Alaska Children’s Services was established as an orphanage in Unalaska in 1890. Known as the Jesse Lee Home, this Methodist-sponsored program served hundreds of Aleut orphans.  Dr. Albert and Mrs. Agnes Newhall taught school, led church services and provided medical care out of the Jesse Lee Home until 1925.

At that time, the home was moved to larger and more central facilities in Seward. The Jesse Lee Home provided the necessities of food and shelter, as well as love, caring, a nurturing environment, job skills training, and encouragement toward self reliance. The most famous residents of the Jesse Lee Home include founder of Alaska Methodist University, Peter Gordon Gould; pianist, composer and writer, Simeon Oliver; and designer of Alaska’s flag, Benny Benson. After suffering severe damage from the Good Friday earthquake of 1964, the Seward Jesse Lee Home moved to its current location in Anchorage and began the transition from orphanage to treatment center.

In 1970, a unique merger of the Jesse Lee Home, the Lutheran Youth Center, and the Anchorage Children’s Christian Home (American Baptist) formed a comprehensive program called Alaska Children’s Services, Inc. ACS affiliated with a fourth supporting denomination, the National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1981.

Responsible to a local twenty-three member Board of Directors, Alaska Children’s Services is a non-profit corporation which provides a comprehensive program of treatment for troubled youth. Services are provided to children, adolescents, and their families from throughout the State of Alaska.