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History of Louisiana Methodist Children's Home
Due to changes in the needs of children served, we are no longer just an orphanage. In the early 1930's, a trend began to develop, and by the 1940's we were providing increased care to children from broken homes. In 1958, this trend had so changed our program that the Board of Directors renamed the Orphanage the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home, a name more descriptive of the needs we served. Most recently in 1993, the Board of Directors changed its corporate name to Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services, Inc.to reflect our changing role. Our children are a composite of many various backgrounds. They are placed in our care because of situations that make it impossible for them to live in their own homes. The Home now works with the total family as opposed to being responsible only for an orphaned child, as was the case in the past. The Louisiana Methodist Children's Home, administered by Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services, Inc., is a non-profit corporation which is owned by the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Funding for operations is provided from three major sources. Revenues are generated from payment for services from the state agencies and private families who contract with us for residential services for the youth in their custody. A second source of funds are the direct contributions made from churches and individuals who choose to support the work of the agency. Third, the operations are supported from the interest on invested funds that are in a permanent endowment. The control of the Methodist Children's Home is vested in the Board of Directors which has overall responsibility for the property, finances, and operation of the institution. The Board is responsible for the selection and oversight of a President/CEO. The Chairperson of the Board, President of the Corporation, all officers of the Board and all Chairpersons of standing committees of the Board serve as an Executive Committee and meet on call. Louisiana Methodist Children's Home serves the Louisiana area. Future plans provide for the development of special programs that may be open to residents from other areas. | |||
For more than 100 years Louisiana Methodist Children's Home has met the needs of Louisiana's children. In the very early 1900's the Methodist Church in Louisiana became concerned with the large number of children who were without parents or homes. The need to provide food, clothing, shelter, and the love of Christ for these orphaned children led to the creation of the Louisiana Methodist Orphanage in 1902. In 1904, the first residence was opened in Bunkie, Louisiana. That same year, forty acres of land were deeded to the Orphanage Board. In 1906 the Orphanage was relocated to the Ruston community, which today is our permanent location.|
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