Orchard Place

On a cold November morning in 1886, a three-day-old baby boy was left on the doorstep of a prominent family in Des Moines, Iowa. Within 24 hours, Elizabeth Mann and two of her friends had established the Home for Friendless Children, the city's first orphanage, which was soon renamed the Des Moines Children's Home. It has since evolved into the organization we know today as Orchard Place. No longer an orphanage, Orchard Place now works with families who have children and youth experiencing mental health and behavioral challenges. By intervening early with appropriate care, we build stronger futures for our young clients. Our partnerships with community organizations have helped Orchard Place become an important resource for Iowa communities. We operate Orchard Place/Child Guidance Center, an outpatient community mental health center for children, adolescents and their families; Orchard Place Campus, a residential Psychiatric Medical Institute for Children; Orchard Place/PACE Juvenile Center, our community-based branch providing skill-building, substance use treatment, Juvenile Court follow-up, and summer programming; and the Orchard Place/Integrated Health Program, our health home branch providing care coordination services to children with severe emotional disturbances. Mission:?Our Mission Statement: Developing Strong Futures