Enhancing the Lives of Children since 1913
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Burlington 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 (pictured) was known as The Star of Hope Child Refuge, and met the needs of children living in the poor houses and poor farms of the surrounding counties. This facility was deeded to the agency’s Board of Trustees as an orphanage. The Star of Hope Refuge became known as the Methodist Children’s Home in 1950, and later changed to its current name to reflect diversity of services.
The agency has grown throughout the years to become a multi-service agency with sites throughout the State of WV and in Oakland, MD. The Burlington campus now consists of three residential group homes for youth, including a girl’s group home, and an on grounds school. The mid-1990s brought the former Beckley Childcare Center into the Burlington UMFS family that now accommodates 30 children in three residential cottages and an 'on-grounds' school that was completed in 2005. The first off campus facility, Keyser Boys’ Group Home, was opened in 1985 and Pathways (transitional living) facility opened in 2008. Two additional off-campus group home facilities are slated to open in late-2009.
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 adoption, foster care, youth services, Right From the Start, family preservation and student intervention. Agency services are provided from sites in Beckley, Buckhannon, Burlington, Charleston, Grafton, Fairmont, Keyser, Morgantown and Moundsville in West Virginia and at Oakland, Maryland.
Our goal is to protect and serve
children from all races, religions, and economic backgrounds.
... Burlington United Methodist Family Services is a church-related charitable human services organization whose Vision is to be a Christian-centered leader that creates enriching values for infants, children, youth, and families through positive experiences within a supportive environment; and sharing the love and grace of God.
Burlington's Christian Mission is to bring growth and wholeness to family life. This is accomplished by providing a variety of caring and supportive residential and community based services to infants, children, youth, and families.
--Beckley Center Campus School Completed 2005 --
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