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 [...]]]> 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

You will remember the Dedication Service for the new facility in Sulphur was held last year on October 17, 2010. The service was attended by more than 250 people who are excited [...]]]> This has been an exciting week! We began admitting our first children into Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana this past Wednesday.

You will remember the Dedication Service for the new facility in Sulphur was held last year on October 17, 2010. The service was attended by more than 250 people who are excited about a new ministry to children and families in the southwest corner of Louisiana.

Nine months passed between the dedication of the buildings last October and the admission of our first children this past week. Some who have been excited about the opportunity the facility provides for ministry have been curious about why we’re just now admitting children. There’s not a better feeling than to have supporters who are anxious to see activity!

I will admit, the period between the building dedication and our first child’s admission was longer than we anticipated. However, this morning as I consider it, the grace of that nine month period has been a gift very few agencies ever enjoy.

You see, it is a rare thing to create a new residential program where there wasn’t one before. The process began with an incredible gift and an idea for ministry. Funded by a major gift of the William L. Henning family and supported by congregations and individuals, Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana has approximately 25,070 square feet of heated living space and sits on a 40-acre plot of land which offers opportunities for future development.

Following the gift, there was a time of planning, facility design and construction. Along the way we selected exceptional staff members. We opened the facilities and staff to inspections by all the regulatory bodies that ensure we meet minimum standards.

We developed a local culture and philosophy of care which is founded upon the larger organization’s mission, vision, and values – but which respects the unique energy and contributions of the local community. And we have trained staff through intensive study, role play and activities which are designed to create a cohesive team.

All of steps things require time. It has literally taken years!

The last nine months have been a special gift of time. We have been able to focus on developing the heart of the program – a mutually-supportive team of people who understand their mission and ministry to children and families. We have been blessed with time to prepare our staff with purpose and intention, unrushed by the chaos of a time crunch.

I expect Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana will soon be considered a model agency. We’ve had the gift of time to develop the program’s heart – a prepared staff who are committed to our mission.

You can see photos of Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana on our website at LMCH.org

Lunch will be served at 11:30 with Tee Off at 1:00. The tournament is a 4-person [...]]]> The Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home’s Annual Golf Tournament will be held May 13, 2011 at Calvert Crossing Golf Club. Proceeds of the event will benefit the youth summer activities program for the children residing at Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home.

Lunch will be served at 11:30 with Tee Off at 1:00. The tournament is a 4-person scramble of 24 teams. Participation fees are $300 per team. Included with your team fee are cart/green fees, mulligans, prizes, food, drawings, goodies and a lot of fun!

Sponsorships are available for $100 and Corporate Sponsorships are available for $250 and $500. The $500 sponsorship also covers the Team participation fees.

If you wish to participate or need more information, please contact Daryl Altic at (318) 242-4662.

Joseph Barlow, an employee in our Recreation Department who is currently attending Grambling State University to obtain classification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, was awarded the [...]]]> We are pleased to announce the awarding of scholarships to several of our employees and interns. These individuals are currently serving at Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston.

Joseph Barlow, an employee in our Recreation Department who is currently attending Grambling State University to obtain classification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, was awarded the Dr. Wayne Robicheaux Scholarship. This scholarship, named in memory of a Louisiana Recreation and Parks Association (LRPA) Executive Director who served 50 years, is awarded once a year at the LRPA annual conference to an individual who is pursuing a career in Recreation or a related field. Prior to attending GSU, Barlow earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology at Louisiana Tech University.

Jenality Thurman and Joseph Beard were each awarded one of five Chesapeake Energy Scholarships. This scholarship is awarded based on the same criteria as the Dr. Wayne Robicheaux Scholarship. Thurman worked in our summer recreation program, and is now employed as a part-time childcare worker. Thurman is attending GSU in pursuit of an Internship in Recreation Therapy.

Joseph Beard is an employee of our Outdoor Wilderness Learning Center (OWL). He also volunteers with the Ruston Fire Department and attends Louisiana Delta Community College where he is working to become an Emergency Medical Technician. Beard is also pursuing a degree in Health and P.E. at Louisiana Tech University.

By the time this message is published, I will have started my forty-fourth and final year of ministry as a member of the staff of Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services, previously called the Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home when I first started.

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