Bethesda Children's Home Case Study

We were assigned to pick an agency that served the child and family sector. We chose the Bethesda Children’s Home. Bethesda’s first started in 1919. They became the Orphans’ Home of the Pittsburgh Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Children’s home stated purpose was, “to provide a home for orphaned, destitute, friendless, defective or delinquent children without distinction as to race, creed or condition; in which home under Christian direction and influence these children may be reared and prepared for the stern duties of life and citizenship”. Land was given in 1920 to give Bethesda the opportunity to build an orphanage. This land was given, but on the condition that the buildings for the children are built within five years. When the first superintendent started in 1920, he had 20 children under his watch. When the program was in its early years, the primary focus was custodial care. This means it was mostly just giving food to kids, and providing them with shelter. There was little focus on individual needs. Practical …show more content…
The center is located on 462 West 18th Street. It is recognized and considered one of the oldest neighborhood centers in Erie. The community center was established by Reverend Fortunato Scarpitti in 1929, but did not merge with Bethesda until 1996. The mission is “to build a drug free community by providing youth with healthy opportunities such as drug and alcohol prevention programs, after school programs, tutoring, community service, basketball, boxing, and a computer lab.”
Bethesda Children’s Home Lutheran Social Services is an outreach of the Evangelical Church in America. They are recognized as one of the most prominent agencies in instituting innovative programming for emotionally and psychologically disturbed children and their families. They currently serve over 300 Pennsylvania youth and families per day through its facilities in Crawford and Erie