Virginia Baptist Children's Home & Family Services, a 117-year-old agency based in Salem and affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia, has adopted a new name.
VBCH&FS, which operates more than a dozen group homes for adults with special needs across Virginia and provides emergency, residential, foster care and adoption services for at-risk youth as well as wilderness camps, will now be known as HopeTree Family Services.
“Over the years our programs have expanded to include residential care for adolescents, family counseling, group homes for special needs adults, and many other services,” said Stephen Richerson, president and executive director of the agency. “The term ‘Children's Home' simply does not accurately present the breadth and depth of our programs. Furthermore, there has long been confusion among the secular world that we provide our services only to children of the Baptist faith. In fact, very few of the young people in our care have any church experience at all. Generally, we are their first introduction to Christ and we take that responsibility very seriously. We expect our new name will provide a strong sense of inclusion and acceptance to all those who may need our services,” said Richerson.
The new name, HopeTree Family Services, was selected on the basis of the agency's desire to develop a unified identity that equally encompasses all programs and services while retaining a significant degree of its established image, said Richerson
“The single greatest benefit we extend to everyone we encounter is the hope for a better life; a better future,” he said. “Whether we are caring for a 16-year-old unwed mother or a 60-year-old man with Downs syndrome, we offer each person and their families the hope they can lead more productive, more fulfilling lives. The image of the tree blossoming with hearts is one of the most visually striking and memorable images in use today. We feel that it perfectly symbolizes our mission. We are a place where love grows.”
The change is a change in name only, said Richerson. HopeTree Family Services will continue all the programs, services, and practices performed by Virginia Baptist Children's Home & Family Services, which include residential and emergency placement for youth, two wilderness camps, foster care and adoption services, and more than a dozen group homes for adults with developmental disabilities.
Established in 1890, HopeTree Family Services accepted its first residents in 1892 and has operated continuously since.
Special to the Herald