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Mental Health

City Delivers Services:

  • Community Connections: Community Connections is a collaborative program between the Bethlehem Health Bureau and the Bethlehem Police Department. The goal of the program is to improve the health and safety of the community by integrating social workers and mental health specialists into police department operations to address mental health crises and unmet social service needs such as substance abuse, homelessness, and elder care gaps. When a police officer interacts with someone who is experiencing a social service need, they refer that individual to one of the Health Bureau’s Community Connections workers. Once the Community Connections worker receives the referral, they attempt to connect with the individual, complete an intake to assess their needs, connect the individual to appropriate resources, provide case management, and follow up at regular intervals. Community Connections workers also respond in the field when necessary.


  • Northampton County Suicide Prevention Task Force: The Bethlehem Health Bureau participates in the Northampton County Suicide Prevention Task Force. As part of these efforts, the Health Bureau promotes QPR training, encourages schools to participate in the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS), and analyzes emergency room suicidal ideation and attempt data. The Health Bureau also works with the Bethlehem Area School District on enhancing mental health services in schools.

Community Connections department.

City Supports Service Delivery through funding sources:

  • The City of Bethlehem allocated $405,300 from the Community Recovery fund towards the following organizations. 
  • Preventive Measures: The PM Foundation is requesting funding for the implementation of Community Support Services (CSS) in Bethlehem. This model has been successfully implemented by Preventive Measures LLC in Washington D.C. since 2017. The CSS model involves providing face-to-face street outreach services to the most vulnerable clients in the community, such as those experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, or mental health issues.
  • Aspire to Autonomy (ASPIRE): ASPIRE will bring Specialized Trauma-Focused and Person-Centered Mental Health Therapy to individuals who are being trafficked, have been trafficked in the past, or are at high risk of becoming trafficked. The focus population for this program will be survivors of human trafficking. Trafficking victims often struggle with undiagnosed mental health disorders. These connecting factors create an intersection between human trafficking and mental health. Victims that fall in that intersection go unseen with no support. This program will benefit marginalized individuals by providing access to mental healthcare in an area that is accessible and free of cost.
  • Bethlehem Area Public Library: This funding will support several initiatives, including hiring additional paid security personnel to monitor the library, social workers to assist patrons struggling with mental health and other issues, staff training to work safely with vulnerable populations, and new safety and security equipment that is badly needed at the Main Library.
  • Moravian University: This grant funding will support the expansion of the Moravian University Wellness and Resilience program at Liberty and Freedom High Schools. The grant will provide salary support for an onsite occupational therapist to provide supervision of occupational therapy interns each semester. We provide 1:1 sessions to students focused on building positive mental health skills including stress management, coping, and resiliency.
  • Valley Youth House: The Valley Youth House School-Based Counseling Program provides in-school counseling services for students at no cost to families. Students are identified (by school counselors, administrators, teachers, and/or a SAP team), consent is obtained, and the student is added to the school-based counselor’s caseload and schedule. Valley Youth House counselors may participate on SAP/ child study teams and intervene and assist in crisis situations.
  • Pinebrook Family Answers: Funding will support technology and telehealth options for Bethlehem residents. Funding for a second project will support the School-based Integrated Behavioral Health Services program streamlines access to behavioral health by embedding clinicians directly within 14 schools across the Lehigh Valley and eliminating referral delays, regardless of a student's insurance. 
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley: Through the High School Bigs Mentoring program, elementary school children are matched in one-to-one mentoring relationships with high school-aged mentors to engage in STEAM related activities and social emotional development. 
  • Cay Galcon Life House: Through the Residential Program, pregnant women and new moms facing a lack of suitable housing, receive safe housing, supplies for themselves and their baby, education, and socio-emotional support to gain stability and confidence in self-reliance.
  • Shanthi Project: The Bridge to Middle School program will support Bethlehem Area School District 5th graders as they prepare for the pivotal transition to middle school. In this six-session program, students will learn mindfulness strategies and tools to help them navigate the challenges that come with this big change.
  • Victory House of the Lehigh Valley: The Homeless Empowerment Initiative will provide individual case management with services uniquely aligned with the needs of each individual for homeless men from 18 to 65 living in Bethlehem.

City Collaborates and strategizes with service providers:

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