For more than 85 years, Girls and Boys Town, has been providing shelter and treatment for abused, abandoned, neglected or deprived girls and boys in New Orleans and throughout the United States. The center, a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization, offers a range of programs and services for the youth and families, including a 24-hour emergency helpline, counseling and therapy, group sessions and activities, extracurricular activities and vocational training. The organization is accredited by the American Association of Suicidology. The organization, founded in 1917 by Father Flanagan, has assisted more than 510,000 children and families through its network of more than 20 centers in over 15 states.