BCV&FM constructing new cottage on foundation of trauma-informed care

By Lindsey Carraway
Writing Specialist

BROOKHAVEN, Miss. — A refrigerator with a glass door, a stovetop that doesn’t burn, and a sink that turns off by itself are all a part of the plans for a new boys’ cottage on Dickerson Place Campus. The campus, located in Brookhaven, is one of many residential programs operated by the Baptist Children’s Village and Family Ministries (BCV&FM).

These inclusions, which may seem unusual or unnecessary on the surface, have come from the BCV&FM’s constant desire to meet the needs of children through a completely trauma-informed environment. Over the last year, the BCV&FM have redecorated and renovated their residential cottages across the state. 

When Kelsa Thames, Campus Director of Dickerson Place, realized the former boys’ cottage was beyond renovation, however, plans were made to construct a new cottage built with trauma-informed care from the start. Every room placement, paint color, and furniture piece is selected under the deliberate desire to make children feel safe and cared for.

After a crew poured in the foundational concrete, construction officially began May 25. The next day, builders “popped the line” — traced where the walls will go — and got to work. 

“I’ve learned all kinds of construction terms that I never thought I would need to know,” Thames laughed. “This is the first cottage that we have built and planned with these things in mind. God has just been so good. He blessed us with such a beautiful property, so I prayed He would allow us to use this property to take the next step. We were blessed to be able to harvest timber on campus to go toward this, and it just worked out because He tied all the pieces together.”

Comfort and Care

“A lot of kids with traumatic backgrounds come in with food insecurities,” Thames explained. A fridge with a glass door would offer “that subconscious anxiety the ability to always see food in the fridge and not have to worry.”

Research done by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development concluded that specific paint colors could reduce stimulation and increase calm moods. These colors include soft blues and greens, muted purples, and light earth tones, avoiding stark white walls and vibrant colors. The cottage will also incorporate warm, relaxing lighting rather than harsher, more stimulating bulbs.

Some of the features were decided based on basic safety and easy facilitation. A sink that turns off automatically prevents accidental overflows. While houseparents are always cautious and attentive in the kitchen, a stove heated by magnetic induction means children can help without risk of burn. 

“We want to empower the children who go through our program and start teaching them those life skills early on,” said Charlie Rogers, director of Programs and Residential Childcare. “We want them to be able to help out in the kitchen because it reinforces what a family is supposed to look like. That’s the whole goal here: to show what a family is supposed to look like, even if that includes some chores they don’t necessarily want to do.”

The cottage won’t be without any fun, however. An entire game room is built into the plans so residents can remember that children are supposed to enjoy life, too. 

It Takes a Village

“I was really scared to close the cottage,” Thames confessed, “thinking our campus could dwindle away. But a year ago, I made one phone call, and everything has fallen into place since then because of God’s faithfulness.”

That phone call was to Paul Harris, president of the mission group Builders for Christ. Comprised of volunteers from all over the country, Builders for Christ have undertaken one building project every year since their establishment in 1978. The group commits two weeks out of each summer to provide the labor necessary to build a church or ministry site for free. While the BCV&FM supplied the materials, the men began construction May 25, and a team of ladies set up nearby to feed their crew.

By June 5, Builders for Christ promise to have the flat slab completely “blacked in” – all walls, windows, and exterior doors will be up. By next week, almost 100 volunteers will be on site at one time. 

“You’ll be able to tell it’s a house and walk through the rooms.” Thames said. “Once they leave, we’ll have a crew come in to do Sheetrock, cabinetry, and those kinds of things.”

Thames cited the weather as a cause for concern, but the rain has mostly dispelled since the builders began. Nonetheless, the accumulated mud became a hazard. Out of urgency, Thames reached out to an employee at the local Home Hardware Center, a woman named Pam who had been helping the campus order materials. Although it was four o’clock on Memorial Day, she answered Thames’ request for a couple of spare pallets. In fact, the workers showed up that next morning with an entire truckload of pallets.

Additionally, some 20 cases of water sit by the door of the campus office, testifying to the community’s compassion.

“The tornado that came through here a couple of weeks ago left this campus without power for about a week and half,” Rogers explained, “but they were told it was going to be even longer than that. Immediately, the day after the tornado, Hebron Baptist Church called and asked what was needed. That same day, they brought 84 cases of water.”

The day after Memorial Day, Scott Smith, a local and loyal friend to the BCV&FM, brought a sizeable tractor and hay from his farm to shore up and pack the dirt which had washed away from all the recent rain.

“That’s why we are able to do what we do,” Thames said, “because the people around us make it happen.”

Cause for Celebration

This summer, Dickerson Place Campus plans to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new cottage. Keep an eye out on the Baptist Children’s Village and Family Ministries social media accounts for details. 

If you would like to make a specific donation to BCV&FM projects, fiscal or in-kind, visit https://www.baptistchildrensvillage.com/connect/volunteer/ for more information.