Member Spotlight: UMCF

Member Spotlight by [UMCF]

Provide us with a brief summary of your business’ services

UMCF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities by providing care, nurture, and treatment for children and families throughout Ohio. Our comprehensive services include Treatment Foster Care, Community-Based Mental Health Services, Intensive Home-Based Treatment, Psychiatry, OhioRISE Care Coordination, and Independent Living programs for youth transitioning out of foster care. Through compassionate, individualized care, we help children, youth, and families overcome challenges, build stability, and create pathways toward brighter futures.

Describe your company in three words

Compassionate, Trustworthy, Transformative

Share a recent project, client success, or example of your work in action.

UMCF was able to provide scholarships to three youth this summer. One young lady was raised in our foster home and now is part of the Bridges Program. She attends Miami University of Oxford and will graduate with her bachelors next year and be halfway completed with her master’s program. She has a heart of gold and is able to hold down two jobs while attending school. UMCF had a young boy who entered our foster care program at age 4 and had issues with anger outburst. Through the hard work of his therapist and foster parents, he was able to regulate his emotions. He eventually was adopted by his foster family. When asked by his therapist how he felt about this, he answered, “my heart is happy” As an agency our most recent milestone has been the merger with UMCF Family Services and CHOICES Inc, bringing together two organizations with longstanding histories of serving children. This merger and our rebranding as UMCF, we have strengthened our collective expertise, expanded our reach and created new opportunities for collaboration across Ohio.

How do you stay engaged with trends that you see in your industry?

UMCF leadership and employees regularly participate in conferences, professional development opportunities, community partnerships and conversations with other nonprofit and human services organizations. Recently, members of our team visited Cunningham Children’s Home, providing an opportunity to exchange perspectives, learn about different approaches to serving children and families, and explore practices that could strengthen our own services. By maintaining relationships with fellow providers, community leaders, and industry professionals, we remain responsive to emerging needs, evolving treatment approaches and changes within Ohio’s child welfare and behavioral health systems.

If you had to start over from scratch, what’s the first thing you’d do differently?

With more than a century of history behind our organization, we recognize that growth requires continuous evolution. Our recent merger has reinforced the importance of bringing people, processes and perspectives together around a shared mission. Establishing clear communication, investing in employee development and creating opportunities for cross-functional collaboration early on can make a tremendous difference in how effectively an organization serves its community.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a business owner?

“Never lose sight of the people behind the mission” In the nonprofit sector, success is not measured solely by organizational growth, financial performance, or the number of programs offered. It is measured by the lives we touch and the lasting difference we make.

What makes a successful partnership at your company?

A successful partnership begins with shared values, mutual trust, open communication, and genuine commitment to making a difference. Our work depends on meaningful relationships with businesses, churches, schools, healthcare providers, community organizations, donors and fellow nonprofit agencies.

What makes Columbus such a great place to do business?

Columbus is a community defined by innovation, collaboration, and a strong commitment to creating opportunities for others. Its growing business community, diverse workforce, educational institutions, and extensive nonprofit network create an environment where organizations can build meaningful relationships and make a lasting impact. Columbus has been an important part of our history and continues to play a vital role in our future. We are fortunate to operate in a community where businesses, community leaders, and nonprofit agencies recognize the value of working together to support those in need.

What do you want people to remember about your business five years from now?

UMCH is an organization that honored its history while embracing the opportunity to evolve. Five years from now, we hope UMCF is recognized not only for how far we have come, but for the foundation we have built for future generations. We want our legacy to reflect an organization that remained true to its mission, adapted with purpose, and continued creating opportunities for children and families to find stability, healing and hope.

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UMCFOHIO
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/company/UMCF
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/UMCFOHIO
Website: https://www.umcf.org