Bethesda Link Newsletter - Fall 2022

A Message from the CEO

It is with mixed emotions that I write this, my last introduction for the Bethesda Link. After 37 years at Bethesda, 27 as CEO, I will be retiring January 27, 2023. It has been an amazing opportunity to share in the lives of so many people and as a result it has seldom felt like a ‘job’ but rather an incredible journey.

While Bethesda has grown significantly over the past years, we have all worked diligently to focus on our vision, mission and values, putting people ahead of all else. To the people we support, thank you for teaching us all so many things, in a real way you have supported us as much as we have supported you. To the staff and Familyhome providers who have worked tirelessly, thank you, you are Bethesda. To the families and friends of Bethesda, your support allows us to fulfill our mission, we couldn’t do it without you!

Bethesda’s future is bright and promising because of you all!!

Congratulations to Paul McGowan, Bethesda’s new Chief Executive Officer. Paul understands and appreciates the vision, mission and values of Bethesda and I am confident he will lead the organization forward in the years to come!

As we enter a season of celebration, I would like to extend best wishes for a merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Brian Davies Chief Executive Officer

Message from Bethesda’s Incoming CEO

First, I would like to thank and congratulate Brian Davies on his 37 years of service at Bethesda and all of the accomplishments and successes he had in that time. His leadership has been invaluable and has impacted so many lives along the way.

As I step into this new role after having been appointed as Bethesda’s Associate Chief Executive Officer on March 15, 2021 and with the organization for over twenty-one years, I am confident that as an organization we will carry on the vision, mission and values and that we will continue to put the people we support before all else, and grow within the Region of Niagara and beyond to support as many people and families as possible.

I look forward to connecting with you regularly through the Link Newsletter and hope to see you at future Bethesda events. Echoing Brian’s message, the future is bright and promising thanks to you.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Paul McGowan Associate Chief Executive Officer

Summer Breeze

On August 17, Bethesda held its first Summer Breeze Social, a fundraising event with live entertainment, delicious food, a photobooth, raffle and a wide variety of items in our silent auction. We would like to thank all the guests who attended, our sponsors, donors and friends for your continued support. We had a wonderful evening reconnecting while enjoying great music and delicious food. By way of your generosity, more than $52,000 was raised for Bethesda’s Foundation which works to fulfill the unmet needs of those we support!

A Culture of Caring

Reece Harrison has been receiving supports through Bethesda since his initial Autism diagnosis. Now at 19 years old, Reece has transitioned out of Children’s Services into an adult program, and his mother Melanie Cooper says she is impressed with the way Bethesda collaborated with Niagara Support Services to create an individualised treatment program this year.

“They started this project where he had a mobile intensive treatment team go into Niagara Support Services. Both agencies partnered together to provide treatment in the Niagara Support Services group home.”

Melanie says this new program was much more cohesive to Reece’s needs.

“It was not siloed where it was Bethesda for treatment and then we’d have to wait for another community agency to pick him up. Instead of siloed services they came together and made something wonderful.”

Bethesda provided the behavioural support expertise, which included developing and implementing the behavioural support plan (BSP) and tracking behaviours over several months to identify the best way to move forward.

“Once they had a real grasp of who Reece was – they brought in staff and started training them on his BSP and the coping strategies and the strategies to set Reece up for success.”

For Melanie, this all came at a crucial time. She says Reece was thriving while receiving Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) services at Bethesda as a child, but as he reached adolescence there were fewer options and less funding available to him.

“We had some trouble when he was a teenager … He was placed in a child group home and something drastically went wrong, and we had to bring him home.”

Back home however, Melanie says she needed more support due to Recce’s behavioural needs and her own recent health concerns. That’s when she was approached about this individualised program for Reece. Now, she says he is once again thriving in his new environment.

“He doesn’t like transitions very well. So he’s settled, he’s in his forever home and the services came to him. And, you know, all of my Bethesda people are absolutely wonderful human beings.

“For Bethesda to come full circle and kind of put him back on the track where he needs to be, the trajectory when he left that program, to put him back where he should have been his whole entire teenage years. It’s kind of poetic.”

Reece Harrison is receiving a cohesive individualised treatment plan thanks to Bethesda’s collaboration with partner organizations

Chaplain’s Corner/ Retirees

Chaplain’s Corner

by Mike Gilmore, Chaplain

The God of Hope

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

Hope is the feeling and confidence that what is wanted or desired will happen. Hope is what drives us as people. Hope gives us joy and anticipation for what is to come. Hope is linked to who or what we place our confidence in.

As followers of Jesus our hope is found in God alone. It is in Him we have faith and complete trust. The Bible describes our Lord as the “God of Hope.” God’s hope fills us with joy and peace because we know our hope is well placed and secure. God does not just give us enough hope to get by, rather He wants to pour so much grace, love and peace on us that, “you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”.

May each of you abound in hope.

Thank you to our Retirees

Your dedication and commitment to the individuals we support were greatly appreciated! We wish you the best in your retirement!!

Henry Stavinga

for 26 years of dedicated service to Bethesda. Henry finished his career in our Developmental Centre

Retirement Date: October 30, 2022

Julie Theisen

for 17 years of exceptional service to Bethesda. Julie ended her career at our Scott Street home

Retirement Date: August 31, 2022

Donrae Theisen

for 3 years of devoted service to Bethesda at our Twenty Third Street Apartment home

Retirement Date: June 30, 2022

Bethesda Snaps

Take a look at the Snaps below and catch up on what has been happening at Bethesda!

Health and Safety

This year the theme for our Annual Health and Safety Staff BBQ was outdoor Entertainment and Grilling Safety. Staff enjoyed the great food and the opportunity socialize and to win some great prizes.

BBQ

We have transformed a number of our locations to operate with a renewable energy source, Solar Energy! This transformative project will contribute to making Bethesda an environmentally friendly organization.

Staff and individuals who live at Bethesda enjoyed a refreshing treat from Kool Jims Ice Cream Truck. Cones, milkshakes, banana splits and much more were a welcome treat in the July heat.

Thank you to the Niagara Region’s Andy Koschok Memorial Golf Tournament committee for naming Bethesda as one of the co-beneficiaries this year. We are so pleased to have received $20,395.79 We appreciate your support!

Green Thinking Ice Cream Social

Andy Koschok Memorial Golf Tournament

Camp Crossroads

This summer, Bethesda’s Adult Clinical Services held several summer camps. The two pictured are Dinosaur Night, where campers got to dig up the past and learn all about dinosaurs, fossils and even do some crafts; and a Carnival Themed camp full of fun, games and crafts!

Bethesda’s Children and Youth Services hosted a free Family Fun Day this October. Families gathered for a magic show by Scoop McCoy, a goat petting zoo, pumpkin painting, bounce house, bike course, free lunch and more!

Early September is always a wonderful time for our adults to gather at Camp Crossroads for a week of crafts, water fun and hiking.

Family Fun Day

Clinical Camp Days