Bethany House newsletter
 
Why We Are Needed About Our Home How Can I Help Newsletter Contact Us
Letter from the Director What Others Are Saying Photo Album Donations Home
 
       
   
  Guidelines  
 
       
 

 

Bethany House Program Guidelines
For harmonious household operations and for the health, safety and protection of each resident I choose to adhere to the guidelines at Bethany House.

Household Guidelines:

Residents are to be polite, courteous and respectful to other residents, staff, volunteers, family members & visitors in the home. You are responsible for your behavior and no one else’s. If someone does not do their chores correctly or if there is another problem, please talk to the House Staff or Director and let them handle the situation.

Profanity, graffiti, stealing, fighting, screaming, yelling, loud or vulgar music as well as loud T.V. is not allowed.
The use of cigarettes, drugs, alcohol etc. is prohibited while living at Bethany House. We reserve the right to perform random drug screens.
Items such as nail polish, polish remover or shoe polish must be used at the kitchen table after putting something down to protect the table.

 

Appointments:

In order to make the home run smoothly please coordinate all appointments and outings with the Director or House Staff with the exception of visitors.
If you are unable to make an appointment please notify the doctor, counselor or business you have the appointment with to avoid a possible charge.

 

Bedrooms & Bathrooms:

Please sleep in your own room under sheets not on top of comforter.
Please do not enter another resident’s room without getting permission to enter.
Residents are to clean their bedroom by 9:00 a.m. every day and keep it in order at all times. (Checked daily)
Store personal belongings in the appropriate place. (No clothes on floor)
Feel free to personalize your bulletin board with your pictures, etc.
Do not change furniture or display disrespectful or pornographic pictures on bulletin board or anywhere in the room.
Do not hang or pin items on the doors, walls, or ceiling.
Please take towels, washcloths, and personal items to your room after use. (Including all personal items in bathroom using hand try that is provided when you move in).
If staff have reason to believe you have drugs, alcohol or any questionable items in your room, your room will be searched thoroughly.
Food or drink is not allowed at any time in the bedrooms.
Please be in your rooms and quiet by 11:00 p.m. If you have problems sleeping please do not wonder the house as this may disturb other residents.

 

Personal Hygiene and Clothing::

We ask that you maintain a clean body, (shower, brush teeth and change clothes daily) maintaining a neat and clean appearance is important for your self esteem. There will be a 20 minute total time limit in the bathroom to allow for other resident showers. When you are through showering, please spray the tub with disinfectant, (under the sink).
Residents are to be dressed modestly and appropriately at all times. Bra and panties are required with all attire before leaving your room.

If you need clothing or personal care items, ask a house staff or office staff for assistance.
Due to allergic reactions please do not wear heavy perfumes or body lotions while residing at Bethany House.
Physical changes must be approved. (tattoos/piercings/drastic hair color changes etc.

 

Practice of Faith:

We believe that it is only through Christ that we can change and grow and become who He intends us to be.
All residents are expected to attend church on a weekly basis as a family.
Residents can choose to participate in other Christian related activities and services in the community. Transportation to those services is the responsibility of the resident; however, house staff may assist you, with prior approval from the Director.
All residents will attend evening devotions, recovery related classes and groups as required.

 

House Safety Issues:

By choosing any of the following, I am choosing to exit the Bethany House program.

Assault
Physical b. Verbal
Possession of a weapon d. Racial
Drug us (including smoking( g. Consistent Lying

 

Jobs::

If you already have your GED or High School Diploma and do not wish to attend college courses, you are required to find part time employment.
You are expected to volunteer 20 hours a week if are not in school or do not have a job.
Residents are required to contribute 30% of any income to Bethany House for program cost on a monthly basis.
You are expected to participate in a money management program with the director. This includes paying past debt, as well as planning a budget for allowance and savings.

 

Housekeeping and Meal Times:

Breakfast and lunch are eaten in the kitchen. Everyone is expected to attend the evening meal together in the dining room.
The kitchen is closed after dinner except for light snacks. (no stove
cooking, microwave okay)
Each resident is expected to take turns setting the table and unloading
the dishwasher.
Clean up after yourself after using the kitchen. There is no food or drink of any kind except water in bedrooms. Please always use a coaster.

 

Leaving & Returning::

You have two personal outings per week with a responsible adult or volunteer that is approved by the Director. You are expected to return to Bethany House by 9:00 p.m. or earlier to honor your curfew during the week and 10:00 pm. Fri/Sat, Sundays by 6:00 pm.
All residents are to fill out an outing form before leaving for all appointments and outings. Form must have Director or Staff member’s initials.
There is a once a month overnight visit with someone of the same gender or approved family member. All overnight or weekend visits are to be approved by Director and form filled out by Friday at 4:30 pm.

 

Laundry:

You will have an assigned laundry day.
Laundry is to be washed, folded, and put away by bedtime.
Please clean lint from the dryer after each use and leave the laundry room clean when done.
You can discuss special laundry needs with the House staff as they arise.

 

 

 

 

Male & Female Relationships:

Dating is not encouraged while staying at Bethany House. Your stay here is to help you focus your attention on your life and your baby’s life and to assist you in becoming more independent. If you have a relationship with the father of your baby we will discuss a plan to continue it in a healthy way.

 

Medication & Illness::

Part of the program is to monitor medications therefore; all prescription medications are to be turned in upon entering the program and will be dispensed as needed or directed.

The staff will dispense medications for the day at the beginning of each day and evening.
Please notify the staff immediately if you are ill. All outings will be canceled for the day and we ask that if you have something contagious that you keep to your room.
If you have an inhaler, epic pen or immediate need medication please let us know upon arrival.

 

Meetings:

There will be group meetings and individual meetings as arranged by the House Staff or Director when needed arises.

 

Office:

The office is for Staff use only unless invited in.

 

School::

You must participate in a school program to acquire your High School Diploma or GED to remain in the Bethany House program.
The staff will ask you to sign a release at times for us to obtain records in order to work alongside counselors and teachers to insure your success.

.

Telephone:

Bethany House provides telephones on site, to be used with permission of the Staff, for business calls during the day and two personal calls in the evening.

All residents are expected to use the phone in a courteous manner. Please be considerate of other members of the household who may be waiting for a call or wanting to make a call out. Business or important personal calls come before special calls. Please be sensitive to all residents need for the phone. Personal calls are to be made after 5:00 p.m. but not during dinner.
You are expected to answer call waiting by clicking the flash button.
No phone calls will be made in or out after 10:00 p.m. except for emergencies.
There is no long distance service at Bethany House. You must purchase a phone card for all of your long distance calls. Cells phone are allowed but are to be kept in the office and will be given to you when you leave the house for an outing. (must be approved)
There will be no yelling or profanity used in a phone conversation

 

Mail:

Due to privacy issues, the staff will bring in the mail and hand it out.

 

Television & Music::

Movies other than PG or PG-13 must be approved only by the Director.
Television hours are from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on weekdays and 12:00 a.m. on weekends. (no soap operas)
Tape players, radios, stereos, etc. are to be off from 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Stations and volume are at the discretion of the staff. Music & Video tapes will not be brought into our home without the approval of the Director. We ask for the peace of your baby, other residents and staff that you play no rap, hard rock or music with profanity. We encourage you to play uplifting music.

.

Transitioning From the Program:

If you choose to leave the home, you will retrieve all personal property within 24 hours, with prior arrangement with the Director.
Upon leaving the program, you are required to leave your room clean and in order and follow check out guidelines.
Please notify everyone of your change of address this includes creditors, family and friends.

 

Transportation:

Every resident will use public transportation to get to school, work, and appointments.
Bethany House will provide transportation to doctor’s appointments when needed or other appointments related to your pregnancy.

 

Visitors::


To honor our visitors, residents are asked to maintain the following standards of conduct:
All visits are to be pre-arranged with the Director. This means that prior to an actual visit the director needs to meet and approve the visitor for the safety of all residents. The time the visitor will arrive and depart will be pre-arranged.
Visitation can take place in the Living room (adults only) or Family room if children are visiting. No visitors will be allowed in the upper floors.
Please invite visitors that will have respect for the guidelines of the home.
Sexual abstinence is REQUIRED at all times while residing at the Bethany House.
The Staff maintains the right to deny visits if they are likely to be potentially damaging to the other residents in the home.
Bethany House has many Staff members including the Director that have severe reactions to perfumes and cigarette smoke. If you have visitors coming to Bethany House it is imperative that they not smell like smoke or heavy perfume upon entry to the house. You may be asked to have your guest return at another time.

.