1928

The Junior League Convalescent Home, which served children recovering from diseases such as rheumatic fever, Tuberculosis and polio, was established in a home located on the grounds of the now Iowa Methodist Hospital.

1937

The Junior League Convalescent Home moved into a new and larger home built on land donated by Hubbell & Thompson Estates at 28th Street. The home could serve 20 children, and had cared for 112 children by the end of the first year of operation.

1952

The Junior League transferred ownership and responsibility for the home to an individual community Board of Directors. The name was changed to Convalescent Home for Children.

1959

The Convalescent Home for Children began providing respite which gives families a break from daily demands when caring for a child with special health care needs.

1966

The organization began serving children from outside of Polk County, and was licensed as a skilled nursing facility for the first time.

1967

Several beds were re-licensed as intermediate care for children with mental retardation.

1977

The Polk County Board of Supervisors granted $40,000 to the Home to study the development of a new Home with a capacity to serve more children. 1981 The new Convalescent Home for Children, located at 5900 Pioneer Parkway, opened and was licensed to serve 60 children. The keynote address at the facility's opening was given by Governor Robert Ray.

1981

The new Convalescent Home for Children, located at 5900 Pioneer Parkway, opened and was licensed to serve 60 children. The keynote address at the facility's opening was given by Governor Robert Ray.

1985

The Board approved a strategic vision to serve more children in residential group homes and through home/community based services. The Johnston House was opened. The adaptive equipment workshop was developed and called Assistive Solutions. The service is now known as ChildServe Adaptive Equipment.

1987

The Des Moines Hearing and Speech Center merged with the Convalescent Home for Children. By 2000 the center expanded to include occupational and physical therapy; and serving children had become its new focus. The Center was renamed ChildServe Therapy.

1995

Community Options merged with the Convalescent Home for Children. This non-profit organization began offering respite and supported community living services.

1997

Integrated childcare was offered when the Hilltop Daycare Center in Ames was purchased. This was the first time the organization offered childcare services for children with and without disabilities.

1998

The Convalescent Home for Children partnered with Polk County Health Services to become a case management provider. The Convalescent Home for Children incorporated a new non-profit corporation to provide homecare. The next year it was certified by Medicare and is now known as ChildServe Homecare.

2000

The Variety Club ChildServe Center opened in Ames. The facility houses Hilltop Daycare, a 10-bed respite center, homecare, supported community living, therapy and adaptive equipment. The Board approved a new strategic plan for the organization to respond to growing residential and community service needs.

2002

The Convalescent Home for Children changed its name to ChildServe.

2003

ChildServe purchased Village Square Daycare Center in Johnston and began providing integrated childcare in the Des Moines community. The Center is now known as the ChildServe Childcare Center. The ChildServe Foundation completed the ChildServe Vision Campaign. Hundreds of people in the community contributed more than $4 million. The new ChildServe Center in Johnston opened. The center houses Des Moines-based community services including adaptive equipment, homecare, respite, supported community living, therapy and case management, as well as administrative and ChildServe Foundation offices.

2004

ChildServe began its 75th year of service. The first annual ChildServe Run for the Kids was held on May 22, 2004. Camp ChildServe, an integrated summer day camp, was established and certified.

2005

ChildServe obtained a certificate of need from the Iowa Health Facilities Council for 20 additional skilled nursing beds to be used at CHC. ChildServe was recognized by the Des Moines Register as the winner of the Aurora Award. The first annual Staffapoolza was held to celebrate staff and their commitment to ChildServe.

2006

ChildServe began the construction of four new group homes and the renovation of two existing homes. Two new apartments were opened in West Des Moines. Construction began on the building that would link CHC and the ChildServe Center. The Board of Trustees initiated a $2.0 million Great Life campaign that will be used to create the Transitional Care Unit. Variety made a $200,000 commitment to the Great Life campaign. ChildServe ended the year 2005/06 with its best financial results since it began expansion into community services in 1995.

2007

Six homes were opened. The Stelter Fisher Transitional Care Unit opened in July 2007. The Great Life Capital campaign reached its $2.0 million goal when Larry Stelter and Peggy Fisher made a $420,000 gift to finish the campaign. Construction began on the 5,000 square foot addition to the Variety Club ChildServe Center in Ames.