Diane is a 14-year-old girl currently in the Residential Treatment Program at St. Joseph Children’s Home.  She has spent most of her life in the state system due to a neglectful, abusive home life. And she has had a difficult life trying to overcome her negligent and aggressive upbringing that has been made more difficult by her own mental illness and developmental delays.  She has been in psychiatric hospital placements or residential treatment facilities most of her life, but has been able to stabilize in very structured settings and has tried to make the transition to foster car several times.  However, once her setting changes, she begins to unravel. The coping mechanism that she learned early in life, which is to threaten others to ensure her own safety, kicks in and the trouble begins. 

Diane is in St. Joseph’s residential program for the second time.  She is a child that loves life and is appreciative of every opportunity to experience new things.  Recently, she had expressed a desire to attend a Hilary Duff concert.  She repeatedly told staff this was her life long dream.  One of the staff was able to obtain two tickets to the concert.  Diane made a poster to take with her to the concert and anxiously waited for the day of the concert.  As the day approached, the concert is all she could talk about it.  She attended the concert with staff that evening with a smile on her face.  She jumped, danced and sang with every song that night, and then using the allowance money she had saved, bought several Hilary Duff items before leaving for the night.  As she recalled the concert in detail for staff over the next several days she stated that this was the best night of her life. 

Diane continues to make progress. She’s learning new ways to deal with adversity and we are hopeful she can one day make a lasting connection with a foster or adoptive family. When we can moments of joy that lift our kids in such a positive way, it gives us hope that the moments will become hours, then days and possibly a life full of joy.

Diane is just one of our many kids living and thriving at St. Joseph Children's Home. Through our mission of "Giving Children a Home" we strive to bring joy and happiness to all of our children.

The Louisville cholera epidemic of 1832 took many lives and left many children as orphans. During that time, a handful of German Catholics, recognizing the grave need to care for these children, formed the St. Joseph Catholic Orphan Society in 1849.

The Society built its first home in 1850, but increasing numbers of children prompted several locations before settling at the present site in Crescent Hill, established in 1885.

Notre Dame Sisters from Milwaukee administered the Home from 1865-1897. The Ursuline Sisters of Louisville became administrators and staffed the home from 1897 until 1972. Since then, they continue to serve the children, but under the individual administrators hired by the Society's Board of Trustees.

In 1851, a fair was organized to meet the payments on the Society's first home. This annual picnic continues to be a major fundraiser as well as a community social event.

Families have changed since 1849, but at St. Joseph our commitment to children has not. Through the years, we have offered hope in family-crisis situations, assisting the child in overcoming obstacles which could limit growth and development.

Today's dependent child is no longer a victim of epidemic or war, but of family crisis, financial difficulty, or an abusive, neglectful environment. In response to changing societal conditions, St. Joseph has evolved from an orphanage to that of a more diversified child caring facility.

We understand the challenges families face. Values change; families are uprooted and disrupted; unexpected events overwhelm them. Our programs are designed to help families in need of quality child care.

As always, St. Joseph places great emphasis in helping children, loving environment in which to learn – an atmosphere that a vulnerable child needs during times of family crisis. St. Joseph has adapted to the current needs of families, remaining faithful to its original commitment: the growth and development of children.

Staff

A prerequisite for all staff members is a keen interest in the growth and development of children. Credentials range from practical working experience to the Master's Degree. Qualified interns from local colleges and universities are also employed. Consulting psychiatrists, licensed clinical social workers and special education teachers are also available to serve the needs of the children.

Continuing education through workshops, seminars and college courses is encouraged and considered vital to the staff at St. Joseph.

Facilities

St. Joseph, located in Crescent Hill on the outskirts of downtown Louisville, is surrounded by shade trees and 40 acres of land. The building, although extensively renovated, was built in 1885.

A vigorous activities program is part of the daily routine of each child. On campus activities are facilitated by acres of play area, a full size gymnasium, numerous playgrounds with climbing structures, play rooms, ball fields, bicycles and go carts.

This facility is blessed with physical assets that offer children many options and lots of room for play.