Presbyterian Children’s Village Provides Hope and Healing

When Presbyterian Children’s Village was founded in 1877 it was an orphanage. Today, the organization is still in existence and helping young people, but the focus has changed.

The sprawling and leafy Rosemont campus on South Roberts Road is a mystery to many who drive past it. But behind the trees and buildings, there is hope and healing taking place.

The multiservice organization works to stabilize families and improve the quality of life for children and their families. In the Rosemont location there is outpatient mental health services, a residential treatment program and a supervised independent living program.

Two months ago the residential program changed from co-ed to women only, said Presbyterian Children’s Village Chief Executive Officer Darlene Hewett. She said that move was in response to the finding that the girls would be best served that way.

Hewett said that the young women come to the program with “significant needs and experiences we try to work to stabilize.”

The 30 young women have experienced some sort of trauma, be it physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Their ages range from 12 to 17 and their average length of stay is 8 months. There is a licensed school on the grounds, and the girls attend year-round.

The girls go to art lessons, some learn to knit, and many join the popular running club (giving a new meaning to what it means to be a “runner from PCV). In the meanwhile they work a lot on managing their physical and emotional issues.

The independent living program is for young adults ages 17 to 21 who need to learn how to live on their own and support themselves.

Some program participants have jobs (many had worked at the Genuardi’s in St. Davids, Hewett noted), and some go to school. All of them work on things from practical matters to managing their emotions appropriately.

Some neighbors of the campus have reported seeing the younger girls doing inappropriate things, and Hewett said that

“We’re dealing with kids with complex histories,” Hewett said.

“This is a population that needs a lot of structure and support,” she said. “If we can give this to them at this point, society will save many times over later on.”

And Hewett said they see so much change in the young adults from when they start at PCV and leave. At the “Future Ceremony” held for the young women when they leave, the staff members talk about their accomplishments. It is then, hearing those words, that the girls really understand what they have accomplished, she said.

Hewett said she welcomes any neighbor or member of the community who wants to visit PCV and see what they are about.