Bethany Christian Services receives $200,000 grant to expand PACT program in Indianapolis

Bethany Christian Services was recently awarded a $200,000 grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to expand Indianapolis' Parents and Children Together (PACT) program.

PACT programs exist to strengthen at-risk, low-income families where the children may experience abuse and neglect, school failure or emotional and behavioral challenges. The programs accomplish this by providing at-home counseling, skill training and other forms of support for families for 90 days.

With the grant, Bethany Christian Services of Central Indiana will be able to expand their PACT program in response to the increase in family referrals. The grant allows the addition of a privately funded PACT practitioner to provide in-home parent skill-building, equipping an additional 25 to 30 families in Marion County annually. The expansion will integrate a community-driven prevention model that includes marketing and outreach efforts with local schools, healthcare providers, and other social service agencies as referral sources.

“Vulnerable children and families throughout Indiana deserve the opportunity to stay together, and we’re thrilled this grant will allow us to provide more families with that opportunity, said Amanda Spalding, branch director for Bethany Christian Services in Indianapolis. “We’ve seen time and again that simple support has the potential to change the course of a family’s future. The PACT program doesn’t just temporarily address a family’s needs, but it sets them up for success long-term.”