Louisiana United Methodist Children And Family Services Inc

Programs: Lumcfs operates three methodist children's homes which are strtegically located in the bootstrap, heel and toe of louisiana's boot-shaped geography. Louisiana methodist children's home (lmch) in ruston, louisiana provides care to 84 boys and girls from across the state whose behavioral needs require comprehensive, intensive residential treatment. With 42 beds for boys and 42 beds for girls, lmch is the only provider in louisiana whichy offers these services to females. Methodist children's home of southwest louisiana is a 24-bed treatment facility for boys with sexually maladapative behaviors. Methodist children's home of greater new orleans care for 18 younger boys sho require intensive residential care. Our three methodist children's homes are internationally accredited by the council on accreditation and are licensed by louisiana department of health as psychiatric residential treatment facilities. We provide the most intensive, comprehensive and holistic residential care available to louisiana's children. Lumcfs receive requests for care from throughout la from parents; from managed care organizations; from insurance companies; from custodial state agencies including the department of children and family services, the office of juvenile justice, and the la department of health; from clergy and from healthcare professionals. During 2017, lumcfs provided 40,123 days of residential care to 295 children who received care in our three children's homes. These are children for whom appropriate care was unavailable in other treatment programs. Our residential services are family-oriented programs which help children return home when possible.

methodist foster care began providing therapeutic foster care services in december 2015. In a short time, methodist foster care has grown into louisiana's largest provider of therapeutic foster care services to children in the custody of the department of children and family services (dcfs). Therapeutic foster care is a family-based service which allows children to live in a foster home with specially trained parents while receiving intensive treatment from community-based providers of mental health services for their emotional and behavioral needs. Methodist foster care operates statewide out of four regional offices located in north, central and south louisiana. Regional methodist foster care staff members recruit, train, certify and support the foster families who provide therapeutic foster care. Each year about 8,000 children enter louisiana's foster care system after a judge determines they are unable to live with their parents for reasons of physical or sexual abuse or neglect. On any given day there are about 4,700 louisiana children who require foster care services but has about 2,000 foster homes. Louisiana is short 100's of foster homes. Methodist foster care is working to fill the gap for the children in foster care with the most significant needs. During 2017, mfc continued growth into all regions of la with focused emphases on southeast and southwest la. Mfc continued to increase census through intentional recruitment efforts like the series of 50 public meetings we titled, "50 in the fall". In 2017, mfc, in resonse to a la dcfs request, began developing pools of specialized therapeutic foster homes who will care for groups of children for whom dcfs finds it difficult to secure tfc services. Methodist foster care continues implementing two evidence-based treatment models: trauma-based relational interventions (tbri) and the quality parenting initiative (qpi). In addition, methodist foster care is progressing steadily toward achieving the initial goal of recruiting, training, certifying and maintaining 100 tfc families throughout louisiana. Once the initial goal of 100 homes is achieved in 2018, mfc will continue expansion by establishing additional regional offices for northwest, southwest, and southeast louisiana. Ultimately, methodist foster care wishes to have therapeutic foster care services available to support the daily needs of 250 children.

howard school is the highest ranked alternative school in louisiana and has twice been designated a "top gains" school by louisiana department of education. During the 2017 calendar year, 180 emotionally disturbed children from across the state of louisiana attended howard school on the ruston compus of louisiana methodist children's home. 95% of students attending howard school are economically disadvantaged. Named in memory of a generous benefactor, mrs. Lorraine nobles howard, "howard school" is licensed by louisiana's department of education as an alternative school. Howard school is the only alternative school in lincoln parish. Students who attend howard school receive more "seat time" in howard school than is likely in the tradional school settings they will return to upon discharge. Howard school is staffed by fifteen well-trained, certified professionals and numerous support staff who provide quality educational services to traumatized children. Howard school employed a full-time guidance counselor in the fall of 2017. The average daily student count for educational services at howard school and the john allen vocational center was 81. End-of-course testing at the high school in 2017 resulted in a passing rate of 58%, this was an 8% increase over the previous year. Carnegie credits were awarded to high school youth who remained in our care long enough to complete respective grading periods. In 2017 howard school achieved its highest letter grade ever based on students' performance with the 2017 spring assessments along with other factors. The success of the high school end of course (eoc) tests had much to do with this letter grade improvement. Five howard school students earned their hiset (ged) diploma by taking the required coursework and successfully passing the hiset exam to achieve this goal. 100% of students who were recommended for and took the hiset exam prior to leaving the care of lumcfs achieved their hiset diploma.

life skills training center: during 2017, lumcfs doubled the number of life skills training centers we operate in louisiana. In addition to operating in the sole life skills training centers in the monroe and covington regions, we began serving youth in the lafayette and lake charles regions. We now operate four life skills training centers in louisiana which served 806 children in the state's custody. Children ages 14-17 in the care of our three methodist children's homes, children residing in the care of other la child care agencies, and children in foster care are eligible to participate in the independent living skills program (ilsp) of our life skills training centers. The ilsp classes are designed to educate children about subjects such as goal setting, job and employment skills, cooking, positive peer relationships, sex education, money management, sex trafficking prevention, self-care, and many other subjects related to living independently. We provide case management services to young adults ages 18-26 who are former participants in louisiana's child welfare system. Case management services include assistance in finding housing, guidance in enrolling in educational programs; support in finding and securing employment; help when attending court; and creating connections to community resources. Our case management staff provides active mentoring and emotional support. Family counseling center: it is the organization's outpaitient counseling program located on the grounds of louisiana methodist children's home in ruston, la. During 2017 it served individuals and families in 7 north la parishes and provided mental health counseling services to over 10,350 individuals. The family counseling center meets the needs of families in north la in a variety of specialty areas which include children's services, trauma recovery, and marriage and family issues. It has become a vital part of the larger community working from a systematic view of community needs and resources. We believe partnering with a purpose across a diverse spectrum of programs and organizations is the most effective way to address the complex array of mental health issues affecting our community. During 2017 fcc continued to build relationships within the north-central la community to help strengthen these collaborative bonds. Owl center equine program: this program offers therapeutic horsemanship classes and threapeutic riding lessons for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities. Located on the 800-acre owl center campus, owl equine has two path certified equine instructors and provides therapeutic riding lessons for individuals with handicaps and therapeudic horsemanship classes for youth from the community. A grant funded by the living well foundation allowed the staff and horses from our equine center to travel to area schools and provide on site horsemanship classes, leadership activities and therapeutic riding classes to students from union and jackson parishes. Outdoor wilderness learning center: the owl center is an 800-acre experiential compus in north central la which served over 15,000 individuals in 2017 through a variety of therapeutic, recreational, and educational programs. The owl center features equine facilities; a large, multi-purpose sports field; a pravilion; a challenge course with low and high elements; and camping facilities with cabins, shower and restroom facilities, kitchen and storage, and a bunkhouse for large groups. The most important facility at the owl center is the family lodge where families of lmch residents can stay at no charge to visit their child and participate in treatment.