History

Our History

The Children’s Attention Home was founded out of concern and compassion for children without a safe place to call home. For over 55 years, the Home has provided nurturing care and lifechanging services for nearly 9,000 youth in need of a safe and nurturing home.

In 1969, the Rock Hill Ministerial Association became aware of children being housed in jail due to the lack of emergency shelters and foster homes. After much research and planning, a house was provided by the Winthrop Wesley Foundation in Rock Hill, South Carolina to provide short-term emergency shelter for up to 9 children, ages birth to 18, who had experienced abuse, neglect, poverty, or an incarcerated parent.

Thanks to the community's investment of time, resources, and financial support, the Children's Attention Home opened in November of 1970. Many people helped in the renovation and start of the facility by volunteering. The support and commitment from the community to care for these most vulnerable children was immediate and impactful. In a newspaper article, one of the Home's Board Chair stated that the name was meant to place the "emphasis on 'attention' instead of detention", stating the goal to care for children who have done nothing wrong and just need someone to take crae of them.

Since the Home first opened, the campus has grown and expanded the number of youth able to receive care at one time. Today, the Home serves up to 20 youth and young adults daily and provides comprehensive care through its residential programs. As a regional leader in child welfare service provision, the Children’s Attention Home has proactively filled critical gaps in care as circumstances as identified needs of youth have changed.

In recent years, services have expanded to serve children and teens with varying levels of need with an eye towards meeting future needs of youth in our community and across the state. Since 2017, the Home has opened its doors to care for young adults 17- 20 experiencing homelessness, expanded services to care for youth with significant needs (complex trauma and mental health needs, multiple placements, etc.), and piloted a day services program to care for youth awaiting placement in foster care. During this time, the Home also achieved and
maintained national accreditation and completed the four-year implementation for its  trauma-informed care model.

In the fall of 2026, the Home will be opening two new homes and launching the region's first independent living program designed for young adults 18 and older transitioning out of foster care and homelessness.