As We Say Farewell to our Selma Campus ... We Build on Our Tradition
Our ability and willingness to follow God’s calling and change with the times is what has kept this ministry strong for over century …
The days of large campus and institutional-style care are quickly fading. Fewer children are being referred to our Selma campus because of its institutional-like environment. Over the past decade, several of our cottages in Selma had to be closed due to the low number of children, in order to save the associated high-costs. In 2009, we only operated five cottages.
However, understanding that there will always be a need for group homes, the preferred placement for the best care of the children is in homes that blend into the surrounding neighborhood. Over the past ten years, UMCH has prepared itself for this shift in the childcare environment, and we are proud to still be among the top-ranked agencies in the state caring for children through diverse services.
We must continue to make decisions that put our children first
while being good, responsible stewards of the contributions you send us to care for them.
UMCH has struggled for several years with the high costs of maintaining the large campus facilities in Selma, while only using a few buildings to care for the children being referred there. After several years of committee work, research and discussion, difficult but necessary decisions have courageously been made to save the strength and integrity of the United Methodist Children’s Home ministry.
Earlier this year, the Board approved a plan to begin reducing the number of children and staff on the Selma campus.
By the end of January 2010, no children will be on the Selma campus.
However, OUR MINISTRY IS NOT CLOSING.
We will continue to serve the same number – and possibly more children within our system. We will continue to operate eight group homes, and we will continue to recruit and train more foster parents so that more children can be placed in their loving homes.
The most promising programs within our ministry are through our various Family Preservation Services. We serve many children who are living in their own homes as we work with the family to keep them together.
For now, our Administrative Headquarters will remain in Selma, but will move to the Montgomery-Prattville area when the best location is found.
The eventual sale of the Selma property will help put the investments made back into our ministry in order to serve more children and expand in other areas in the future.
Please join us in our Mission by supporting the changes we must make in order to
preserve the tradition of the United Methodist Children's Home,
evolving as needed to help all God’s children.
Realizing that this change is most difficult for those with close ties to the Selma campus, we pray that God will lead you to continue serving this ministry anywhere our children are. The support, love and prayers from our family in Christ continue to be a great need for our children, and we will continue to serve them compassionately with the love of Christ as our guiding light.
Click the links below to read the full story, and for answers to many of your questions regarding the Selma campus. Then send us your feedback or additional questions using the below form:
