History

Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc. was founded in October, 1913 by Dr. F.L. Baker, a dedicated physician, and Rev. Mr F.C. Rollman, a Justice of the Peace and Postmaster from Elk Garden, WV who worked tirelessly to procure funding and later became administrator. The original house, known as The Star of Hope Child Refuge, met the needs of children living in poor houses and farms of the nearby counties. This facility was deeded to the agency’s Board of Trustees as an orphanage. It became known as the Methodist Children’s Home on March 17, 1950. In 1968, after the merger of the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren churches, the name was changed to Burlington United Methodist Children’s Home. Later changes to subsequent names were effected to reflect expansion and diversity of services culminated by the current name in July of 1993.

The agency has grown throughout the years to become a multi-service agency with sites throughout West Virginia and 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 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 provide Domestic and International Adoption, Birth Parent Counseling, Specialized Foster Care, Youth Services, Right From the Start, Targeted Case Management, Coexisting Disorders, Student Intervention, SARAH’S House, Safe at Home, Parents as Teachers, Community Engagement, Residential programs, Spiritual Life, Home Finding, Social Necessities Services, Staggers’ Recovery House, and the Pathways Transitional Living Program serving youth ages 16 to 21.

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 a school, and allows for community based services to be provided to West Virginia’s southern counties. Agency services are currently provided from sites in Burlington, Beckley, Charleston, Daniels, Grafton, Fairmont, Keyser, Martinsburg, Morgantown and Old Fields, Romney, Pendleton, WV as well as Oakland, MD.

The provision of quality services by dedicated, qualified staff enabled Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc. to become nationally accredited by the EAGLE (Educational Assessment Guidelines Leading toward Excellence) accreditation in 1991. This 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 Dept 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 and Marketing Dept. Today, BUMFS, Inc. is one of the largest, most diverse multi-service agencies in West Virginia, providing services to infants, children, youth and families.

Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc. provides services to eligible clients and families without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or veteran’s status. In addition, BUMFS, Inc. complies with applicable, federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination with regards to our services as well as employment.