About Us

In 1991, Christian Services for Children in Alabama (CSCA) was incorporated as a nonprofit 501© (3) agency to provide services for children and youth who are in the custody of the Alabama Department of Human Resources. CSCA’s vision to serve children and their families resulted from the efforts of a task force established by members from the Sellers Memorial Christian (Disciples of Christ) Church located in Lowndes County, Alabama. The task force was created out of concerns for services unavailable to children and families within their own community primarily Lowndes County and other surrounding rural counties. Through contractual agreement with the State Department of Human Resources (SDHR) and managerial guidance of the agency’s parent organization (Disciples Benevolent Services, Health and Social Unit of the Christian Church/Disciples of Christ) a partnership was formed with SDHR to create community-based services for abused and neglected children and their families. In close collaboration with the local Departments of Human Resources, Therapeutic Foster Care was established to serve children and youth who required out of home care in the private homes of trained foster families. Therapeutic Foster Care is uniquely designed to help youth explore healthy outlets to healing occurring from the abuse and neglect they have suffered.

In 1996 CSCA expanded its mission of caring for abused and neglected children and families with the State Department of Human Resources through the provision of Family Preservation and Reunification Services. Family Preservation Program is intended to help family remain safely together and learn healthier ways to cope with life challenges without unnecessary separation.

CSCA’s primary funding source is its contractual agreement with the State Department of Human Resources, but it has also relied on the ministry of the Disciples Benevolent Services Development Program in the solicitation of additional funding. CSCA receives monetary support from its local advisory council, private individuals, churches and community businesses. Finally, CSCA is grateful for its covenant relationship and support of The Christian Church Alabama-Northwest Florida Region.

Christian Services for Children in Alabama, Inc., a Service Unit of Disciples Benevolent Services

National Benevolent Association, DBA Disciples Benevolent Services is a 501(c)3 organization headquartered in Maryland Heights, MO, a suburb of St. Louis, MO. DBS is a general unit of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
In the 1880s, when six very determined and compassionate women in a St. Louis-based prayer group gave birth to a local program designed to help the area’s widows and orphans, they certainly never imagined that generations later that ministry would still be serving people in need -- not only in the local community, but across the country.
From that initial ministry, the organization slowly and steadily grew as it added homes for older adults, orphanages and facilities for adults with developmental disabilities and even a few hospitals. At its zenith, the organization owned, operated and/or was affiliated with facilities from Florida to Alaska and from Pennsylvania to California.
As trends and needs changed, the organization changed to stay in step. Units that had outlived their usefulness closed or were refitted to meet different needs; orphanages became homes providing refuge for at-risk children and youth; “old people’s homes” became communities where older adults enjoy independent and active lifestyles; and adults with development disabilities have made the transition to sharing individual houses or apartments in their local communities.
Moving into the 21st century brought new challenges to our country and to our organization. Economic instability impacted our bottom line and in order to sustain our mission and ministry, we have taken the organization in a new direction. We have changed our name to Disciples Benevolent Services, emphasizing the partnerships we have and are developing with other faith-based organizations. We are smaller and our focus of service has narrowed, but our vision of new ministries is boundless.
“In the loving and caring spirit of Christ, Disciples Benevolent Services will partner with regions, congregations, and others to develop ministries of care in response to the needs of their communities.”