Epworth Children's Home

What Epworth Children's Home does

Epworth Children's Home is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, that delivers a comprehensive continuum of services for at-risk children, youth, and families across the state. Founded in 1896 as an orphanage, it now operates residential programs for youth ages 12-18, an Independent Living program for ages 18-21, a Family Care Center for mothers recovering from substance use disorders, regional foster care services spanning five SC regions (Midlands, Lowcountry, Pee Dee, Rock Hill, Upstate), three outpatient counseling centers, a Family Resource Center, a Kinship Navigator program, and licensed evidence-based prevention services such as HOMEBUILDERS and Circle of Parents. The organization reports serving 400+ individuals weekly.

The organization's core technology consists of licensed, evidence-based practice models rather than proprietary software: the C.A.R.E. (Children and Residential Experience) framework from Cornell University's Residential Child Care Project, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trust-Based Relational Intervention, Motivational Interviewing, and the HOMEBUILDERS in-home family preservation model from The Institute for Family Development. Service delivery infrastructure includes a 32-acre main campus and a 19-acre Trenholm Campus housing 14 buildings. Supporting systems are standard nonprofit web tools (Blackbaud for donations, JotForm for intake, Google Analytics, SignUpGenius).

Epworth's revenue model is hybrid and nonprofit-typical. Funding sources include donations and charitable contributions from individuals and organizations, semi-annual United Methodist church offerings (Mother's Day and Work Day — Epworth is not an apportionment item, so it depends on these offerings), South Carolina Department of Social Services grants (including the Kinship Navigator program), TANF funding for qualifying kinship families, private placement fees for residential services, and insurance/sliding-scale fees for counseling. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via regional offices, counseling centers, and referral pipelines from DSS, schools, pastors, and community organizations. Two subsidiaries exist: Friends of Epworth (a separate 501(c)(3) fundraising arm) and the Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing (a programmatic initiative).

Name

Epworth Children's Home

Legal name

Epworth Children's Home

Website

https://epworthchildrenshome.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Epworth Children's Home is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1896 that serves at-risk children, youth, and families in South Carolina through residential care, foster care, outpatient counseling, kinship support, and prevention services. Based in Columbia, it serves 400+ individuals weekly across five statewide regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare and Family Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK), Family & Parenting Education (Family Literacy, Parenting Skills) (EDAAAFAF)

Keywords

• Residential child care
• Foster care services
• Family counseling
• Kinship care support
• Trauma-informed youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donors, church congregations, and organizations make financial contributions. Epworth is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and gifts are tax-deductible. Recurring giving options available through ACH or credit card.
2. Church Offerings: Semi-annual special offerings held on Mother's Day and Work Day (second Sunday in September) where United Methodist churches collect donations. Epworth is NOT an apportioned item and relies heavily on these offerings.
3. Government Contracts and Grants: Services funded through S.C. Department of Social Services grants, including the Kinship Navigator program. Also receives funding through TANF for qualifying kinship families.
4. Program Fees: Private placements where families or agencies pay for residential services. Insurance may cover counseling services, with sliding scale options available.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Epworth Children's Home provides a statewide continuum of residential, foster, and prevention services for at-risk children, youth, and families in South Carolina. Offerings include a Residential Program for youth ages 12-18, Independent Living for ages 18-21, a Family Care Center for mothers in recovery, foster care licensing and support via five regional offices, outpatient counseling at three centers, kinship caregiver support, and in-home family preservation programs such as HOMEBUILDERS® and Circle of Parents®.

Product overview

Epworth Children's Home operates as a multi-service organization providing a comprehensive continuum of care for children, youth, and families in South Carolina. The organization offers residential programs (Residential Program for ages 12-18, Independent Living for ages 18-21, and Family Care Center for mothers in recovery), foster care services with regional offices statewide, and prevention services including counseling, Circle of Parents, Family Resource Center, Family Resource Connection and Preservation Services, HOMEBUILDERS, and Kinship Navigator. Supporting programs include volunteer opportunities, wish list donations, resource closets, Christmas giving programs, alumni association, and online giving. The organization is faith-based, having served South Carolina for over 130 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Epworth Center for Counseling: Outpatient counseling services for children, teens, and adults with three locations serving Midlands, Lowcountry, and Upstate of South Carolina.
• Foster Care Program
• Center for Independent Living
• Family Care Center
• Kinship Navigator Program

Products and services

• Residential Program A residential program for youth ages 12-18 who have experienced trauma, providing safety, healing, and individualized care using a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach that includes counseling, life skills, academic support, and spiritual mentorship.
• Independent Living Program A center for young adults ages 18-21 providing year-round housing, life skills training, and wraparound support on a 19-acre campus near downtown Columbia to prepare for independent living.
• Family Care Center A residential program for mothers ages 18+ recovering from substance use disorders, allowing them to live with their children in a family-oriented environment during a six-month stay with evidence-based support.
• Foster Care Services A foster care program that licenses individuals and couples to become foster parents, with regional offices across South Carolina providing personalized support, evidence-based training, and 24/7 access to resources.
• Epworth Center for Counseling Licensed outpatient counseling services for children, teens, and adults including trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, diagnostic assessments, parenting classes, and individual, family, and group therapy across three locations.
• Circle of Parents A peer-led support group where parents and caregivers can openly discuss successes and challenges of raising children in a friendly, supportive environment where parents are treated as experts.
• Family Resource Center A family-centered support hub offering concrete resources, parenting education, counseling referrals, benefits enrollment assistance, legal support, and career development services for families in Richland County.
• Family Resource Connection and Preservation Services (FRCPS) An in-home family support program serving families with children birth to 17, using Motivational Interviewing to strengthen family systems and reduce child welfare risk factors with 1-3 weekly visits.
• HOMEBUILDERS An evidence-based in-home program developed by The Institute for Family Development designed to keep families together by providing intensive 8-10 hours weekly in-home support for 4-6 weeks with 24/7 availability.
• Kinship Navigator Program A free support program for grandparents, relatives, or family friends raising children in the Midlands and Pee Dee regions, offering case management, legal/financial guidance, concrete resources, and caregiver support groups.
• Online Giving/Donations A secure online donation platform accepting one-time and recurring gifts with options for tributes, designations, and recurring payment schedules.
• Friends of Epworth An independent 501(c)(3) organization of local business and community leaders raising undesignated support and awareness for Epworth in the Columbia area.
• Epworth Alumni Association An organization for former residents, employees, and friends that holds annual reunions, promotes Epworth's objectives, and encourages financial support for programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 400+ individuals weekly
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2025Community partner co-located at Epworth's Family Resource Center to provide streamlined access to nutritional support services for families.
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2025Community partner co-located at Family Resource Center to help families access food assistance benefits.
• Cornell University Residential Child Care ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership providing the C.A.R.E. (Children and Residential Experience) framework that forms the foundation of Epworth's child care philosophy and practices.
• The Institute for Family DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed provider of HOMEBUILDERS® evidence-based in-home family preservation program designed to keep families together.
• United Methodist Church NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong network of Methodist congregations providing volunteer support, foster family recruitment, donations through semi-annual offerings (Mother's Day, Work Day), and community visibility across South Carolina.
• Flourishing Families of South CarolinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for training parents and organizations in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) trauma parenting model.
• South Carolina Department of Social ServicescoreOthersState agency providing grant funding for Kinship Navigator program and referrals for children needing foster care placement.
• Children's Trust of South CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in Family Resource Center Network, a statewide initiative dedicated to strengthening families, preventing child abuse and neglect, and building resilient communities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Youth Villages: Large national nonprofit delivering in-home family services, residential treatment, and behavioral health programs. Overlaps with Epworth's residential, in-home preservation (HOMEBUILDERS-style), and crisis intervention offerings at a much larger scale.
• Boys Town: Nationally known nonprofit operating residential, foster care, in-home services, and family support. Comparable in mission category and service mix, but operates at significantly larger scale than Epworth with broader geographic footprint.
• KVC Health Systems: Midwest-anchored nonprofit providing foster care, residential, in-home family services, and behavioral health. Comparable to Epworth's integrated continuum of in-home preservation, foster care, and residential programs, though KVC operates across multiple states.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: National nonprofit operating residential treatment, foster care, and behavioral health services across many states. Comparable to Epworth in residential and community-based service mix, but at meaningfully larger scale and without a Methodist-affiliated network.

Direct peers

• Florida United Methodist Children's Home: United Methodist-affiliated children's home in Florida delivering residential care, counseling, and family preservation. Comparable to Epworth as a sibling Methodist-anchored nonprofit serving children and families with faith-based and evidence-based practices.
• Pressley Ridge: Nonprofit providing residential, foster care, education, and family preservation services across several states. Comparable to Epworth in combining residential and community-based services for at-risk youth with evidence-informed practices.
• Upbring: Texas-based nonprofit (formerly Methodist Mission Home) delivering residential, foster care, adoption, and family services across Texas. Comparable to Epworth as a faith-rooted, multi-service child welfare organization with statewide reach and a continuum of prevention through residential care.
• National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP): Nonprofit providing foster care, residential, and family preservation services across multiple states. Comparable to Epworth in core service mix (foster care, kinship support, in-home preservation) and in targeting child welfare-involved children and families.
• Thornwell Children's Home: Faith-based (Presbyterian-affiliated) South Carolina children's home offering residential, foster care, counseling, and family services. Directly comparable to Epworth in mission, geography, faith-based operating model, and continuum of care across ages and family situations.
• Methodist Home for Children & Affiliates: Alabama-based United Methodist-affiliated children's home providing residential, foster care, adoption, and family preservation services. Closely comparable to Epworth given the same Methodist governance framework, faith-based identity, and integrated continuum of child welfare services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EpworthChildrensHome
• Facebookfacebook.com/EpworthChildrensHome
• Instagraminstagram.com/Epworthsc
• Xx.com/EpworthCH

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Epworth Children's Home