The Beginning: Grandma's House
Founded by William Paul Phillips, our dedicated District Attorney General at the time, the Children’s Center of the Cumberlands was born from his powerful vision: to create a safe haven known as, “Grandma’s House” for child abuse victims.
A place where all services are nestled under one roof, to provide a nurturing environment where kids can heal, share their traumatic stories one-time in one-place, and receive the support they deserve.
Our Impact
1999
2000
2001
2002
The vision by William Paul Phillips was born and the Children's Center worked under the umbrella of ALQI.
“Grandma’s House”, a log cabin donated by Jim Barna, became the physical location and home for services such as:
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Our Victim Advocacy Services with court accompaniment
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Our CPIT (Child Protective Investigation Team) a Multi-Disciplinary approach to combat child abuse
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Our Mental Health Counseling Program
Our Community and School-based Child Abuse Prevention Education Program for K-3rd grades was established.
Our SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) our Forensic Medical Examination Program was established.
2004
2005
2006
2008
2009
Our School-based Prevention Education program was expanded to reach every school and every grade PK-12.
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Our Satellite Child Advocacy Center for Fentress County was opened.
Full accreditation status by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) was earned.
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Our services for Drug Endangered/Exposed Children was added.
Our Forensic Interviewing Service was established.
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Started the Nancy Swain Watters Memorial Walk
Our Mental Health program was expanded to add clinical and therapeutic trauma focused services for healing complex cases of abuse.
Expanded and moved into our new building and current location.
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Our Youth Mentorship Program for drug endangered children was added.
2010
2011
2014
2015
2017
2018
Our “Angel Bear Tree” initiative was established to give children in need a better Christmas.
Became the administrator for the “Pennies-With-A-Purpose” a Citizens Gas round-up program.​
Became the administrator for the “Play with no Boundaries” Initiative that placed under our umbrella.
Our transitional apartment “Mary’s SafeHaven” for children in child protection awaiting home placement was established.
“Clays 4 Children” Sporting Clays Tournament was established through the passionate vision of District
Attorney General, Jared Effler in support of CAC in the 8th Judicial District.
Our facility dog, “Lucia” was added to the team. Lucia was the 4th in the state of TN and the very 1st facility dog in East TN for Child Advocacy Centers.
“Project 5000”, our summer food program was established to help feed children in need.
2020
2022
2023
2024
“Kips Kloset” was established to honor the memory of Kip McCoy Walker by providing brand new clothes to children in transition.
The 1st Annual “Casting for Kids” Fishing Tournament - now known as the Kellie Walker Memorial “Casting for Help & Hope” Fishing Tournament was established.
The “Blue Sunday” community project, a National Day of Prayer for Child Abuse Victims was added.
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The “Champions for Children” initiative was established.
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“Kellie’s Memorial Garden” to honor the
memory of our beloved director Kellie Asberry Walker was established.
“Project HALO” our bicycle helmet safety initiative to provide helmets for children in need was established.
The “Internet Safety Training” for at-risk youth was developed–this is in addition to what is presented in schools.
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Expanded our Play Therapy by the addition of a
“Sensory Focused Therapy Room”.