Emergency Residential

Gray Cottage & Opportunity House

Gray Cottage opened July 1^st , 2007 as a DSS-licensed child care facility to provide residential care for male or female children 7 to 17 years of age.  Alumni of The Children's Home, Methodist church groups and corporate volunteers have worked diligently to renovate this Cottage which has been closed for the last four years. Gray Cottage is a nearly 10,000 sq foot home with nine spacious bedrooms, modern security and monitoring equipment and has been fully repainted and refurbished with new appliances, mattresses, linens, kitchen equipment and much more! 

• · Services are designed for children who have been abused or neglected or are in the midst of juvenile court action, or in need of respite if requested.

• · Children will be assessed for mental health needs within seven days

• · Children appropriate and eligible for services may be referred to one of our mental health services:  residential facilities (Levels II or III), therapeutic or traditional foster care, day treatment, family therapy, and/or individual therapy.

• · Children will have access to a nurse, psychologists, psychiatrist, therapists, recreational specialists, nutritionist and more.

• · Family therapy is encouraged as is contact with the family.  Children will be involved in process and counseling groups as well as individual therapy when appropriate.

• · Staff are trained in medication management.

• · The Children's Home will attempt to keep a child involved in their current school and activities, however, Gray Cottage and Opportunity House is located within sight of four excellent elementary, middle and high schools and can provide day treatment for eligible children on campus as well as mentoring and tutoring.

• · Sibling referrals are encouraged and some on campus foster care is available for younger siblings.  Respite can be provided for services such as therapeutic homes.

• · Weekly summaries of a child’s progress will be faxed or emailed to referral sources

Residents will be involved in a variety of experiential activities including our ropes course, equine therapy, horticultural therapy, and use of our swimming pool, nature trails, mountain biking course, indoor and outdoor climbing walls, full size gym, ceramics studio, Frisbee golf course, greenhouse, miniature horses and gardening.  An emphasis is put on entrepreneurial skill building through children working for pay and /or restitution with staff in our offices, maintenance, or farm departments. 

Experienced staff will expedite communication with the Department of Social Services, Juvenile Justice System, Guardian Ad Litems and parents/legal guardians.  Supervised visitation by families and friends is expected as part of a child’s permanency plan.