 Coming Home - Steven R. Hubbard will be the new President & CEO of the United Methodist Children’s Home. A native of the South, Hubbard will be returning from his position leading the Sheriffs Youth Programs of Minnesota. |
After many months of seeking and interviewing several excellent candidates, the United Methodist Children’s Home (UMCH) will have a new Chief Executive Officer on January 14, 2008.
Steven R. Hubbard has accepted the President & CEO position, and the UMCH Board of Directors is very confident that he will bring excellent leadership to this historic and very vital ministry.
Steve is following the great work that has been done by recently retired Interim President, Rev. Joseph (Joe) W. Lisenby, and the timing for the change in leadership is just right for a smooth transition.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead UMCH with its rich and cherished tradition,” Steve said. “I believe in the commitment to serve children and their families, and am proud to be a part of that commitment through the United Methodist Church.”
Steve brings with him a long history and a wealth of valuable experience working with children and youth. Since 2000, he has served as the President/CEO of the Sheriffs Youth Programs of Minnesota, where he led this community-based agency serving children and families in nine sites throughout the state.
Among the many services provided by the Sheriffs Youth Programs, Steve’s professional oversight included residential and group care for children, shelter services, family foster care, and in-home family services.
Prior to moving up north, Steve served as both the Director of Community Services and Director of Residential Services for the United Methodist Children’s Home of North Georgia.
He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Bellarmine College in Louisville, Kentucky, and a Masters degree (M.S.S.W.) in Social work from the University of Louisville, with specialization in Administration, Organization and Community Development.
Included among his long list of professional accomplishments, Steve was appointed by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to serve on the Minnesota Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee from 2007 – 2009. He is also a team leader, peer reviewer and serves as Regional Commissioner for the Council on Accreditation.
“His education and years of experience really speak for themselves,” said UMCH Board Chairman Don Johnston. “But more than that, Steve really has a passion for serving children in need and for leading this Christian ministry to grow and expand. We are very excited to have Steve taking the helm at this time as we face many changes and growth for the future of this ministry.”
Steve is married to Betty, and they have eight children–the youngest are five and 11–and two grandchildren. Betty is close to finishing her Ph.D. in education from the University of Georgia.
Three of their children are adopted, and all of their children and grandchildren live in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
As if their family wasn’t big enough, Steve and Betty also have two dogs, a Black Lab named Bella, and Alaska, a Great Pyrenees.
“I am looking forward to returning home to the South,” Steve said. “I’ve missed exciting college sports, and I’m an avid Braves baseball fan.
“My wife is also looking forward to leaving the cold and the snow, and once again enjoying the sunny warmth of the Southeast.”
The West Florida Foster Care Program would like to extend a sincere thank you for all of the support our program has received.
Our program was contracted to license 30 foster home beds by December 31, 2007. With the support of our local churches and community, we have been able to accomplish our goal 2 months early! We currently have 32 licensed foster home beds in 14 foster homes.
Since May of 2006, two of our families have adopted a total of four children, providing them with a loving home forever. We have served 91 children from Northwest Florida who have been abused and neglected.
We would like to thank those who have donated toys, baby items, school supplies, and clothing as well as those who have assisted us in spreading the word about our program through allowing placement of our yard signs, handing out bulletin inserts, or allowing us to speak to your church or civic group.
We purchased a shed over the summer. We have begun filling it with cribs, car seats, baby items, toys, school supplies, and other items to provide to foster parents as they receive new children into their home.
Your continued support is needed as we continue to grow and develop our program. If you are interested in having us speak to your church or small group, becoming a foster parent, donating items to be utilized by our foster homes, or are interested in becoming a sitter for foster parents, please contact us at 850-995-9600 or toll free at 1-877-286-2432.
Submitted by Kristin Webb
Program Supervisor
West Florida Foster Care
e-mail: wffc@umch.net
 Moving Up - Outgoing Interim President & CEO Rev. Joe Lisenby holds up two fishing store gift cards at a farewell lunch in Selma on November 6, 2007. He’ll be returning to retirement after fifteen months as Children’s Home leader, but considers his new job as supporter maybe even more important. |
The past fifteen months have seen this superb ministry continue its good work throughout the area of these two Annual Conferences of United Methodism. In fact, it has expanded!
Before 2007 ends we will be receiving young mothers into the newest Babies First home in Birmingham. We are still hopeful that we can also begin the operation of the Group Home and the Shelter Home on the Children in Crisis campus in Fort Walton Beach by current year end. These are exciting new ministry opportunities that are the culmination of long, long planning processes.
Our leadership team has completed the 2008 operating budget and it has received final approval from the Board of Directors. This budget calls for the expenditure of nearly $10 million to operate the ministry in the next year.
In order for us to spend this much, we have to receive this much!
This budget is based on the United Methodist churches and people of Alabama and Northwest Florida contributing at least $2.6 million in the coming year. We must have that much just to operate all ministries we are committed to operate.
But if we wish to expand what we do, we must exceed that amount. This is our challenge!
As I return to the pew and the full-time task of doing what retired folk do, I will count myself among you who have the responsibility to ensure the continued success of the United Methodist Children’s Home.
| Click here to make an online donation to the Children’s Home…right now. |
We are blessed to have one of the most talented and competent groups of employees that exists in non-profit agencies committed to serving those in need of care and nurture. This outstanding ministry to children, youth and families rests firmly in the powerful tradition of Methodism in Alabama and Northwest Florida.
I invite and urge you to join me in supporting this ministry as it continues forward into the future.
May God continue to bless our effort!
Faithfully,
Joe W. Lisenby
 Among Friends - Rev. Joe Lisenby (front row, center) poses with fellow United Methodist Children’s Home administrative staff outside Grumbles Alley restaurant in Selma. He came out of retirement to serve the ministry as Interim President & CEO for fifteen months. His last day was November 9, 2007. |
Posted by: Jill @ 3:05 pm
 A Soft Place to Sleep - Elise Smith, Group Home Supervisor of Babies First of Birmingham, stands beside a crib outfitted by a group from Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. Churches in the area are responding to the call to help young mothers through this program. |
Babies First of Birmingham opens for ministry this month. This new work of the United Methodist Children’s Home will serve young women who are pregnant or who have just had a baby. They come to the home because they have no other means of support.
Elise Smith is the program’s Group Home Supervisor. She says that there are already three young mothers identified for services.
“At this point, we’re just waiting on the paperwork to go through for the new staff,” said Smith. “Then, our girls can move in.”
There is a lack of residential programs able to care for expecting and new mothers. Often, they have to find a program much farther away. This new program will offer a closer option for up to four mother-infant families at a time.
“If it’s a safe situation, we always try to keep the child as close to his or her family of origin as possible,” said Smith. She says that growing up with family connections helps a child to develop socially.
“Last year, we realized that there was a critical need for safe housing for young mothers in the Birmingham area,” said Rev. Joe Lisenby, the ministry’s Interim President & CEO. “Our tremendous success with Babies First programs in Mobile and Selma and the deep need for these services obliged us to change our focus in Birmingham.”
He said that this program is intended to be more than a temporary fix for a young woman in this situation.
“We expect, prepare, and assist the mother to achieve self-sustaining status for herself and her child,” Rev. Lisenby said. “We are one of the few programs that requires the resident mother to continue education,” he went on to say, “and we pledge to support that effort to its completion.”
Most of the programs that the Children’s Home operates are heavily dependent upon private gifts. Some funding comes from state contracts.
“We couldn’t care for the children in any of our group homes without our donors,” said Rev. Lisenby. “But the Birmingham program will be entirely dependent on the generosity of its community.”
This means that Babies First of Birmingham will be fully funded by money from private contributions. Plus, the agency is looking for groups to invest themselves in the lives of the children.
“We need donors, mentors, tutors, companies for job-training, church groups for baby showers, you name it,” said Smith.
Already, several United Methodist church groups have committed to helping out with supplies and monetary support.
The Children’s Home has operated in Birmingham since the 1970s. It has been an emergency shelter, a group home for boys, a family resource center and now a residential program for mother-infant families.
“We have provided a home for children, and we have given parents the right tools,” said Rev. Lisenby. “As we have evolved, it has always been about making the best opportunities possible for each child to be safe and to live in a loving home.”
The Children’s Home will have an open house for the new program on December 9. The event is open to the public.
To find out more about the program’s needs and the services it offers, and for links to gift registries, visit www.umch.net/birmingham on the web.