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Building Brighter Futures
for Children & Youth
since 1863
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Referrals and Placement
Referrals
Referrals are accepted from any Commonwealth of Pennsylvania County Children and Youth Agency, Juvenile Probation Office, or other child-placing agencies with which Bethany has a service contract.
How to Initiate a Referral
To initiate a referral to Bethany Children's Home please call the Director of Social Work at 610-589-4501 to determine the appropriateness of the referral and the availability of bed space. Please send the following to the Director of Social Work by fax to 610-589-5771.
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Social history
- Recent psychiatric and/or psychological evaluation
- Summary of school records
Admission Criteria
- Bethany serves a coed, school-age population.
- These youth have been adjudicated dependent or delinquent and may have been diagnosed with emotional difficulties.
- Youth must be able to function in an open setting and attend public school.
- Youth may be enrolled in regular classes or require special education supports (emotional supports, learning supports, or in some cases- life skills supports).
- There are no geographical limitations except those dictated by the specific cases under consideration, where distance would make the delivery of service goals difficult or impossible.
- Families of youth referred to the Short Term Intensive Program must be willing and able to be involved in family counseling.
- Youth so aggressive as to represent a threat to the physical safety of others are not accepted for service.
- Youth with extensive medical needs may not be appropriate for service.
- Youth whose needs are of a nature that would require the continuous and immediate presence of staff are not accepted.
- While many of the young people accepted have been diagnosed as manifesting mental health difficulties, youth who are identified as actively psychotic or requiring intensive psychiatric treatment would not be admitted.
- Youth who exhibit prolonged episodes of the aforementioned behaviors during their stay will have their services discontinued and will be referred elsewhere by their placing county agency for more appropriate services.
Procedures for Acceptance
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Intake procedure begins with the receipt of a social summary, psychiatric and/or psychological evaluation, and an educational assessment.
- In cases in which circumstances prevent a county from securing a recent psychological evaluation, this may be omitted if other material indicates that the referral is appropriated after discussion with the Director of Social Work.
- If referral information is deemed appropriate, the Director of Social Work sets up a pre-placement visit. Persons involved are the youth, his/her parents whenever possible, and referring agency personnel who are familiar with the youth. The following Bethany personnel participate: an administrator, Director of Social Work, psychologist, social worker, and houseparent.
Decision Process
A decision as to whether to admit the youth is made, in most cases, immediately following the interview. Should the decision be favorable for admission, placement occurs as soon as practical. The Bethany staff person responsible for following through on the admission procedure is the assigned social worker. Youth are assigned to a cottage on the basis of gender, age, and functioning level.
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