Talk and Tour

Bethany welcomes tours for social service, clergy, and other professionals to learn about Bethany Children's Home. Contact Rob Hudson, Director of Development, 610.589.3333 or rhudson@bethanyhome.org

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 Services 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 Services, (fax) 610.589.5771

1. social history
2. recent psychiatric and/or psychological evaluation
3. summary of school records

Admission Criteria

• Bethany serves a coed, school-age population.
• These children and youth have been adjudicated dependent or delinquent and may have been diagnosed with emotional difficulties.
• They must be able to function in an open setting and attend public school.
• Youth may be enrolled in regular classes as well as classes for seriously emotionally disturbed, educable mentally retarded, or specific learning disabled students.
• 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.
• Delinquents and 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

• 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 Services.
• If referral information is deemed appropriate, the Director of Social Services 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 services, 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. This person will advise all appropriate Bethany staff of the admission date, brief houseparents on the history and reason(s) for admission, assist in orienting the youth to Bethany with the help of the houseparents, and secure whatever document are required by regulations. Youth are assigned to a cottage on the basis of gender, age, and functioning level.

As of June 30, 2007 Demographics

As of June 30, 2007: Long Term Residential Enrollment	Shelter Enrollment by County as of 6/30/07
Blue: Berks County Purple: Philadelphia Yellow: Schuylkill All others: Lancaster, Northampton, Lebanon, Lehigh, York, Dauphin	Schuylkill Lancaster Lebanon Berks
2007 Short-Term Residential Enrollment by County	Blue: Berks County Purple: Lehigh Yellow: Lebanon All others: Lancaster, Dauphin, York, Northampton, Lehigh, Schuylkill, Philadelphia

Continuing Education Opportunities

Each fall, Bethany Children's Home and Phoebe Ministries, a not-for-profit United Church of Christ related organization, co-sponsor an educational conference on Bethany's campus for child care professionals.

Last year's program was approved for three continuing education credits for social workers, teachers and guidance counselors through the Temple University School of Social Administration. There was a $10 fee to receive CE credits for the program.

Temple University is a pre-approved provider by the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage, and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors to offer continuing education for social workers. There is no cost to attend the conference or lunch, but space is limited, therefore, reservations are required.

Watch this site for information about the 2008 Bethany Phoebe Conference.