What We Do
Epworth Children's Home provides group residential care for children and youth from all of South Carolina. We provide child care, counseling and related services to families and children without regard to race, religion, national orgin or ability to pay.
Barnes Learning Center
 Epworth provides educational care for students in grades K-12 through the Barnes Learning Center, an after- school tutoring facility located on campus.
In partnership with Richland Co. School District One/Title I, the BLC provides educators and tutors who recognize that children learn differently and may have had negative learning experiences.
The BLC is open daily for after-school enrichment. All residents can utilize the computer lab and library for research and projects. Additionally, tutors are available for one-on-one assistance in language arts, mathematics, reading and social studies.
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Social Services Center
 Epworth believes that every child is a special creation and should be treated as such. Therefore, our primary goal is to provide the highest quality of care possible to each child who is entrusted to us.
Epworth seeks the optimum level of involvement of children/youth with their families, even in situations where total reunification may not be possible. Family therapy, parenting support, and parenting education are provided free of charge in order to strengthen the family system. Young persons in residential care receive regular support when needed from professional counselors at the Social Services Center on campus.
Resources facilitated through the Center as needed:
- Individual counseling
- Family counseling
- Substance abuse education
- Psychiatric services
- Psychological testing
- Parenting education classes
- Parenting support groups
- Play therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Group therapy
A certified chemical addiction professional from Rubicon Family Services, Inc. provides substance abuse education and prevention for youth age twelve (12) and older. The objectives of the program are to educate and help at-risk teens to make healthy decisions regarding alcohol and drugs. This professional may also provide skills groups and other activities that promote good choices and positive self image development.
Families can participate in family sessions free of charge through Epworth’s partnership with the University of South Carolina (USC) Counselor Education Program. These sessions occur as part of the EDCE 716 Family Counseling course at USC. Through this program, the families are able to work towards reunification.
Epworth partners with local colleges and universities to provide social services experience for students seeking Master’s Degrees in the human resources field. Under this partnership, the students may be exposed to all departments at Epworth. The students, under supervision by a licensed professional, may be assigned a small caseload. They may also assist the Coordinator of Social Services with the daily operations of the Department.
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Epworth Early Intervention Center
Reaching out to Young Children with Special Needs and to their families...
Early Intervention Center:
Director, Kay I. Richardson
(803)212-4768, Fax (803)212-4781
Email: KRichardson@epworthsc.org
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Available to children birth to four years who have a developmental delay or who are at risk for developmental delays; typically developing children are also accepted |
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2,3,4, or 5 morning programs |
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1:3 Teacher to child ratio |
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Skilled staff |
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Developmental assessment and individualized program plans |
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Safe, nurturing, stimulating learning environment |
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Developmentally appropriate activities |
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Active parent participation |
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Fees are charged for the preschool program |
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ABC Special Needs Vouchers accepted |
Parents of children with special needs deserve a break and an occasional night without children. Through the Epworth Respite Cooperative, trained volunteers provide child care for three hours one Saturday evening a month. This allows parents to have a "date night." This service is open to children up to age 12.
University of South Carolina
The EEIC has a long time partnership with The Perceptual-Motor Development Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health to offer field experience to their undergraduate students. Students work under the supervision of the EEIC teachers in the classroom setting to learn about disabilities and teaching strategies for young children. Under the guidance of our Head Teacher, they complete a project that benefits the EEIC. Students from this program usually pursue further education and professions as physical or occupational therapists, early childhood special education teachers, early interventionists.
University of South Carolina, School of Medicine
The EEIC has had a long term relationship with the Masters Program in Genetic Counseling in the School of Medicine. We provide classroom observation opportunities for the students so that they can see young children with various disabilities in a normal, non-medical setting. These students also often serve as volunteer helpers in our monthly Respite Cooperative.
Midlands Technical College
The EEIC partners with the Department of Human Services to provide field experience for students in our classroom setting. Students work under the supervision of the EEIC teachers to learn about disabilities and teaching strategies for young children. These students often further their education to become social workers, early childhood or special education teachers.
We also serve as an observation site for the Early Childhood Program. These students do not actually work in the classroom, rather they chose a particular child and document observations of the him/her participating in the classroom activities.
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Health Center
The Health Center is a facility on campus to meet all the medical needs of our children. We have a full-time staff who oversees the day-to-day medical care of all residents. Annual physicals are completed on campus and transportation is provided to off campus clinical, medical, dental and vision appointments.
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Higher Education Program
 Graduating seniors who do not have family support are encouraged to enter Epworth’s Higher Education Program. This program helps students identify scholarships and assists with the financial aid process as well as provides any needed funding for tuition, housing and books. Participants attend colleges and universities across the state and still call Epworth home. There are currently seven participants in the program.
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Residential Services
 The primary goal of Epworth Children’s Home is to provide a safe and stable environment for children and youth. The first way we do this is through the Residential Program which provides housing, clothing and food to all 80 children placed here.
Children live on campus in homelike cottages with a maximum of ten children per cottage. Each cottage is staffed by one case manager, one cottage coordinator, and two residential caregivers. The children are grouped by age and gender and range in age from four to 18 .
Recreation and Activities
One of the most important aspects of growing up is having fun! Our recreation staff coordinates a variety of activities for our children and youth - both on-campus and off-campus. Below is a list of just some of the exciting and enriching activities we arrange for residents.
- Participation in the United Methodist Basketball League
- Additional organized team sports
- After-school clubs and programs such as chorus and band
- Knitting lessons
- Trips to locations never visited by some of our children - like the beach
- Outings to the movies, bowling and shopping
- Etiquette classes
- Attendance at college sporting events
- Special guest speakers
Another essential activity for our children and youth is participation in community service activities and volunteer opportunities. Our residents regularly serve food at the soup kitchen, sort donations at Harvest Hope Food Bank and work on houses for Home Works. We teach them to not only appreciate what they have been given but to also learn the importance of helping otehrs.
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 Spritual Life Enrichment
Children at Epworth are guided on their spiritual journey by a full-time campus minister. The Rev. Megan Gray oversees the spiritual enrichment of all residents. At the heart of campus is Epworth Memorial United Methodist Church. Church school classes and Sunday worship are offered every week.
The children are encouraged to participate beyond the services by joining the choir or serving as ushers or acolytes. The United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) is also available to middle and high school students. Epworth residents attend retreats, camps and unique activites that promote their spiritual growth.
Epworth Children's Home and Epworth Memorial UMC are in relationship with Duke Divinity School and their Summer Field Education program. We provide an opportunity for students to discern their vocational identity through contextual learning while they are in seminary. Through the summer seminary students are invited to be in ministry at Epworth as a pastor. They are included in planning and implementing worship services, christian education opportunities, and mission opportunities. We invite them to explore their calling into ministry in a unique setting that allows them the space and opportunity to learn and grow.
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