Alabama Baptist Children's Homes - About Us, Our History, Administration, and Trustees

Over 115 years ago, Southern Baptist preacher John Stewart began telling others about his strong concern for widows and orphans. His desire to help them became reality in 1891 with

the establishment of the Louise Short Baptist Widows and Orphans Home in Evergreen, southern Alabama. From that one facility has grown the state's most diverse child and family care agency, Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries.

1891	Began serving children and youth at facilities in Evergreen, Alabama.
1923	Moved to a new campus in Troy, Alabama.
1964	Established the Birmingham group home.
1969	Established a campus in Decatur, Alabama.
1970	Began ministry in Mobile, Alabama after acquiring the Protestant's Children's Home.
1974	Birmingham Group Home moved to Gardendale.
1978	Opened Mobile, Alabama campus.
1982	Acquired the Northport, Alabama group home.
1984	Opened a maternity care home to meet the needs of unwed teen-aged mothers.
1985	Maternity care home for unwed mothers established in Mobile.
1993	Started the Alabama Crisis Pregnancy HelpLine, a toll-free telephone counseling service for those facing crisis pregnancy.
1994	Established professional counseling center in Birmingham, Alabama.
1996	Joined with the Montgomery Baptist Association and Montgomery Baptist Medical Center to provide professional counseling.
1997	- Sold the Troy campus to serve more children in more locations throughout Alabama. - Began offering professional counseling from four more locations. - Began construction of a new home for children and youth in Dothan, Alabama. - Relocated central administrative offices to Birmingham. - Purchased and renovated a home in northern Shelby County, Alabama for maternity care.
1999	Completed construction of an emergency shelter/assessment center in the Calhoun County, Alabama area.
2000	Expanded professional counseling ministry statewide to offer services at 24 locations.
2002	- Expansion of statewide ministry of foster care continues. - Plans underway for Family Care program for mothers with dependent children in central and southwestern Alabama.
2003- Present	- Expanded the Pathways Professional Counseling ministry of the Children's Homes statewide to the present-day 29 locations. - Began Family Care ministries in Alabaster and Mobile for mothers with dependent children. - Foster care continues to expand statewide. The Children's Homes currently seeks families interested in becoming licensed to provide foster care in their own homes. If you live in Birmingham, Alabama or within a 60-mile drive of Birmingham, phone (205) 945-0037. If you live in Anniston, Alabama or within a 60-mile drive of Anniston, phone (256) 235-2558. If you live in Mobile, Alabama or within a 60-mile drive of Mobile, phone (251) 639-1022. - Established the Associational Ambassadors team with Alabama Baptist associations. This volunteer team consists of men and women of various ages and backgrounds who share a passion for the well-being of children and families. Churches, civic groups, and individuals may contact them to inform the Children's Homes of a need, and/or to request a Children's Homes speaker or free resources for the Annual Children's Homes Offering. Email Bob Dewhurst for contact information about the Ambassador nearest you.

The purpose of Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries is to protect, nurture and restore children and families through Christ-centered services.