Founded in 1887, Mercy Home for Boys & Girls is a privately funded Catholic organization ministering to children in crisis. The organization operates a residential youth program for children under the age of 18 who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. Children are accepted both from private families as well as the Department of Children and Family Services. Youth enrolling in the program must commit to a year long stay at Mercy Home.

President and CEO of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls is Father Scott Donahue, who prior to becoming President served as Associate President of the organization for 10 years. He also has served on their Board of Regents and holds multiple Master's degrees in social work, theology, and applied spirituality.

Each child in the care of Mercy Home has an individual plan created to help address emotional, behavioral, and educational issues unique to that child. The plan contains goals for the child to work towards during their time at Mercy Home. Each child is also assigned to the care of an individual staff member who guides the child on a day to day basis in terms of needs and meeting goals. Youth over the age of 16 are required to obtain a part-time job with the assistance of the staff in locating the position. Children in the program are placed in an appropriate school by members of the admissions staff. The schools attended by youth in the program vary from parochial, public, and alternative schools. Specific educational plans for each child address educational needs including goal-setting, motivation, and learning disabilities.

Aftercare, a unique attribute of the organization allows the program to continue to follow the progress of the youth even after they have left the home and assist them with transitioning into other environments whether it is college, internships, finding jobs and apartments, or providing counseling.

[This information came from the Mercy Home for Boys & Girls website.]