IN THE

NEWS

Guiding people on the path to change.

Being a foster parent is a rewarding and fulfilling experience.  Kurt Eck, who has many years of experience in the human services field as a therapeutic support staff and is now a teacher in the Bethesda Alternative Education Program, is a foster parent with Bethesda Day Treatment Center, Inc.  During an open house held by the Agency on March 14 at its facility on Lower Market Street in Milton, Mr. Eck shared his experiences with families who are interested in opening their homes to help youth in need.

Mr. Eck, through the use of a personally composed PowerPoint presentation, offered the benefits of being a Bethesda foster parent. 

Bethesda provides the foster parents with 24-hour crisis intervention should a situation arise at the home, routine staff visits to the home to ensure and offer support to foster parents, approximately 20 hours of intensive therapy for youth on a weekly basis at the Center, and respite care as needed.

Over the past two years, Mr. Eck has opened his home to a total of 12 foster youth.  While speaking with prospective families, he shared that being a foster parent is the best way to have a positive impact on the lives of these young people.

Other Bethesda foster parents and staff were also in attendance at the open house.  

The event provided an opportunity for many interested community members to talk with foster parents about how they can provide a home to hurting youth who need a chance to get on the path to positive change.

Bethesda Day Treatment Center, Inc., under the direction of President Jerilyn Keen, is a private non-profit organization with eleven treatment facilities throughout Pennsylvania.

The Bethesda Milton Center is operated under the direction of Regional Manager, Robert Vanderwall, and Program Manager, John Dunne.  Individuals interested in becoming Bethesda Foster Families are encouraged to contact Foster Care Coordinator, Stephanie Rice, at 742-7025.