By Rick Wheat, on January 28th, 2012 Life rolls out in cycles. Often the future reaches backward to bring the past into the present. As it stands now, we will soon be providing medical care on site. We did it many decades ago.
In fact, Methodist Home for Children of Greater New Orleans began as a medical facility. It was formed in 1886 by the Methodist Episcopal Church South as the Methodist Home Hospital and originally provided care for unwed mothers and served as an adoption agency.
This photo is of our old “infirmary” in Ruston. We have stories of how local doctors provided free care to our children. As time passed, medicine began to take advantage of advances in technology. Doctors began specializing and somewhere along the way healthcare became one of the nation’s biggest industries.
Long ago, with an eye to the future, the Home sold properties so that the bulk of Lincoln Parish’s medical community sits right next door. Directly across the road from our campus are two outpatient surgery centers, an emergency room, an urgent care center, a hospital and a large, multispeciality medical center, both with full labs and diagnostic services including x-ray, cat scans, and other assorted diagnostic devices. There are physicians who specialize in pediatrics through podiatry, a rehab hospital, dental care … you get the idea. Our former leaders were strategic in the disposition of property so that now, except for a few specialties, Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home is surrounded by all the medical care we need.
When one of our children needs medical care we can literally walk across the road.
A Walk from the Other Direction
With the launch of Louisiana’s new Coordinated System of Care, the walk across the road must start from the other direction. New licensing standards from the Department of Health and Hospitals require that we provide all medical services – except emergency care – on our own campus. After March 1, the physicians, x-ray machines and dental chairs will have to “walk across the road” – so to speak – and provide their services in a clinic we are creating on campus in Ruston. In Sulphur and in Mandeville we are working quickly to contract with medical providers to provide their services to our children in our facilities.
So much about this change has us scratching our heads. The Department of Health and Hospitals’ new licensing regulations require that all routine medical services be provided away from established medical facilities and offered on our campus. Of course, the doctors, dentists and clinics we have spoken with about assisting us have all asked the same question after hearing our request of them: “Why?”
Nor is the state offering start up money for these medical clinics. You’ll notice the photo of our old clinic in Ruston has little in the way of medical equipment. There was no medical technology to speak of that many years ago. Our old clinic consisted of a bed, a sink and a really funny light bulb. Scroll up and look at it by the door.
Today, medical technology rules. Setting up a simple dental room will cost upwards of $250,000. X-ray and EKG equipment is costly, too. Fortunately, some services may be available from mobile providers – so long as the medical RV/bus is parked on our campus and not across the road at the hospital or clinic.
When you look at the old photo, notice the weird lightbulb dangling from the ceiling and held close to the door with string. We’ve improved our lighting a great deal since then. You can be sure of this, the clinic photo you will see at the end of the year will be modern.
By Rick Wheat, on January 8th, 2012 Louisiana’s new Coordinated System of Care (CSoC) kicks off on March 1. One consequence of this new system of care is a change in the way our residential facilities in Ruston, Mandeville and Sulphur will be licensed. After March 1, our facilities will no longer be licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services. They will be licensed by the Department of Health and Hospitals.
Two things require us to change our licenses: the size of our campuses and the significant emotional and behavioral needs of our children. It’s about the number of children and their severe needs. That combination requires each of our campuses to become licensed under the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals’ Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) regulations.
I know the word “psychiatric” on the front of “residential treatment facility” gives some people pause. In this case, it should not. What Louisiana is doing by creating a Coordinated System of Care for children is a good thing. But like all new things, it generates questions.
One of the common questions is this: Are the Methodist children’s homes in Louisiana becoming psychiatric hospitals?
The answer is, No.
Our children’s homes are NOT becoming psychiatric hospitals. We will continue providing residential services to children.
Another frequent question is, “will you change your names?”
Again, the answer is, No.
We are not changing our names. We will still be Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston, Methodist Home for Children of Greater New Orleans in Mandeville and Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana in Sulphur. We are who we are.
What I like about these new licensing requirements is that they will help us increase the intensity of our treatment programs so we can better meet the needs of our children. We have always sought to provide care for the neediest children in Louisiana. We care for children and adolescents whose needs and behaviors challenge our abilities.
This dynamic tension between what children need and what we have done to meet their needs has enhanced our expertise through the years. Muscles grow when they are flexed.
Simply stated, under these new licensing standards we will add additional staff and treatment resources to meet the increasing needs of the children for whom we care. These standards will help us flex our ministry muscles and, once again, we will enhance our residential services to children.
If you wish to learn more about Louisiana’s Coordinated System of Care for children, information is available online at: About the Coordinated System of Care.
By Rick Wheat, on December 25th, 2011 Merry Christmas to you from all of us at Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services!
From Ruston, Mandeville, Sulphur, Dubach, Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Leesville, Natchitoches – wherever we are in ministry to Louisiana’s children and families – we wish you a very merry Christmas.
We thank you for loving the Home and for supporting our ministry with your gifts and with you prayers. May you experience incredible grace, peace and joy on this Christmas day and during the coming year!
By Rick Wheat, on December 17th, 2011 The Family Counseling Center, in Ruston, Louisiana, is the community counseling program of Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home.
For nearly 30 years, The Family Counseling Center has actively worked to improve the quality of life and the well-being of individuals and families by addressing the mental health and behavioral health issues in northeast Louisiana.
Counseling services are available to children, families and adults of all ages. We help individuals and families make positive life changes and empower them to make healthy and successful life choices. We offer a variety of service including marriage counseling, family counseling, parenting classes, play therapy, critical incident counseling and educational seminars for parents with children who have special needs. We offer counseling and advocacy to victims of crimes such as sexual assault, incest, physical and sexual abuse of children and other crimes.
Our staff are licensed professionals who have specialties in marriage and family, play therapy, the treatment of ADHD and the use of EMDR, an effective therapy for the treatment of trauma. FCC understands the importance and strength of collaboration and we partner with agencies, businesses, schools and churches who have the common goal of preserving and strengthening our community.
Team Approach
The Family Counseling Center takes a systemic approach in helping families recognize their strengths and resources and guiding them toward healthier living. Because of the different specialties we provide, we are able to assess and deliver services which best fit a client’s needs. On occasion, a family members may work with more than one therapist. For example, a child may be in play therapy while the parents receive marital therapy. We consider and refer to area therapists who may better serve a client’s needs.
Children’s Services
We believe parents or caregivers are the primary change agents for their children. It is our policy that parents or the legal guardian attend a child’s first therapy session to provide a history of the presenting problem and to sign a contract which includes an agreement for the parent to watch a parent video as part of their child’s therapy. Parents of young children are encouraged to attend Child Parent Relationship parenting groups. This is an innovative approach we have found effective in facilitating progress in the child’s therapy. Parents are a vital part of the therapeutic process and therefore remain at The Family Counseling Center during their child’s therapy sessions.
Professional Development
Our therapists are encouraged to focus on acquiring professional training that addresses the therapeutic skills related to areas of expertise needed to address the identified needs of our communities. Our therapists hold memberships in the following professional associations: American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, National Association of Play Therapy, Association of Christian Counselors and International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Our therapists meet together weekly for peer supervision which encourages brainstorming solutions and provides consultation for difficult cases.
If you live in north Louisiana and wish to schedule an appointment at The Family Counseling Center in Ruston, Louisiana, you may call (318) 255-5753.
By Rick Wheat, on December 4th, 2011 I remember well how I started my first day of work at Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home. Eager with anticipation, I arrived early and I waited in the lobby of the Family Development Center. As I waited, I noticed a ceramic nativity scene on the mantle above the fireplace. Looking more closely, it was obvious the baby Jesus had no hands. They had both been broken. The baby Jesus lay in the manger broken-handed.
My first thought was a question, “Why can’t these folks afford a good Jesus?”
My next thought was a conclusion, “Perhaps this is an appropriate symbol. Certainly many of these kids I’m about to work with are probably broken in some way.”
I will soon celebrate my twenty-third Christmas at the Home. Each year I find myself contemplating the broken-handed Jesus. Each year I ask the same question and each year I reach the same conclusion.
“Why can’t these folks afford a good baby Jesus?” The answer is simple. It costs money to operate a quality children’s Home. To be frank, it costs a lot of money.
Because we have limited funds, we prioritize our expenditures. Clothing, education, health care, child care staff, nurses, therapists and therapeutic supplies, materials for pastoral care and recreation are all more important than Christmas decorations. We still have the broken-handed Jesus.
The conclusion I’m forced to consider each year has not changed. How very appropriate a broken-handed Jesus is as a symbol of our kids.
During the last 22 years I have known many broken-handed children. I remember a child with dents in his skull from the hammer blows of an angry parent. I’ve known children so despised and neglected by others that they attempt to destroy themselves. I know children who will live the rest of their lives with horrible scars on the bodies; scars left from wounds inflicted by others. I know children who cannot trust and children who fear the future. I know children who, years after the events, have nightmares about the trauma and evil they have endured. I remember a boy who ate bugs because he was hungry.
One cannot work at the Home without knowing a lot of broken children. I know Jesus with His broken hands understands their pain. And He cares.
I also know the broken nativity figure is merely a symbol. For me, it remains a symbol of His identification with those who have been broken.
Fortunately for our kids, Jesus has hands. He has many hands. He has hands which can reach and touch and heal and give. In this world, Jesus’ hands are your hands and our hands. Jesus cares for children using the hands of His children who, like Him, care for kids with broken hands.
I hope you will remember the broken-handed Jesus as Christmas approaches. Thank God for the gifts He has given you. Remember the children you support through your prayers, volunteer activities and financial gifts.
Rick Wheat
President and CEO
By Rick Wheat, on November 4th, 2011 Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana has successfully completed our first year of ministry to children and their families in southwest Louisiana. We thank you for making this possible.
 With the participation of more than 250 friends gathered for a Dedicatory Service on October 17, 2010, Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana was dedicated by the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Made possible in large part by the William L. Henning family, Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana offers 25,070 square feet of heated living space and sits on a 40-acre plot of land in Sulphur which holds the promise of future development.
The residential building contains 28 bedrooms. There are bath and restroom facilities, a cafeteria style dining area, four large living rooms, two classrooms, and an industrial-sized kitchen. The administration building offers reception and waiting areas, offices for the Program Director, the clinical and nursing staff members, comfortable areas for family visits and client records.
Even more important than the beautiful facility for children, designed by Mr. E. J. Ellender, are the 57 incredible people who joined us this first year as employees. They do the real work of ministry. We are overwhelmed by the quality of our staff and by their active pursuit of our mission on behalf of children. We have found exceptional people in Calcasieu Parish who are remarkable for their skills, work ethic, love of children and dedication to our mission.
In addition to our facilities and our excellent staff, we have been accepted with open arms by the community. The citizens of southwest Louisiana have warmly invited us, accepted us and support us in our work with children who have significant emotional needs. Area agencies – including educational services, social services, medical professionals and law enforcement agencies – have worked to help us become established in the community, have connected us to needed resources and have offered support as we began operation this year.
Our successful work with children with significant needs is a direct consequence of the incredible support we have received during our first year. Thank you, all of you, for welcoming, assisting and supporting the work of Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana.
With gratitude to all of Calcasieu Parish,
Steven Franks
Program Director
Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana
Rick Wheat
President and CEO
Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services
By PRDM, on October 31st, 2011 Tony Cain was recently named Principal and Director of Educational Services, joining a distinguished list of educators who have served our Home in this capacity. In 1985, the Lorraine Nobles Howard Education Center, also known as Howard School, opened to serve the Home’s residents who were unable to attend the public schools in Lincoln Parish. The first principal of Howard School was Mrs. Evelyn Wilburn who was followed by Mr. Bill Gullatt in 1986, who, in turn, was followed in 1993 by Mr. Rick Sutton. Mr. Cain joined us upon the recent retirement of Mr. Sutton in August.
Mr. Cain received his Bachelors degree at Northeast Louisiana University, his Masters degree at University of Louisiana-Monroe, and his Doctorate ABD degree at George Washington University. He and his wife Stephanie have three children: Anna Gail, Saylor and Sawyer.
Mr. Cain is a previous employee with the Ouachita Parish School Board, and has held various positions and memberships in notable organizations over the years such as:
Member of Monroe City School Board for 12 years, Louisiana Freemason (Past-Master), Louisiana Scottish Rite, Rotary International, Our House/ Safe Place Board of Directors (A United Way Agency), and Monroe Youth Girls Softball League Board of Directors.
When asked what inspired him to seek employment with the Methodist Children’s Home’s Howard School, Cain said “I have worked with at-risk youth for many years and love doing so. The personal satisfaction that comes with positively impacting the life of a young man or woman whose circumstances inhibit their ability to achieve, far outweighs the challenges associated with educating the disadvantaged youth that we serve.”
All children who are admitted into the residential care of Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home begin their educational experiences at Howard School. If students demonstrate through behavioral and academic performance that they are capable of functioning in a public school setting, then residents are transitioned into the local Ruston Junior High School and Ruston High School.
In additional to a regular academic track, Howard School also offers an extremely successful GED/Vocational Education track for students whose academic goals are better served by a career skills-based education. Students can receive instruction in carpentry, barbering and welding at the John H. Allen Vocational and Career Training Center, located on the Ruston campus.
By Rick Wheat, on October 26th, 2011 Last week I had the pleasure of meeting another CASA volunteer on our campus in Ruston. CASA volunteers are Court-Appointed Special Advocates for children.
This CASA volunteer had driven up from south Louisiana to visit one of the children for whom she advocates. As we chatted, I could tell she is passionate about what she does and she is extremely committed to doing good things for children who need a person on their side. I was not surprised. CASA volunteers tend to be remarkable people who care greatly about the needs of children.
In our ministry to meet the diverse needs of Louisiana’s children and families, we welcome partnerships and encourage the work of others who provide care for abused or neglected children. I can’t speak highly enough about the significant work CASA volunteers do for children.
CASA volunteers help secure safe and permanent homes for abused and neglected children by investigating and monitoring cases involving children in foster care. CASA volunteers, after receiving special training and supervision, are appointed by a Judge to represent the best interests of children in court.
The role of a CASA volunteer is to provide the court with carefully researched information about a child to help the court make a sound decision about the child’s future. Judges rely on CASA volunteers for guidance in determining whether a child is better placed with parents, guardians, foster care, or being freed for adoption. CASA volunteers make recommendations to judges based upon the best information they have available.
CASA volunteers carefully prepare their recommendations for judges. They do this after talking with a child, the family, guardians, social workers, school officials, health care providers and others involved in the child’s life. On behalf of the child and the judge, a CASA volunteer researches all records pertaining to the child and his or her care, including educational records, medical records, mental health records and other reports.
Court rooms can be frightening places for innocent children. As a child’s advocate, a CASA volunteer explains to the child the legal procedures, the roles of the judge, lawyers and case workers. The CASA volunteer encourages the child to express his or her opinion and hopes about the case and care he or she receives. Children who have a CASA volunteer advocating for them tend to spend less time in court and less time in the foster care system.
In other words, CASA volunteers do BIG work for children and catch it – they are VOLUNTEERS!
According to Dr. John Wyble, Executive Director of Louisiana’s CASA Program,
“Louisiana CASA believes in the strength that nonprofit partnerships bring to Louisiana’s children and families. As Louisiana continues to rank at 49th in the nation in the quality of life we provide for our children, it is imperative that citizens, nonprofit agencies, business and industry, and other stakeholders work collaboratively to improve outcomes. We cannot rely on business models of the past but rather must focus on the opportunities that come with shifting how we view community programs and services.
Louisiana CASA currently has formal partnerships with Children’s Advocacy Centers of Louisiana and Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana. These three agencies are currently exploring opportunities to get more of Louisiana’s citizens active in efforts to counter child abuse and neglect in our state. Individuals, not institutions, will rebuild hope for children and families devastated by the ills of abuse and/or neglect; and these organizations will collectively seek venues to educate individual citizens on how they can make a real difference for children.
Our mission partners are key stakeholders who have partnered with us in a variety of ways from grant funding to shared memberships on statewide work groups in an effort to better serve the communities of Louisiana.”
I am convinced children in out-of-home care benefit greatly when they have a CASA volunteer on their side.
If you have time and heart, consider becoming a CASA volunteer. If you know a CASA volunteer, tell them from your heart, “Thank You!”
You can learn more about CASA at http://www.louisianacasa.org
By Rick Wheat, on October 7th, 2011 Students have received letter grades for as long as anyone remembers. Everyone understands that A’s are the top and F’s indicate failure. In Louisiana, schools now receive letter grades.
Our Department of Education has recently published the letter grades of the schools in Louisiana. These letter grades are based on the annual numerical scores known as School Performance Scores (SPS).
Howard School, our alternative school located on the grounds of Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home has a School Performance Score of 30.8. Of more than 1,300 schools in the state, only 21 schools in Louisiana have a lower score than Howard School. In letter grade terms, Howard School has an F-.
As President and CEO of Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services, I feel good about Howard School’s F-. That F- means Howard School is doing exactly what Howard School is designed to do. The teachers and faculty of Howard School care for some of the most emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children in Louisiana and they do it well.
Howard School Is a Remarkable School
Howard School is an exceptional facility designed for residents of Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home. Our residents are children who have been removed from their families because of physical or sexual abuse which was severe enough for a court to issue an order for the child’s removal from his or her family. Our children are in the custody of the state of Louisiana.
Before coming to Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home, most of our children have lived in multiple foster care and group home placements. A significant number have been in and out of psychiatric hospitals. This repeated psychiatric hospitalization is such a common phenomenon that the slang for it is “treat, street, repeat”. Our children are accustomed to chaotic lives.
Our children are transient. A girl admitted this week has attended four schools since this school year started six weeks ago! They are children without roots in any community.
Survival is their modus operandi. Most have moved so many times there has been no continuity in their educational experiences. Many of our high school students read at an elementary grade level. Our children are children who have rarely had good school experiences. They are children who have experienced multiple school failures. They are children who are desperate for the educational environment we have created at Howard School.
What Does Our F- Really Indicate?
School Performance Scores reflect two years of data and are calculated for K-6th grade schools using student test scores (90%) and attendance (10%). Schools with 7th and 8th graders receive an SPS based on attendance (5%), dropouts (5%) and student test scores (90%). High schools (grades 9-12) receive an SPS based on test scores (70%) and their Graduation Index (30%).
Notice how significantly weighted a school’s SPS score is toward student test scores! Depending on the grade level of the students, 70% to 90% of the SPS score is influenced by student test scores. For high schools, 70% is based on test scores and 30% is based on the school’s graduation index.
Regarding the graduation index, our high GED completion rate actually works against us. Our GED successes negatively impact Howard School’s SPS score! Here’s why: the 7 children who achieved their GED during the 2010 school year, the 5 who achieved their GED during the 2009 school year, and the 10-15 we expect to earn their GEDs at Howard School this year will be counted by the Department of Education as drop outs. Ding! Our successes drop our SPS score.
Howard School’s F- indicates our students do not score well on standardized tests. Of course, as a consequence of the chaotic young lives they have led, they would not.
Notice, too, what is not weighted into a school’s SPS score: our 98.5% school attendance rate, an evaluation of educators, the quality of the educational environment, our teacher to student ratio, the number of children with Individualized Educational Plans or Individualized Behavioral Plans. In other words, nothing about what makes Howard School the exceptional education center it is for severely troubled children factors into Howard School’s letter grade.
Because of the unique characteristics of our student population, Howard School will not receive good grades in Louisiana’s School Performance Score system. Receiving an F- indicates to me that our teachers and our program is focused on our mission. We serve children who are among “the least of these” and our teachers do it with passion and excellence!
Learn more about the remarkable Howard School by exploring our web site at: http://www.lmch.org/howard-school.php
By Rick Wheat, on October 1st, 2011 Louisiana is making significant changes to the way services will be delivered to children in or at-risk of out-of home placement. This has been a long time coming and, if done well and with a tenacious persistence by the Coordinated System of Care to maintain fidelity to the values that undergird the system, it will be a good thing for Louisiana’s children and families. One must be careful not to expect the system of care will be released in a state of perfection. After studying other systems of care, I believe it will take a decade for Louisiana’s CSoC to really hit its stride. I believe, too, it will be worth the wait.
If the Coordinated System of Care is successful, it will mean fewer children in Louisiana require residential care. It will help keep children at home and keep families together. It will be a good thing. Consequently, it will reduce the need Louisiana has for residential care. I talk about this in this month’s President’s Message, Growth of Home and Community-based Services:
Our growth in the future will happen as we expand our current home and community-based services across the state and as we develop new services designed to intervene early and prevent the larger problems that lead to residential care. One of our long-held value statements begins, “Children belong with their families.”
The expansion of prevention and early intervention efforts will occur directly in the homes and communities of families – where hurting people live – by staff who have been trained to intervene early and resolve family crises, arrange community-based supports, and create personalized, family-focused plans of care to alleviate the distress families experience.
Read more at: Growth of Home and Community-based Services.
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