Serving Louisiana’s Children and Families
With roots extending back to 1886 in New Orleans and 1902 in north Louisiana, Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services cares for children, families, and communities throughout our state.
New Orleans (Services established in 1886)
In 1886 a young girl and baby were rescued from New Orleans’ Charity Hospital by Mrs. M.M. Wolfe, a missionary associated with Prytania Avenue Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Wolfe returned to Charity Hospital to rescue other girls and infants. As the numbers grew, a group of ladies from several different churches joined her efforts to rescue these children and their babies from an early form of sex trafficking. Ultimately, their work became the Mercy Memorial Home-Hospital in New Orleans. In 1939 the agency passed to the Methodist Protestant Church.
Ruston (Services established in 1902)
Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home began in 1902 because Louisiana Methodists had a heart for orphans, children who had no others who could care for them. Their desire to care for children led to the creation of Louisiana Methodist Orphanage which was first located in a small, wood frame, home in Bunkie, Louisiana. Soon after, Louisiana Methodist Orphanage moved to Ruston, Louisiana.
Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home is licensed by the Department of Health and Hospitals as a psychiatric residential treatment facility. The 40-acre campus provides treatment services for children who are unable to live in less supportive settings such as family, foster care, or group homes. The Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home campus is also home to Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services’ administrative offices which support 561 employees across Louisiana. LUMCFS is the third largest non-governmental employer in Lincoln Parish.
Sulphur (Services established in 2010)
Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana, in Sulphur, was dedicated in 2010. This new facility sits on 40 acres of land nestled into a lazy bend in the Sam Houston River just north of Sulphur. Serving 24 boys, Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana specializes in intensive residential treatment services for children who are victims of child sexual abuse.
Methodist Foster Care (Services established in 2015)
Methodist Foster Care is actively recruiting, training, certifying and supporting a state-wide network of Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) families who are providing family-based treatment in specially trained foster parent homes, for foster children with significant needs.