Diakon Youth Services receives vocationally focused grant

Boiling Springs, Pa. (Saturday June 6, 2015)

Diakon Child, Family & Community Ministries has received a $15,000 grant from the Kenneth Bankert Foundation of Camp Hill, Pa., to support Diakon Youth Services' Center Point Day Program in 2015-16. 

According to Jason Brode of Diakon Youth Services, the grant will support provision of vocational training-related services to 60 students from central Pennsylvania enrolled in the Center Point program from May 1 through April 30 of next year.

Based at the Diakon Wilderness Center near Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, the Center Point Day Program is a day treatment program that serves at-risk youths who struggle in a traditional school environment.  

Participating students choose from either a career and academic approach or a school-based focus. Both offer training and experience in vocational training and employment; family relationships and skills development; on-site drug and alcohol/mental health counseling; and therapeutic leadership development through adventure-based activities. Vocational training includes emphases in culinary skills, auto mechanics, and horticulture. 

The goal of the program is for every student to be a successful graduate and a productive, connected, and law-abiding member of the community.


For further information, please contact:
William Swanger, M.A., APR
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries
(717) 795-0308
E-mail: swangerb@diakon.org