WHO WE ARE

Bethany Social Services Foundation is a non-governmental organization, aiming to improve peoples quality of life, in particular to those who are disadvantaged, promoting professional practice in social work. Bethany Social Services Foundation was constituted as a Romanian nongovernmental organization on January 10th 1994, according to civil nr.1/10.01.1994 sentence. The first activities began in Romania in 1991 through the educational program for social workers and social assistance program for children in Timisoaras Nursery. These activities were coordinated by the representative in Romania of "Bethany Christian Services" in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. E-mail: iasi@bethany.ro
Web: www.bethany.ro

OUR PROGRAMMES
The Family Preservation Program implemented by Bethany Social Services in Romania (Iasi, Constanta and Timisoara Counties) aims to help over 100 families address some of their needs and allow children to grow up in loving families (biological, foster or adoptive families).
We focus on delivering integrated services (case management activities, recovering services for children with special needs, family support, education, counseling, life skills development, socialization activities, respite care programs etc.) to children and families at risk of social exclusion. The program aims to develop efficient institutional partnerships in order for the beneficiaries to access community resources and to improve their quality of life.
E-mail: iasi@bethany.ro Web: www.bethany.ro

MAIN ACTIVITIES
Identification and evaluation of families (assessment of the family strengths and needs; identification of available support resources; family empowerment);

Information and educational sessions for parents on topics regarding parental education, a healthy life style, prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases;
Family social and psychological counseling; Material support.

MAIN ACTIVITIES
Recovery services for children with special needs (physical therapy, speech therapy, counseling, psychotherapy, occupational therapy, social services); Periodic assessment and monitoring of foster care children progress; Assistance and support provided to foster families monitored by Bethanys specialists;

MAIN ACTIVITIES
Public campaigns to raise the community awareness on children rights and to collect funds for implementing actions dedicated to children and families in distress; Fundraising and community involvment; Volunteering programs;

OTHER PROJECTS
Other specific projects and programs funded by the European Union implemented by Bethany Social Services Foundation regard: Active measures for professional integration of disabled people;

Increasing the access of the population (especially pregnant women and babies from rural areas and adolescents from urban areas) to social and health care services; Human resources development and youth employment to provide sustainability in rural areas;
Improving the capacity of the local community in child protection;

OTHER PROJECTS
Promoting community partnership between public authorities and NGOs, community leaders and representatives of the business sector;
Offering technical support and assistance to community structures working in child protection areas; Volunteer programs: raising the community awareness around solving problems of the children and families at risk; involving volunteers in social services offered to children and families; Fundraising for children and families at risk.