1880
Home of the Innocents is founded by the Rev. James Taylor Helm, an Episcopal minister, to care for the children of working and destitute mothers. It has space for eight children, and with the support of Sister Emily Cooper, an Episcopalian Deaconess, Rev. Helm provided 20 years of care for Louisville’s children in need.
1942
Following three mergers with other orphanages, the Home moves to its third location at 202 E. Chestnut St. The Home can now provide residential care for up to 18 children.
1972
The Home moves again to 505 E. Chestnut St, in a building designed to house up to 30 children. Services for abused and neglected children, previously supplied by Sunshine Lodge, are integrated into the Home.
1975
The Home merged with the Jewish Convalescent Home for Children at the request of Metro United Way, taking responsibility for its pediatric nursing services. By 1978, expansion of the Home meant it now could accommodate 50 children.
1986
Further expansion and successful fundraising meant that the Home could now provide shelter for 40 children and medical care to another 30.
1995
Gordon Brown is hired by the board of directors to become the Home’s President and CEO. The Home goes into its most rapid and important development phase, which includes implementing the Therapeutic Loving foster Care program and accreditation for the Pediatric Convalescent Center and the Childkind Center in Behavioral Health.
2001
The first building at the Home’s new location on Market St., Cralle Day House, is opened.
2003
The Joan E. Thomas Children’s Village is completed, moving the Home into its current 20-acre location at the east end of Market Street.
2008
The Joan E. Thomas Children’s Village begins a Phase II expansion to increase its capacity to accommodate 172 children, 96 in residential programs and 76 in the Pediatric Convalescent Center.
2010
The Village Pharmacy, the Home’s nonprofit pharmacy is open to the public. The Home also opens the Kay and Jim Morrissey Advanced Therapy Center. The Center is home to a 92 degree salt water advanced therapy pool that is also open to the public.
2011
The Home opens Open Arms Children’s Health in its newly built Hockensmith Pediatric Assessment Center. The new health clinic includes: pediatrics, dental, vision, psychiatry, psychology, audiology and occupational, physical and speech therapies. The clinic is open to the public.
2016
The board of directors hires Paul W. Robinson as the new President and CEO who will move the organization forward to carry out its mission.