Sunshine Spring 2012 Final.indd - Methodist Children's Home

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Cover Story MYTHS VS. FACTS The truth behind 12 common myths about Methodist Children's Home � Methodist Children’s Home has offered hope to hurting children and families for 122 years. Throughout the history of this ministry, we have adapted programs and services to meet the changing needs of children, families and society. Although these changes have enabled MCH to serve children more effectively, some have led to a variety of myths or misperceptions about our ministry. We have identified the 12 most common myths about Methodist Children’s Home, and offer facts that will help answer important questions about our ministry. �
MCH is not FACTS an orphanage, although it was founded as the Northwest Texas Conference Orphans Home in 1890 to provide shelter, food and safety for homeless children. In its early years as an orphanage, the children who came into care often had experienced the death of both parents and did not have relatives who could afford to care for them. In some cases, fathers brought their children to the Home following the death of their spouse so they could continue to work during times of fi nancial hardship. The Home provided custodial care for orphans Sunshine I Spring 2012 MYTHS VS. FACTS Myth 1: MCH is an orphanage. Myth 2: MCH only provides services in Waco. While MCH was FACTS established in Waco, we have extended the impact of our ministry far beyond Central Texas. MCH has been blessed with a strong heritage of providing quality residential group care, foster care and other services, and we currently serve more than 1,400 children and youth across Texas and New Mexico. MCH serves about 215 youth, ages 12-18, through our three residential campuses. The Waco campus is the location where MCH was established 122 years ago, and it has grown from the original 10 acre-site to 130 acres. The 500-acre Boys Ranch, located 10 miles northeast of Waco, was established in 1971. MCH opened a residential program during its fi rst three decades. From the 1930s to 1960s, the Home experienced signifi cant growth that began its transition from an orphanage to a nationally-respected child care agency that provides a comprehensive program of care. The Home’s name has been changed four times, and it became Methodist Children’s Home in 1996. In each case, the name was changed to more accurately communicate the mission of this ministry. MCH began to experience a decrease in the number of orphans by the 1950s, in large part due to medical advances that led to cures for life threatening diseases or illnesses. in Waxahachie on the campus of Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services in 2009. MCH began offering foster care in 1968, and since that time we have developed a variety of family preservation services through our Community Services program. Realizing the need to serve children and families closer to their communities, we began increasing the number of outreach offi ces in Texas and New Mexico in the 1990s. Today, MCH serves children and families through outreach offi ces in Abilene, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Lubbock, Lufkin, San Antonio, Tyler, Waco and Albuquerque, NM. Our family preservation services are designed to reach out to fami- During this time, MCH made the transition from an orphanage to a multi-service agency that concentrated on meeting a variety of physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of children. While a few youth who have lived at MCH in recent years have faced the challenges of dealing with the death of both parents, all youth at MCH are placed in our program by parents or a managing conservator. Although it was common for MCH to take custody of children during its days as an orphanage, MCH no longer takes custody of children or youth in any program. lies to intervene and offer support to prevent the trauma caused by abuse/neglect and family separation. MCH serves about 400 families each month through our outreach Albuquerque El Paso Lubbock Jayton Contact information for our residential campuses and outreach offices is available on our website: www.methodistchildrenshome.org Methodist Children's Home is proud of its rich history of serving children, youth and families. This historical marker is located on the Waco campus. offi ces. In addition, MCH supports grandparents who serve as the primary caregiver for their grandchildren through our Grandparents As Parents Program (GAPP). Methodist Children’s Home Service Locations Abilene Dallas Tyler Waxahachie Waco San Antonio Houston Corpus Christi Lufkin 3
Page 1 and 2: Sunshine The magazine of Methodist
Page 3: President’s Perspective BY TIM BR
Page 7 and 8: Myth 5: MCH only admits youth who a
Page 9 and 10: Myth 9: Children come to MCH when t
Page 11 and 12: A journey of faith and discovery Do
Page 13 and 14: Religious Education RECreation Week
Page 15 and 16: El Paso: Meeting medical needs COMM
Page 17 and 18: Memorial Gifts Curtis and Mildred A
Page 19 and 20: Nancy Hoyt Glenn and Kay Furman Wan
Page 21 and 22: Anna R. Thompson James and Jeanne B
Page 23 and 24: Bill and Cindy Dietz Steve and Kath
Page 25 and 26: Naishadh Mankad, M.D. Dr. and Mrs.
Page 27 and 28: UMW President — Marianne Havron M

Sunshine Spring 2012 Final.indd - Methodist Children's Home

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