History
The Board of Child Care of The United Methodist Church, founded in 1874, has provided and cared for vulnerable children and their families for 132 years.
Since those early years, the agency has added many programs and sites, improved our bricks and mortar, and established a standard of excellence throughout all of our programs. We remain steadfast to our mission and vision, and to the guiding words of John Wesley:
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the place you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.”
These words sum up the Board of Child Care’s unwavering focus on caring for vulnerable children and families throughout the agency’s history and its affiliation with The United Methodist Church.
Timeline
1874
The Kelso Home for Girls was formally opened. Mr. Thomas Kelso was its founder, its first superintendent, and his gifts made this first home possible.
1912
The Swartzell Methodist Home for Children in Washington, DC was organized by the Women's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was incorporated in 1921 by a local Board of Trustees.
1923
The Strawbridge Home for Boys was founded from gifts given by Mr. and Mrs. George W. Albaugh.
1943
The Board of Child Care was created by the Baltimore Annual Conference of the Methodist Church to coordinate and give supervision to the children's services to the Conference then carried out by the Kelso, Strawbridge, and Swartzell Homes.
1953
The newly created Women's Auxiliary of the Board of Child Care was authorized by the Board of Child Care under the authority of the Baltimore Conference and was organized at a meeting at Grace Methodist Church.
1960
The Board of Child Care Campus was dedicated, bringing together residents from Kelso, Strawbridge, and Swartzell Homes at the Gaither Road campus. This included eight buildings on 22 acres.
1993
Thomas L. Curcio became President and CEO. With his shared vision, he and the Board of Directors established the highest level of services for children and families by completely renovating the campus, adding additional programs, and purchasing additional property to build the Semi-Independent Living quarters.
1995
Groundbreaking for new Baltimore campus began, which expanded the opportunities to serve more children in state-of-the-art facilities.
1997
The adoption program was reborn and the new semi-independent living program also opened.
1999
The Board of Child Care was honored by the United Methodist Association as "Organization of the Year" and presented with a special "Best Practice" award for its innovative Grant Program. New out-patient mental health clinics also opened.
2001
Tide Point Day Care Center opened, and ground was broken for the Falling Waters, West Virginia residential campus, enabling more children to receive services at this second campus.
2003
The foster care and new day care program for infants and children in the District of Columbia moved into new building.
2006
A new Archive and Welcome Center will open in April, which will be an outstanding collection of photos, words of wisdom, and historical documents and objects that tell the story of the Board of Child Care. The center will also showcase the ongoing relationship and dedication of The United Methodist Church since 1874.
