Can Bethel Help You?

Answer the following Questions:

1. Do you have a family crisis that requires your child live away from home for a period of time to deal with the family situation?
2. Have you considered any services or resources to help the family deal with the situation while the child remains in the home?  
3. Is your child at least 5 years old and not yet 18 years old?
4. Is your child not a threat to harm him/her self or other persons?
5. Is your child free from illegal drug dependence?
6. Is your child currently eligible for enrollment in one of your County’s public schools?
7. Is your child physically and mentally capable of independently performing routine daily personal hygiene and household activities?
8. Are you the legal guardian?
9. Is your family willing to work with Bethel staff to address the circumstances you are dealing with?

If you answered “YES” to the above questions and want more information about Bethel’s programs, review the programs tab on this site.  If you want to submit an application for possible enrollment into one of our programs, go to the application link.  If you want to contact someone to discuss your child and family crisis, contact David Shinn at dshinn@bethelbiblevillage.org; or call 423-842-5757 ext 222.

If you answered “NO” to any of the above questions, you may want to consider some of these options:

1. For in-home services such as counseling, contact Youth Villages at 423-954-8890 or 866-791-9225; or Partnership for Children Families and Adults at 423-755-2785.
2. Contact a local church pastor, counselor or church office for help.
3. Contact a local mental health center for counseling help or Richmont Community Counseling Center at 423-648-2423.
4. Contact your county school system’s student services department, Guidance Counselor or Social Worker for referral services.
5. Contact your local health department for family resources and referrals.
6. In the Chattanooga area the 211 agency can also assist with referrals. You may follow this link for some referral resources www.211.org or call 423-265-8000 in Tennessee or 800-635-0444 in GA and AL.
7. If you may need a Residential Treatment Center due to higher behavioral/emotional issues, contact KidLink Network at 800-726-4032.
8. If you need further ideas, call David Shinn at 423-842-5757 x 222 to discuss.

Things you need to know:

1. Before enrolling your child you will be asked to complete a written application, provide information about your child and your family, participate in a meeting with admissions staff and help set goals for your child while they are at Bethel.
2. You will have frequent opportunities to visit your child while he/she is enrolled and you will be expected to maintain family involvement.
3. Bethel is a nonprofit organization, relying on private donations to fund the costs that families cannot pay. Each family is asked to pay something toward the cost of their child’s stay at Bethel. The amount is based on your family income, expenses and family size using a sliding fee scale.
4. Legal custody remains with you (the parent/guardian) during the period of enrollment. You will sign an enrollment agreement allowing Bethel staff to secure and provide services to your child while living at Bethel. When the situation has been resolved and you are ready for your child to return to your home, you will sign a discharge form. 
5. Our goal is to process your application so that your child can be enrolled within 7-10 days.  You are responsible for completing the admissions documents, gathering and submitting necessary information, returning all of the needed documents to the admissions department, and for participating in the admissions meeting. Any delay at any point prolongs the enrollment decision for your child. 
6. Email the completed application to David Shinn at dshinn@bethelbiblevillage.org, or mail to 3001 Hamill Road, Hixson TN  37343, or fax to 423-842-5785. After you complete and return the application, someone will be in touch with you within 3 business days.
7. To speed up the enrollment process, bring the following documents with you for the first meeting: 

• birth certificate
• social security card
• immunization (shot) record
• school records for the last 1-2 school years
• school withdrawal form at the date of enrollment if child is enrolled during the school year
• results of physical exam within the past year
• results of dental cleaning within the previous 6 months
• results of eye exam within the previous year
• custody order if custody is not with birth parents
• health insurance card
• recent psychological evaluations or other assessments