Smoky Mountain Children's Home collection

The Smoky Mountains Children's Home was founded in 1920 when four young children were placed in a small frame house in Cleveland, Tennessee, in the care of Lilian Kinsey. This home was eventually named Ophanage Number One and thus was born the Church of God's ministry to homeless children. After the number of children in care increased two more homes were founded and eventually a large facility capalbe of housing several hundren children was constructed on 119 acres of land south of Cleveland. The Church of God Orphanage's mission was to provide shelter mostly for homeless and orphaned children. Some of the primary reasons children needed care was due to illness, and death of one or both parents. In 1949, the orphange relocated to Sevierville, Tennessee, on property formerly occupied by the Church of God Bible Training School. As the needs of the children in placement changed so did the structure. Foster families and residential treatment centers replaced the large, institutional program of care. In 1962, the name of the Home was offically changed to Church of God Home for Children. Social workers, and counseling services were also added to aid the childrens needs.