History of Bethesda

In 1981, Bethesda began as a research program within Central Oklahoma Community Mental Health Center, funded by the State of Oklahoma Department of Mental Health. Bethesda Alternative, as we were called at that time, specialized in treating selected men who had sexually abused children. Bethesda was officially incorporated in 1982. Bethesda would terminate all services to offenders in 2004 and continues to focus exclusively on child victims of sexual abuse and their non-offending caregivers.  

In 1983, Bethesda separated from the Central Oklahoma Community Mental Health Center, incorporated, and moved to property owned by Dr. Lemon.  

In 1985, the program began serving children, youth, and non-offending adult members of families. It is a fact of our social history that, at this time, men deemed not dangerous were allowed to remain in the community. Family reconciliation sometimes occurred once men completed a course of treatment at Bethesda and with family members being served as well. The program's primary funding source was the treatment fees paid by the offenders.  

In 1987, Dr. Mark Chaffin began his tenure as the Executive Director, and Dr. Candace McCaffery served as the Clinical Director. At approximately this same time, Bethesda moved all its offices to an office complex at Sunnylane and Rock Creek Road.

In 1990, Dr. Candace McCaffery assumed the position of Executive Director while continuing to manage the Clinical Director's responsibilities for the organization.  

In approximately 1994, Bethesda began providing therapeutic services to male children that were the victims of sexual abuse through its innovative Knight School, a therapy program that continues at Bethesda today. 

In 2001 Bethesda moved to its current location. Bethesda expanded its services to become Oklahoma’s only therapeutic center dedicated exclusively to the comprehensive treatment of sexually abused children.

 A leadership change occurred when Dr. McCaffery resigned as the Executive Director and Clinical Director.  Sandra Wellman was retained as the Clinical Director, and Carol Dillingham became the Executive Director.  

In 2004, counseling for the offenders was discontinued, and services were specialized to treat only the abused child and the non-offending family member. The agency's name was officially changed to Bethesda, Inc., and Bethesda gained Kay Christiansen as its Executive Director. Bethesda began the Education Program “Stop, Go and Tell” that same year. 

In 2007, Bethesda initiated the Summer Camp Program: a week-long summer camp for children 8-13 years old who have been sexually abused. The girls’ camp (Camp Dragonfly and Camp Phoenix) allows 15 girls to sing, play, interact, and enjoy a typical summer camp experience with therapeutic activities throughout the week. The boy’s camp (Camp Gryphon) also fulfills the same therapeutic goals as the girls’ camp. 

In 2013 Bethesda received the Outstanding Child Abuse Prevention Program Award from the Task Force for Child Abuse Prevention. The award recognized Bethesda’s significant statewide contributions to preventing child abuse in Oklahoma. 

In 2014, after ten exceptional years of service, Kay Christiansen resigned as the Executive Director of Bethesda. That same year, Travis Humphrey became the Executive Director of the organization.

A third summer camp was added to the summer camp program in 2015. Camp Braveheart began its inaugural year with 15 girls ages 14-17 who had already initiated services at Bethesda. The three summer camps continue to provide a unique experience for participants.

Today, Bethesda, Inc. remains the only center in Oklahoma dedicated exclusively to the treatment, education, and prevention of child sexual abuse. In 2023, nearly 605 children and their non-offending caregivers received treatment services for the trauma of sexual abuse. In that same year, 30,516 individuals attended a Stop, Go & Tell educational presentation.