Today marks the 210th anniversary of Mississippi’s oldest continuously operating children’s charity, a mission that began March 12, 1816 to care for vulnerable children.
Natchez Children’s Services holds the distinct title honor for the state’s longest-standing nonprofit institutions.
The organization began as an orphan care ministry and has evolved to meet the changing needs of children in southwest Mississippi, providing shelter, care, and stability for children facing crisis, loss, and abuse.
“For 210 years, this organization has adapted to meet the needs of children in our community,” said Executive Director Catherine McPhate. “While our methods have changed, our mission has remained the same: to protect children and help them find hope and healing.”
In 2025 alone, the organization served 451 children who were alleged victims of abuse, neglect, or violence.
Natchez Children’s Services operates as a trauma-informed Children’s Advocacy Center serving Adams, Claiborne, Franklin, Jefferson, and Wilkinson counties.
As the only Children’s Advocacy Center in its five-county region, it provides coordinated forensic interviews, family advocacy, and access to critical support services in a largely rural area where resources are often limited.
Local residents, churches, and civic leaders have helped sustain the charity’s work for generations. “Through our continued partnerships with our multidisciplinary team members, we are fighting to protect Mississippi’s most vulnerable,” McPhate added.
As Natchez Children’s Services marks its 210th year, the organization continues to strengthen child protection services and ensure that children in rural communities have access to advocacy, resources, and compassionate care.
The anniversary highlights a mission that remains vital today: protecting children and helping them find safety, healing, and hope.
