 
urlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc. was founded in 1913; by Dr. F. L. Baker, a Burlington physician, and Mr. F. C. Rollman, a Justice of the Peace and Postmaster from Elk Garden, WV.
The original house, known as The Star of Hope Child Refuge, met the needs of children living in poor houses and farms of the surrounding counties. This facility was deeded to the agency’s Board of Trustees as an orphanage. The Star of Hope Child Refuge became known as the Methodist Children’s Home in 1950, although later changing to the current name to reflect diversity of services.
The agency has grown throughout the years to become a multi-service agency with sites throughout West Virginia and in western Maryland. The Burlington campus now consists of three residential treatment homes for youth and an on grounds school. The first off campus facility, Keyser Boys’ Group Home, was opened in 1985.
The year 1985 also marked the beginning of an intentional effort to address preventive services, and the agency established community based services. Current community based services provided by the agency include Domestic and International Adoption, Birth Parent Counseling, Specialized Foster Care, Youth Services, Right From the Start, Targeted Case Management and Student Intervention.
Continued growth occurred at the agency, and in 1995 the former Beckley Child Care Center became an extension of Burlington’s services. This facility provides residential treatment services, including an on grounds school, and allows for community based services to be provided to West Virginia’s southern counties. Agency services are currently provided from sites in Beckley, Buckhannon, Burlington, Charleston, Grafton, Fairmont, Keyser, Martinsburg, Morgantown and Wheeling, WV and in Oakland, MD.
The provision of quality services by dedicated, qualified staff has enabled Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc. to become nationally accredited by the United Methodist Association of Health & Welfare Ministries. This agency awarded Burlington an EAGLE (Educational Assessment Guidelines Leading toward Excellence) accreditation in 1991. This
accreditation
process is designed for faith based, health and wholeness organizations to enhance the quality of services provided. It utilizes voluntary self-assessment and peer review based upon benchmark principles and goals to promote excellence in Christian Ministry.
Funding for the agency is received through personal, business, church and organizational donations, as well as the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources through purchase of service contracts. Fundraising and other supportive endeavors are conducted on an ongoing basis by the Public Relations, Development, and Marketing Department. Today, Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc. is one of the largest, most diverse multi-service agencies in West Virginia, providing services to infants, children, youth and families.
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