Dominic
Herbst, Bethesda Family Services Foundation president,
was the chief adult/juvenile probation officer for two counties
in Pennsylvania when he realized the need for a comprehensive alternative
youth program within that community. In 1983 Herbst created Bethesda
Day Treatment Center and developed the premise of
what has become Bethesda's Relational
Healing approach, based upon his desire to bring healing
and restoration to youth and their families.
The national Bethesda
Family Services Foundation was established in 1995 to replicate the Bethesda program model across
the United States. The impetus for this endeavor was provided by a
modest grant from OJJDP; the purpose of this grant was to develop ten
new program centers across the country. Many programs have benefited
from our approach, including programs in Oklahoma, Maryland, Florida,
Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Minnesota, California, Georgia,
New Mexico, Ohio,
Washington, Michigan, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Additional services implemented by Bethesda Family Services Foundation
include a detailed training program, parenting programs, family healing
seminars, community healing and restoration programs, juvenile mentoring,
and group homes.
Bethesda's program methodologies have been featured in the following
prime time national television documentaries:
ABC World News Sunday
Victory Over Violence, hosted by Walter
Cronkite, produced by Arnold Shapiro Productions
Sticks and Stones, produced
by George Rivera Productions
Breaking the Cycle of Violence, produced
by the National Education Service
BAD DADS, a one-hour special
on Bethesda's Parenting Program, hosted by George Foreman,
produced by Arnold Shapiro Productions
For more information on Bethesda Family Services Foundation,
feel free to e-mail us
today or call (570) 523-0605.
