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Quick Facts

  • ECH was founded in 1858 by Reverend Louis Nollau and was called the German Protestant Orphan’s Home.
  • In the fall of 1866, 60 boys and girls moved to the “country,” the current location at 8240 St. Charles Rock Road. It was a half-day’s ride from the city by farm wagon.
  • By 1874, the number of children reached 250 and the Board of Directors decided to build a larger building.
  • Just 3 years later, in 1877, during a blizzard, the building caught fire. Just 11 months after the fire a new home was dedicated on November 18. This home was built on the existing foundation.
  • On September 18,1945, The Board voted to rename the German Protestant Orphan’s Home to Evangelical Children's Home. This came following trouble during World War II.
  • 1946 saw the change in care from an orphanage to a more residential treatment facility. The emerging role of Evangelical Children's Home, in some cases, became that of a center for the emotionally damaged child.
  • During the mid 1950’s, six traditional houses were built to replace the dormitory style living quarters.
  • In the 1960’s the first group home was opened.
  • In 1965, the Day Care Center began to help mothers who might otherwise be unable to care for their child.
  • In 1978, following a study in the Kansas City area, it was decided to open a girls unit as a branch of ECH.
  • The On-grounds school was reinstated in 1982.
  • The St. Louis Campus began Steppingstone services for older children in 1986.
  • The Family and Personal Counseling Center was started in 1987 and was housed in the old Isolation Hospital and the second oldest building on campus.
  • In 1988, the first Day Treatment kids began at ECH.
  • Alma Group Home was started in 1990.
  • The Secured and Assessment Units opened in the 1990s.
  • In 1997, the Kansas City program changed to an independent living program.
  • During 2000, the Carrie Elligson Gietner School was built.
  • During 2001, the Family Focus Residential Services started.
  • In 2003, the Intensive In-home Services began.
  • In 2005, the Assessment Unit was converted to Social and Behavioral Learning Unit for boys with a dual diagnosis of behavioral difficulties as well as learning delays. Also this year, the Family Case Management services began.
  • During Fiscal Year 2008, we served over 1,200 individuals.
  • ECH gave away over $3.2 million in free services.
  • The average age of the children served is 15. Ages range from 12 to 20.