Bethesda Lutheran Communities
Encyclopedia
Bethesda Lutheran Communities is a faith-based
human service organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
by Children’s Friends Societies from seven Midwestern states. The name chosen at the time was not "Bethesda", but rather “The Society for the Training and Care of the Feeble-minded
and Epileptic”. The five original clients moved into rented quarters in Watertown.
In 1906, the organization had grown to serve 14 people, but lost its lease. It relocated to a small vacant sanitarium
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
for 2½ years and grew to serve a total of 40 people. Having outgrown its Milwaukee location, the organization returned to Watertown in 1909 where the first permanent building was located on farmland along the banks of the Rock River. Above the main entrance to that building was placed a stone inscribed with a single word, “Bethesda”. The word is Hebrew for “House of Mercy” and is taken from a story of healing in the 5th Chapter of the Gospel of John
. The name of the organization was not officially changed to Bethesda Lutheran Home until 1923.
The original building quickly filled and others were built to accommodate a growing need for space. Through the first 40 years of its existence, Bethesda made use of the surrounding farmland
and orchards to provide much of their own food. Since, by today’s standards, the people served at that time were very capable, many provided the necessary labor.
had grown to 660. In response to this large number of people, along with the growing level of individual needs, the board of directors and administration began to seek more appropriate living settings for many people. For others, they began to explore the possibility of establishing group homes away from Watertown and closer to people’s families. In 1977 the first Bethesda group home
was established in Maryville, Missouri
. The establishment of additional homes in other states followed.
and Texas, Bethesda acquired existing programs that were facing financial difficulties. Both programs are functioning and still expanding today. In Illinois
, a number of new homes were constructed.
In the early 1980s Bethesda established the National Christian Resource Center (NCRC). The NCRC provides outreach services beyond the individuals it supports. For 25 years, the NCRC produced religious education materials for churches; staff training materials for other service providers; referral information to parents, teachers and pastors; and scholarship
and award programs for grade school, high school and college students. In 2009, the NCRC gave way to the Bethesda Institute
, which has become the primary outreach division of Bethesda Lutheran Communities. The Institute is planned to provide consultation
, research
, professional training and leadership development
in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In recognition of its broadened role in producing outreach materials and services beyond its single location in Watertown, Bethesda's Board of Directors
made the decision in 1992 to change the name of the organization to Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc.
.
Founded as Good Shepherd Lutheran Home of the West in Terra Bella, California
, Bethesda provided assistance to help the organization get started and, in the 1970s, the two agencies even partnered on a successful joint fundraising initiative.
In November 2008, Bethesda’s Board of Directors made the recommendation to affect the formal merger with Good Shepherd Communities, effective September 1, 2009. That recommendation was preceded by a year-long study of Bethesda’s mission, vision
and values with relation to the strength of its identity.
A formal merger of Bethesda and GSC was approved in May 2009. As of September 1, 2009, the single organization became known as Bethesda Lutheran Communities.
reform. Specifically, helping to make funding more accessible to people seeking services in the community as opposed to larger, institutional settings.
, Missouri
, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana
, Michigan
, Ohio
, New Jersey
, Texas, California, Colorado
, Oregon
and Washington. Most people served by Bethesda receive residential supports in group homes and apartments. Bethesda also provides vocational training either on its own or by contracting with other local providers.
International partnerships also exist with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod World Relief and Human Care to provide special programs in Latvia
, Romania
, Russia
, Kenya
, and the Dominican Republic
.
lives of people with disabilities.
Since 1986, the NCRC has also produced staff training materials for distribution to other professional support providing agencies.
The camp offers 12, week-long sessions staffed by volunteers who are part of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s Servant Event program. The camp includes paved hiking trails, cabins, and an outdoor chapel area.
Since 2004, the Camp has been home to the only fully wheelchair accessible
treehouse in the Midwest.
Faith-based
The term faith-based is a neologism , mostly current in US English, to describe any organization or government idea or plan based on religious beliefs, specifically Christian beliefs....
human service organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
History
Bethesda was founded on April 13, 1904 in Watertown, WisconsinWatertown, Wisconsin
Watertown is a city in Dodge and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Most of the city's population is in Jefferson County. Division Street, several blocks north of downtown, marks the county line. The population of Watertown was 21,598 at the 2000 census...
by Children’s Friends Societies from seven Midwestern states. The name chosen at the time was not "Bethesda", but rather “The Society for the Training and Care of the Feeble-minded
Feeble-minded
The term feeble-minded was used from the late nineteenth century in Great Britain, Europe and the United States to refer to a specific type of "mental deficiency". At the time, mental deficiency was an umbrella term, which encompassed all degrees of educational and social deficiency...
and Epileptic”. The five original clients moved into rented quarters in Watertown.
In 1906, the organization had grown to serve 14 people, but lost its lease. It relocated to a small vacant sanitarium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
for 2½ years and grew to serve a total of 40 people. Having outgrown its Milwaukee location, the organization returned to Watertown in 1909 where the first permanent building was located on farmland along the banks of the Rock River. Above the main entrance to that building was placed a stone inscribed with a single word, “Bethesda”. The word is Hebrew for “House of Mercy” and is taken from a story of healing in the 5th Chapter of the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
. The name of the organization was not officially changed to Bethesda Lutheran Home until 1923.
The original building quickly filled and others were built to accommodate a growing need for space. Through the first 40 years of its existence, Bethesda made use of the surrounding farmland
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
and orchards to provide much of their own food. Since, by today’s standards, the people served at that time were very capable, many provided the necessary labor.
1970s
By the early 1970s the population of the institutionInstitution
An institution is any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given human community...
had grown to 660. In response to this large number of people, along with the growing level of individual needs, the board of directors and administration began to seek more appropriate living settings for many people. For others, they began to explore the possibility of establishing group homes away from Watertown and closer to people’s families. In 1977 the first Bethesda group home
Group home
A group home is a private residence designed or converted to serve as a non-secure home for unrelated persons who share a common characteristic.-Types of group homes:...
was established in Maryville, Missouri
Maryville, Missouri
Maryville is a city in Nodaway County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,581 at the 2000 census. The town, organized on February 14, 1845, was named for Mrs. Mary Graham, wife of Amos Graham, then the county clerk. Mary was the first Caucasian woman to have lived within the boundaries...
. The establishment of additional homes in other states followed.
1980 - 2000
The 1980s and 1990s were marked by significant expansion of services in a number of states. In two locations, KansasKansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
and Texas, Bethesda acquired existing programs that were facing financial difficulties. Both programs are functioning and still expanding today. In Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, a number of new homes were constructed.
In the early 1980s Bethesda established the National Christian Resource Center (NCRC). The NCRC provides outreach services beyond the individuals it supports. For 25 years, the NCRC produced religious education materials for churches; staff training materials for other service providers; referral information to parents, teachers and pastors; and scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
and award programs for grade school, high school and college students. In 2009, the NCRC gave way to the Bethesda Institute
Institute
An institute is a permanent organizational body created for a certain purpose. Often it is a research organization created to do research on specific topics...
, which has become the primary outreach division of Bethesda Lutheran Communities. The Institute is planned to provide consultation
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
, research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
, professional training and leadership development
Leadership development
Leadership development refers to any activity that enhances the quality of leadership within an individual or organization. These activities have ranged from MBA style programs offered at university business schools to action learning, high-ropes courses and executive retreats.- Developing...
in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In recognition of its broadened role in producing outreach materials and services beyond its single location in Watertown, Bethesda's Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
made the decision in 1992 to change the name of the organization to Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc.
Good Shepherd Communities
In 2006, Bethesda became a nation-wide organization when Good Shepherd Communities (GSC) became a wholly controlled subsidiary of the organization. The histories of the two agencies had been intertwined since GSC’s inception. In 1949, Norma and Paul Yorde traveled from California to Watertown, Wisconsin to inquire about placing their son on a waiting list for admission to Bethesda. Bethesda was unable to admit their son but offered the Yordes assistance in developing a program for people with disabilities on the west coastWest Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
.
Founded as Good Shepherd Lutheran Home of the West in Terra Bella, California
Terra Bella, California
Terra Bella is a census-designated place in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was 3,310 at the 2010 census, down from 3,466 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Terra Bella is located at ....
, Bethesda provided assistance to help the organization get started and, in the 1970s, the two agencies even partnered on a successful joint fundraising initiative.
In November 2008, Bethesda’s Board of Directors made the recommendation to affect the formal merger with Good Shepherd Communities, effective September 1, 2009. That recommendation was preceded by a year-long study of Bethesda’s mission, vision
Goal
A goal is an objective, or a projected computation of affairs, that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve.Goal, GOAL or G.O.A.L may also refer to:Sport...
and values with relation to the strength of its identity.
A formal merger of Bethesda and GSC was approved in May 2009. As of September 1, 2009, the single organization became known as Bethesda Lutheran Communities.
Advocacy
Through its Bethesda Voices program, an online community, Bethesda seeks to improve public policy affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its purpose is to educate, engage and mobilize support for system reforms and improvements, and to seek improved and sustainable funding for services and supports. One focus is MedicaidMedicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
reform. Specifically, helping to make funding more accessible to people seeking services in the community as opposed to larger, institutional settings.
Programs
As of 2009, Bethesda supports individuals in over 290 locations across 13 states including WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Texas, California, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and Washington. Most people served by Bethesda receive residential supports in group homes and apartments. Bethesda also provides vocational training either on its own or by contracting with other local providers.
International work
On August 10, 2001, Bethesda joined with v. Bodelschwinghsche Anstalten Bethel of Germany , Nord-Norges Daikonistiftelse of Norway, Mosaic of the United States and Bethphage of Great Britain to create IMPACT, an international organization formed to positively impact public policy throughout the world and to respond to the needs of children and adults with disabilities.International partnerships also exist with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod World Relief and Human Care to provide special programs in Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, and the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
.
Outreach services
Through its primary outreach portal, the National Christian Resource Center (NCRC), Bethesda produces and distributes curricula and other resources supporting the spiritualSpirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
lives of people with disabilities.
Since 1986, the NCRC has also produced staff training materials for distribution to other professional support providing agencies.
Camp Matz
In a wooded area of its Watertown campus, Bethesda operates Camp Matz, a fully accessible camp for people with disabilities.The camp offers 12, week-long sessions staffed by volunteers who are part of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s Servant Event program. The camp includes paved hiking trails, cabins, and an outdoor chapel area.
Since 2004, the Camp has been home to the only fully wheelchair accessible
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
treehouse in the Midwest.
See also
- Lutheran Services in AmericaLutheran Services in AmericaLutheran Services in America is a not-for-profit corporation that coordinates the work of nearly 300 independent Lutheran health and human service organizations affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or recognized by The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. It is headquartered in...
- American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities