living environments
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BY THE STAFF OF KING’s DAUGHTERS’ SCHOOL
How to make a residential school FEEL LIKE HOME
“From the beginning of The King’s Daughters’ School (KDS) in 1955, and in contrast to the prevailing practice of the time, the founders were determined that KDS would not be an institution — but a school and a home-away-from-home for the students who attended,” says Dr. David H. Craig, Executive Director of The King’s Daughters’ School.“That goal has continued to be the focus throughout the years as an effort is constantly made to provide a warm, nurturing environment where students feel safe and cared for. When operating a large residential facility, such as a boarding school, it’s always a challenge to make the environment feel like home, as opposed to an institution or facility of some sort. At KDS, approximately 100 students and a limited number of adults with developmental disabilities are housed in a residential setting, so KDS is no
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SPRING 2011 SouthEast Education Network
stranger to this struggle. Creating a home-like environment is not something that just happens; it takes effort, practice and reinforcement over time. There are many factors that play a role such as staff attitudes, residential living design and décor as well as student gatherings and activities. All of these factors play a vital role and must work together in order to create the nurturing, loving atmosphere that every residential living facility should strive
to obtain. “From my perspective, how we make our program ‘like home’ is most dependent on the concern of the direct care staff,” says David Neff, Director of Residential Services.“They set the tone in the houses and classrooms that communicate care and concern to our students, many of which have never had anyone care for them or about them.” Most of the residential staff members take on a parental role with the students.This not only gives the residents comfort, but reinforces stability and routine in their lives, which is something that children with disabilities desperately, and any child away from home for that matter, need It’s extremely important to seek out staff members who truly care about people and want to enrich lives.“Those that come here just looking for a job do not last long.It’s those with a big heart that last and