Black Mountain Home for Children cares for up to thirty-six children, ages five to eighteen (and in some cases up to twenty-one) who have been abused, abandoned, neglected, or orphaned. A court has decided that it is not safe or healthy for the child to remain with their family at this time. The children are then placed at the Home by the North Carolina Department of Social Services. Some children stay only a few weeks, while others may spend a considerable part of their growing years with the
Home. The average length of stay is about eighteen months, though currently some children have been at the Home much longer. In 2002, Presbyterian Home served fifty-one children. The Home primarily serves the westernmost counties of North Carolina.
Permanency is the goal for all children at Presbyterian Home for Children. The staff works with DSS, families of origin, and pre and post adoptive placements to prepare children for the next step in their lives. On campus, accommodations are available for visiting families. Presbyterian Home utilizes its many resources to facilitate a successful transition to a permanent home.