When 15-year-old Casey first arrived at Omaha Home for Boys in the fall of 2024, he was overwhelmed and uncertain. He had just been court-ordered into the program after months of legal trouble, dishonesty, and broken trust at home.

Casey admits that he often failed to let his parents know his whereabouts, and the communication breakdown had made it impossible for trust to grow. His freshman year of high school had recently unraveled after he spent the first half of the year at a juvenile detention center rather than in the classroom, which left him far behind in school.

But something was different this time. Something inside Casey had shifted.

“When I was sitting with Casey in the library on his first day at OHB doing his intake paperwork, I remember him telling me, ‘I’m done playing games. I don’t want to be in the system anymore. I want to do better for myself,’” shared Mrs. Andreessen, OHB’s Education Director.

That commitment was tested early. Casey pushed back against structure, often argumentative with staff and defiant of the rules. But over time, and with consistent guidance, something remarkable began to happen—he started to listen. Then he started to grow.

The OHB School became one of the first places Casey found his stride. Struggling with social anxiety in traditional school settings, he was surprised and relieved to find the OHB School’s small class sizes and one-on-one instruction to be the perfect fit.

“It feels good knowing I’m going to graduate my junior year,” Casey said, proud of the 13 credits he’s earned at OHB, putting him well ahead of expectations for his age.

Outside the classroom, Casey joined both the lawn crew and later the kitchen crew, gaining hands-on experience and learning the value of responsibility. He’s also begun budgeting for his first vehicle by setting goals, making plans, and taking real steps toward independence.

“I feel like everything Casey does, he’s thinking about the future,” Mrs. Andreessen said. “He’s always thinking ahead about college and his goals. He’s very engaged and inquisitive.”

One of those goals is college. Casey has always dreamed of earning a law degree, with a special interest in the juvenile justice system. For a long time, the cost seemed like an insurmountable barrier, but now with the OHB Scholarship available to him, that future feels within reach.

Since his early days at OHB, Casey has seen tremendous growth. He’s become more respectful, cooperative, and emotionally grounded. He accepts feedback from staff without defensiveness, interacts respectfully with peers, and shows a growing sense of accountability for his actions.

Today, Casey’s not just imagining a better life, he’s building it one thoughtful decision at a time.