Part Three: A Different World: Life in the Cottages
Highlighting the daily routine of our residential kids.
Story By: Tiffany White
Creating a supportive, nurturing environment for our kids in residential homes is an important component in preparing them for life with a new foster family. Our 48 children live on the St. Joe’s campus in the cottages. Each of the four cottages – referred to as Cottage A, B, C, and D – has a residential supervisor and at least three residential youth workers who work together to support the children. Nichole Drane, Residential Supervisor for Cottage A, says she and her colleagues teach them life skills, provide emotional support, help them with homework, and guide their daily routines.
During the school year, the children start their day at 6 a.m. and take their medications. Next, they take a shower, get dressed, eat breakfast and then begin their room chores. The children are responsible for making the bed, cleaning their shelves, and sweeping and mopping the floor. Afterward, staff members follow up to ensure each chore has been properly completed and then they’re ready for school at 7:55 a.m.
After school ends, the kids return to the cottages where they have reflection time alone prior to rejoining the group. “They go inside their room just to relax and regulate themselves,” says Nichole. After their reflection period, the kids talk about how they are feeling and set a personal goal for themselves that is often connected with their behavior. Following their group discussion, they participate in an on-campus activity either inside the cottages, outside in the courtyard or in the gymnasium. “During the summer, we purchased water balloons for outdoor play,” she says. By 5 p.m., they are preparing for dinner and settling in for the evening.
It’s more than a place to stay.
Throughout the year, St. Joe’s partners with local businesses to plan holiday-themed celebrations for our children. For the past three years, Arby’s Foundation has sponsored and coordinated our Halloween Trick-or-Trick and Easter Egg Hunt events, both held on campus. Seeing the children dressed up in their Halloween costumes or watching them eagerly search for the hidden Easter eggs is a sweet moment for Joann Childers, the Activities Coordinator at St. Joe’s. “It’s important for our children to be validated and know someone cares about them. The smallest act of kindness makes a huge difference in how they see themselves, and we want them to leave here with a positive outlook on what the future holds for them,” she says.
St. Joe’s also brings in teachers with Louisville Visual Art who work with the kids on art projects that are displayed at our annual This is Us Art Show. “Sometimes I feel suffocated living in a residential center. I have no control over what happens in my life, and I wait day in and day out to see if my parents are going to be able to do what they need to do to get me back. Making art gives me choices and soothes my frustration,” says 12-year-old Adrian, one of our St. Joe’s kids. Janet Britt, an art educator with LVA and project lead for the art show is impressed with the kids’ resilience. “These guys – with all they go through – don’t complain. They get up every day and face all they have to face and still bring a pleasant disposition and make art with joy.”
Pampering and pride
Our children have the freedom of selecting and buying their outfits with guidance from the staff. “We show them how they’re supposed to look with an emphasis on making sure they are dressed appropriately. When we shop for clothing, each child can select three outfits for the day and three sets of pajamas,” says Nichole. On Sundays – designated as “self-care” days – Mary Horton, Residential Supervisor for Cottage D, schedules hair appointments for the girls, which serves as a day of relaxation and pampering. The staff also created a how-to video for them on basic ways they can style their hair.
In Part Four of “A Day in the Life of a SJ Kid,” we will take you through a school day at St. Joe’s Academy, our on-campus residential school. Follow us on our social channels to read the story and subscribe to SJ Stories, our blog, to automatically receive each installment in your inbox.
ICYMI: Read Part Two of “A Day in the Life of a SJ Kid.”
This post was supported by funds made available by the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Office of Health Equity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, under RFA-OT21-2103. The content of this post are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of or endorsement by the Kentucky Department for Public Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.