role with the organization. – I specifically run the Jacobs’ Place Transitional Living program. Our program is designed to assist young men and women in making the transition from dependence to independence. We teach them life skills to aide in living a responsible life as a self-sufficient adult. The end goal of the program is to help young men and women become productive, independent and successful so there is higher likelihood of success when transitioning into independent living. Young adults between the ages of 17 and 20, at the time of admission, are eligible to apply for the program.
How did you get started in the organization? – I started working with at-risk youth when I was in college. My first field job was in juvenile detention.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Ensuring that I am having the young adults I work with do things for themselves and teaching independence as a prime focus. Working with young men and women I inevitably look at each as if they were my own child, so I strive to ensure I am teaching them life-long skills.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Becoming a trainer in the Transition to Success (TTS) model. This model is cutting-edge with the focus of treating the condition of poverty. At Jacobs’ Place and our independent living program, Branching Out, we will be using this as the core model of each program.
Tell us a little about your family. – My parents, Ron and Deb, have been married for 40 years. I have two younger sisters, Lindsay and Ashley, and four nieces and nephews. We are a very supportive and tight-knit family who would do anything to help one another.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Definitely coming to work at the Omaha Home for Boys. From this opportunity, I have found a great passion for working with young adults and the homeless population.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – If I can’t spend time with my family, I really enjoy reading, doing jigsaw puzzles or watching sporting events. I am a die-hard Iowa Hawkeyes fan.
What are you the most proud of? – I am most proud of the program that we have developed at Jacobs’ Place. In November 2013, my team and I completely rewrote the program, and as a result, we have achieved a greater level of ability for our young adults to achieve success.
What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? – Aside from the Omaha Home for Boys, I serve as the co-chair of the Metro Area Continuum of Care (MACCH) Youth Task Force, so I would say I am passionate about all of the non-profits that are on our taskforce as well as all of the amazing non-profits that are involved in MACCH.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – I can be contacted at (402) 672-2365 or by email at bgustoff@omahahomeforboys.org. To find out more about Omaha Home for Boys and all of our great programs and rich history, visit www.omahahomeforboys.org or stop by and visit our campus!