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Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services Inc

EIN 72-0435081 · Ruston, LA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE IN MINISTRY TO THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF LOUISIANA'S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BY OFFERING A VARIETY OF HOLISTIC SERVICES WHICH PROMOTE PERSONAL GROWTH AND WHOLESOME FAMILY LIFE. THE ORGANIZATION PATTERNS ITS MINISTRY BY FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST WHO MINISTERS TO ALL IN ORDER THAT EACH MAY EXPERIENCE THE WHOLENESS WHICH ACCOMPANIES THE RECONCILING LOVE OF GOD.

Income
$54.7 million
Spending
$48.7 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
15.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
920
Volunteers
1,350
Highest pay
$333,491, clinical director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    37 of 38 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $27.6 million spent. LUMCFS OPERATES THREE METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOMES WHICH ARE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED IN THE BOOTSTRAP, HEEL AND TOE OF LOUISIANA'S BOOT-SHAPED GEOGRAPHY. LOUISIANA METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOME (LMCH) IN RUSTON, LOUISIANA PROVIDES CARE FOR UP TO 96 BOYS AND GIRLS FROM ACROSS THE STATE WHOSE BEHAVIORAL NEEDS REQUIRE COMPREHENSIVE, INTENSIVE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT. METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOME OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA IS A 28-BED PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY. METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOME OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA IS A 32-BED PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY FOR CHILDREN WHO 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, MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS, INSURANCE COMPANIES, CUSTODIAL STATE AGENCIES INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND THE LA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,CLERGY AND FROM HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.DURING 2025, LUMCFS PROVIDED 49,379 DAYS OF RESIDENTIAL CARE TO 405 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.
  2. $8.2 million spent. METHODIST FOSTER CARE IS 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 FIVE 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 2025, 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. MFC CONTINUES 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 IN BUILDING ITS STATEWIDE NETWORK THERAPEUTIC FOSTER FAMILIES, RECRUITING, TRAINING, CERTIFYING AND MAINTAINING TFC FAMILIES THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA. MFC CONTINUES 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.
  3. $1.3 million spent. HOWARD SCHOOL IS A HIGHLY RANKED ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL IN LOUISIANA AND HAS TWICE BEEN DESIGNATED A "TOP GAINS" SCHOOL BY LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. DURING THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR, 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. 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, INCLUDING A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT STAFF WHO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN. THE AVERAGE DAILY STUDENT COUNT FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AT HOWARD SCHOOL AND THE JOHN ALLEN VOCATIONAL CENTER WAS 84. END-OF-COURSE TESTING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL IN 2025 RESULTED IN A PASSING RATE OF 57%. CARNEGIE CREDITS WERE AWARDED TO HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH WHO REMAINED IN OUR CARE LONG ENOUGH TO COMPLETE RESPECTIVE GRADING PERIODS.
  4. $2.7 million spent. LIFE SKILLS TRAINING CENTER: WITH REGIONAL LIFE SKILLS TRAINING CENTERS IN THE MONROE, COVINGTON, LAFAYETTE, AND LAKE CHARLES REGIONS, IN 2025 THE FOUR LIFE SKILLS TRAINING CENTERS IN LOUISIANA SERVED OVER 650 CHILDREN IN THE STATE'S CUSTODY.OWL EQUINE CENTER PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM OFFERS THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP CLASSES AND THERAPEUTIC RIDING LESSONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. LOCATED ON THE 800-ACRE OWL CENTER CAMPUS, OWL EQUINE CENTER HAS TWO PATH CERTIFIED EQUINE INSTRUCTORS AND PROVIDES THERAPEUTIC RIDING LESSONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HANDICAPS AND THERAPEUDIC HORSEMANSHIP CLASSES FOR YOUTH FROM THE COMMUNITY.OUTDOOR WILDERNESS LEARNING CENTER: THE OWL CENTER IS AN 800-ACRE EXPERIENTIAL CAMPUS IN NORTH CENTRAL LA WHICH SERVED OVER 5,000 INDIVIDUALS IN 2025 THROUGH A VARIETY OF THERAPEUTIC, RECREATIONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE OWL CENTER FEATURES EQUINE FACILITIES; A LARGE, MULTI-PURPOSE SPORTS FIELD; A PAVILION; A CHALLENGE COURSE WITH LOW AND HIGH ELEMENTS; AND CAMPING FACILITIES WITH CABINS, SHOWERS 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.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1938.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.