Ozanam began in 1948 when it became apparent to a young Kansas City social worker that there were very few places in the Kansas City area where emotionally disturbed adolescent boys could be given the kind of long-term care, educational opportunities and guidance that they needed. This social worker enlisted the help of several volunteers and began to accept custody of boys referred to him by local church-related social services and the juvenile courts, and he began to offer them the kind of help they needed in his own home. The name Ozanam was selected for the new home from the name of a 19th century social worker whose boys' homes in the city of Paris began in much the same way.

In a little over a year's time, the director and six boys who comprised the Ozanam Home proved to be too much for the small apartment which was their home. A larger house was located in Independence, Missouri, and this was the Ozanam Home until 1950.

In 1950, big changes took place for Ozanam. The small house in Independence, as before, was literally outgrown by the 16 boys and staff members of the Home. Once again, larger facilities were necessary. This time, the newly formed Ozanam Boys Home Association and the Ozanam Women's Auxiliary decided to relocate with an eye to the future, when additional expansion would surely be necessary. A 40-acre location with a rather large house formerly used as a residential care home for the elderly was selected just south of Martin City, Missouri.

In time, Ozanam Home was incorporated as a private institution for the care of emotionally disturbed boys, elected its first Board of Directors and held annual meetings of its membership. For more than fifty years under the leadership of many caring staff members, Ozanam has expanded its services to include a wide variety of therapeutic and educational resources to those within the community. Serving thousands of children and families each year, programs now include residential treatment, day treatment, educational consultation, and transitional living services.