The Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing

The experience and knowledge gained through this 120-year ministry enables us to see firsthand emerging changes in the landscape of child welfare and to plan effectively to meet the needs of children and families in the future.  Epworth is now working to further fulfill its mission through the establishment of the Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing.  Our new Institute is designed to meet immediate needs in SC, including increasing the number of strong foster families for children; building a bridge program for older, at-risk youth transitioning to independent living; providing for mothers and children during periods of difficult transition, keeping them together; and more.

Program Expansion Needs Goal:  $3,000,000


Epworth will continue to strengthen its residential programs while serving children, youth and families ​across the state in innovative new ways.

The statewide hub of Centers of Excellence for Children, Youth and Families

Epworth Children’s Home, in cooperation with the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Pan-Methodist Campaign for Children in Poverty (six denominations, collaborating to challenge, strengthen and enable congregations and other organizations across the state to establish a variety of services available to children at risk to poverty), and other partners, seeks to expand and diversify its array of high quality services by establishing The Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing. The Institute will have a service footprint in cities and communities across the state of South Carolina.
 
The Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing will be centered on the newly purchased second campus.  In addition to the second campus, community-based services will be provided around the state through Mission Outposts in coordination with local churches.

Proposed Centers of Excellence

  • The Center for  Family Engagement
    Identify, recruit, license, train, and support strong foster families.  Support kinship and biological families in need.
  • The  Comprehensive Assessment and Referral Center
    Assess children, youth, and families in a comprehensive way by employing appropriate assessment methods and instruments.  
  • The Center for Independent Living
    Expand the capacity of, and increase the service array of the currently highly successful Higher Education program at Epworth.
  • The Family Care Center
    Provide for mothers and children during difficult transitions while remaining together.
  • The Center for Child and Family Counseling
    Help both children and adults overcome the effects of grief, loss, and trauma.
  • The Center for Continuing Education
    Coordinate and offer training and continuing education for practitioners and professionals working in the child and family welfare arena. 
  • The Early Intervention Center
    Serve preschool age children with developmental delays and has an on campus and a community based component will expand to a full day preschool and resource center for children with developmental delays and their parents.
  • The Epworth Center for Social Enterprise
    Partner with other organizations to give Epworth clients opportunities to learn positive and creative work practices, and enable clients to experience hands on entrepreneurial experiences and generate revenue for Epworth. (Project #1: Epworth Ice Cream)
  • The Center for Family Empowerment
    Work in cooperation with community agencies and organizations across the state and will elevate the educational health, family stability, community services, and support structure levels.