MISSION AND VISION

The mission of Bethany Children’s Home is to continue a Christian ministry, begun in 1863, to serve children and families within our care. Using the Sanctuary Model, we strive to provide a safe place of nurture, protection, and supportive care to aid our residents in their self-understanding, growth, and healing toward a brighter, healthier future. Our vision is of a community where all youth and staff are safe in their environment and feel safe within themselves. To bring this vision into reality, we provide the resources needed to children and families to work through their losses, enabling them to have a brighter future.

PROGRAMS

Youth in Bethany’s Residential Treatment Program and Short Term Intensive Treatment Program reside in 7 cottages on Bethany’s scenic campus in Womelsdorf, PA. The cottages combine to offer 78 beds to male and female youth.

Youth in the Residential and Short Term programs are provided with these services, in addition to a few services unique to the respective programs.

• Weekly individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Licensed and Master’s Level Therapists
• Family therapy through contract counselors
• Psychological Services through contract counselors
• Drug and Alcohol services in conjunction with Caron Counseling
• Immediate School Placement
• Alternative education program and special education through Conrad Weiser School District is available
• On-ground tutoring lab with licensed teachers is available and mandatory for any student with educational deficiencies
• Balanced and Restorative Justice Principles outcomes for JPO youth
• Opportunities for community service
• Ansell Casey Life Skills Assessments
• Formal Life Skills Training and Education for all youth 16 and older
• Personalized Transition and Permanency Planning starting at age 16

 RESIDENTIAL Program

The Residential Treatment Program is intended for youth who require support and services to obtain skills in order to move to a less structured setting or return home. The following are services unique to the Residential Treatment Program.

• Life Skills and Independent Living Group for all youth 16 and older
• Assistance with higher education planning
• Assistance in finding employment and housing

 SHORT TERM Program

The Short Term Intensive Treatment Program is a 90-day program intended for youth whose permanency goal is reunification or for youth who require intensive initial treatment services before Residential Treatment Services begin. The following are services unique to the Short Term Intensive Treatment Program.

• Twice weekly individual therapy
• Immediate School Placement in an on-campus alternative education program via CW School District

 Shelter Care Program

Bethany’s Shelter Care program provides emergency services and immediate housing to youth ages 6-18. The Shelter Care Program provides the same services offered to all youth in other programs at Bethany, plus the following unique services.

• Crisis Intervention/emergency services
• Short term housing
• Immediate School Placement in Alternative Education Programming
• 24 hour awake child care staff
• On-site Director of Shelter Care and Social Services Staff
• Off campus educational field trips
• Use of outside groups for education on topics such as drugs and alcohol prevention, pregnancy prevention, and maintaining healthy relationships
• Independent Living

Independent Living Program

 Bethany’s Independent Living program is on campus using the houseparent model and geared towards youth age 16-20 who have maintained satisfactory educational progress (or may be working on their GED or college/higher education program), have demonstrated the ability to function appropriately with a minimal level of supervision, and have consistently utilized appropriate social skills and coping mechanisms to maintain appropriate interaction with his/her peers, staff, and the community.

The IL program offers 28 beds in two cottages. Youth in the IL program receive all of the services and supports provided in the Residential Treatment Program, plus the following:

• Advanced Life Skills Education and Independent Living Training
• Completion of a personalized transition plan
• Development of a personal portfolio (birth certificate, social security card, etc.)
• Completion of a level system working toward Supervised Independent Living
• Required educational programming, work, and/or community service hours to equal 40 hours weekly
• Expectations and privileges based on level system
• Outcomes are tracked

http://www.bethanyhome.org/