The Village of St. Joseph in southwest Atlanta is fairly quiet now except for the sound of drill or saw, but in June it will explode into a center of activity for 35 boys and girls.

The new village—four cottages, an administration building, a chapel and an activity building—has 40 acres of ground so children can dig in the dirt and play ball.

The modern facilities are only part of the advantage the new village will have over the old home in Washington, Ga.

“The past service was custodial, but the program at the new village will be treatment—oriented,” said Father James F. Scherer, director of Catholic Social Services. “The new program will make the atmosphere more homelike; it will unite brothers and sisters; and will provide treatment for both the child and his family.

“It must be remembered the Village will serve children who would not function in a foster-home atmosphere because of emotional disturbances. The whole programs is to reconstruct families, to help the child and the family while the child is at the Village so we can create a stable family situation,” the priest said.

The home in Washington made it impossible to rehabilitate families since brothers and sisters were in institutions 300 miles apart—the boys in Washington, the girls in Savannah.

“The difficulty in securing professional services also hampered treatment,” Father Scherer said, “and a study indicated a need for facilities in Atlanta to treat teenage girls. It will be the only institution in the state to take teenage girls other than the juvenile detention home.”

The $1 million-plus village will open with 35 children, but in three years the capacity will be increased to 62. These will include boys from ages 6-14 and girls from 6-18.

“During a child’s stay at the Village, the parents will receive either individual or group treatment. Parents, relatives, former foster parents, or the people to whom the child has been most closely ‘related’ will continue to be of importance to the child.”

The Village is a licensed child care facility. “Hopefully, in the near future it will also become a licensed child placement agency. If this is realized, specialized foster homes may be available for a limited number of children so they can continue education with their while learning to adapt to family living after a time of group residence,” Father Scherer said.

Many of the children at the Village will attend neighboring parochial schools. However, disturbed or delinquent children will attend special classes at the Village. Additional tutoring outside the classroom will also be provided. Psychological testing, psychiatric consultation and counseling by a professional caseworker will be available plus a complete medical program.

“We also hope to eventually set up a psychological testing service in conjunction with the archdiocesan school system,” especially with Our Lady’s Day School,” Father Scherer said. “The tests could be given to pupils when the principals feel they need them.”

Another advantage of the Village is the type of cottages. The dormitories will be smaller, more functional and will have recreational areas.