Bethany Christian Services is a global nonprofit organization that brings families together and keeps families together. Strengthening families for the well-being of children is their top priority and offer services such as adoption, foster care, and pregnancy counseling. On a local level, Bethany Christian Services is located in Meadville, PA and offer a variety of support groups, trainings, and respites for families. Through the journey of adoption, their mission is to inform you of the many different services that are offered through their agency.
Any family that resides in the state of Pennsylvania and has adopted through any agency or any program such as, private domestic infant, international, or foster to adopt, is qualified to receive post permanency services. In addition to this, any family that has formal legal guardianship, kinship, or custodianship, are also eligible for these same services which are free to the family. These services are funded through the State-Wide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN). Services include Case Assessment, Case Advocacy, Support Groups, and Respite. These services are designed to support and strengthen families, while connecting them to local resources.
What are Post Adoption Services?
The Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) offers Post-Permanency Services (often referred to as post-adoption services) to Pennsylvania families to ensure that families are provided the support they need for the long term to encourage a positive life-long experience for both adoption and foster care programs in Pennsylvania. Services are offered to families who have adopted, have a kinship arrangement for a child, or have permanent legal custody of any child that is not their own biological child, including when a step-parent adopts a child and becomes their legal guardian.
Three Post-Permanency Services offered:
- Case Advocacy service ensures that families receive access to services designed to meet their needs after they have made a permanent commitment to a child. We meet monthly to meet the family’s needs.
- Support Group service helps build relationships, forms a community of mentoring, provides education and offers socialization and recreational activities for families and/or their children.
- Respite service provides families with planned breaks to support a consistent level of parenting.
Support Groups Offered:
Warren Attachment and Adoption Group
1st Tuesday of the Month, dinner included
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
First Lutheran Church
109 W. 3rd Ave., Warren, Pa
Please contact Tory Hough, (814) 795-2804/though@bethany.org
Online Attachment and Adoption Group
2nd Tuesday of the Month
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Please contact Jessica Setta, (814) 547-3171/jsetta@bethany.org, for log-in information.
Tween Group
2nd Wednesday of the Month, dinner included
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
New Beginnings Church
13226 Leslie Rd., Meadville, Pa
Please contact Katie Lux, (814) 449-7674/klux@bethany.org
Online Mom’s Adoption Support Group
2nd Thursday of the Month
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Please contact Tory Hough, (814) 795-2804/though@bethany.org, for log-in information.
Teen Group
2nd Saturday of the Month, breakfast included
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
New Beginnings Church
13226 Leslie Rd., Meadville, Pa
Please contact Lesha Powell, (814) 795-3544/lmpowell@bethany.org
Meadville Attachment and Adoption Support Group
3rd Tuesday of the Month, dinner and childcare included
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Living Waters Church
12891 PA – 98, Meadville, Pa
Please contact Jessica Setta, (814) 547-3171/jsetta@bethany.org
Pregnancy Counseling is also being offered through Bethany Christian services in the Meadville area. The licensed Pregnancy Counselor will meet with birth parents who are experiencing unexpected or crisis pregnancies. The main focus of this program is to provide free services (no insurance required) while ensuring the health and well-being of the child and the mother. Transportation is not necessary and our Pregnancy Counselor can meet with the expectant parent in the convenience of their home or in the community. More information can be discussed by contacting Alisha Cherry at (724) 816-4405 or by email at acherry@bethany.org.
Families can self-refer for SWAN Post-Permanency Services by calling the SWAN Helpline at 1-800-585-7926. You may also contact Bethany Christian Services directly and speak to Tory Hough at (814) 795-2804 or by email though@bethany.org.
