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Bethel is designated as a Level 1 residential facility. This means it is a low intensity, structured residential program for children and youth with some behavioral or emotional problems, supervised by houseparent staff in an open group care setting. An application packet addressing the needs of the youth and family is completed for each referral.
[youth who do not clearly fit the following criteria or who have unique circumstances may be eligible for admission with the approval of the admissions team.]
residents in care at Bethel must meet the following admission criteria:
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Age 5-17 for residential services; age 15-17 for the PROMISE Program (mother/child, with one child up to 2 years of age, or pregnant); and age 14-17 for Back on Track Program, with exceptions in ages considered to keep siblings together
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Voluntary placements from within 75 miles of Chattanooga are preferred. We also accept non-custodial referrals from Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services, Georgia’s Department of Family and Children’s Services, and Juvenile Court. We also consider referrals from a wider area when there are not appropriate resources closer to the family.
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Residents must be able to attend public school, and have a minimum I.Q. of 80.
typical characteristics of children/youth we CAN effectively serve:
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those needing temporary basic childcare, shelter, or protection due to economic, circumstantial or legal situations (i.e. parental incarceration, unemployment or at treatment program, family illness, custody cases pending a court decision, etc.)
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those with dependent or neglected backgrounds
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those whose family needs a temporary placement for their child/children to avoid losing custody or to avoid disrupting an adoption
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those whose family is heavily conflicted and emotionally stressed enough to require some time apart (yet still remain a family), to begin to work through difficulties, improve relationships, and reunite
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those who have completed a higher level of care program, can function successfully in this setting, and need an “in-between” program before returning home
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those who struggle to make appropriate choices when faced with negative peer pressures
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those who need training in social skills, peer interaction and relationships with authority figures, but can function in this level of care
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those who are experiencing mild to moderate language or learning disabilities, school problems, or are developing a truancy problem
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those who are experiencing emotional problems that are not overly severe
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those who are beginning to experiment with a delinquent value system or lifestyle but are not yet engrained or “hard core” in their lifestyles
characteristics of children/youth that we DO NOT have program resources for or we cannot effectively serve:
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those who are dependent on or addicted to alcohol or other drugs, or who sell or distribute illegal substances to others
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those who have had suicidal or psychotic episodes within the past six months, or are currently in need of more intensive treatment programs
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those who have recently been discharged from psychiatric inpatient programs or other intensive programs and have not yet demonstrated the self-control necessary for group living on an open campus setting
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those who are physically aggressive or violent toward peers, adults, animals or property
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those who have sexually acting out behaviors
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those considered to be at risk of sexually perpetrating upon other residents
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those with medical conditions requiring specialized diets, frequent specialized medical care, or 24-hour standby specialized medical care
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those with significant physical handicaps that would prevent their participation and involvement in similar schedules, responsibilities and activities
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those unwilling to work toward changing identified behavior patterns
Bethel does not discriminate on the basis of political affiliation, mental or physical handicap, race, color, religion, national origin, age or sex (except where age, sex or mental/physical condition is a bona fide treatment or program criteria).
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