Why do we need Fund Development?

Since 1960, when Samaritan Center began as Presbyterian Counseling Service, our mission has been to provide high quality, faith-integrative, affordable counseling for individuals, couples and families regardless of the clients’ ability to pay.

As other faith-based counseling agencies have ceased to exist, we’re aware that we are the go-to referral source for those who need fee assistance and want to have their faith included in the counseling process. In order to remain true to our mission and keep the doors of Samaritan open, we depend on the generosity of our community of faith — individual donors, churches and grant resources.

Who benefits from Fund Development?

Of the many individuals, couples and families who come to Samaritan for counseling services, half of them require some level of fee assistance if they’re to receive the help they need. Those who have nowhere else to turn and are in danger of slipping through society’s cracks find help at Samaritan.

One way we are able to reduce the fee of those with limited financial resources is by drawing on the Samaritan Fund. This fund is open to men and women, youth, couples and families. The fund is completely dependent on what friends of Samaritan contribute, and the number of sessions we can offer depends on how successful we are at keeping the fund replenished during the year.

A second way we provide “uncompensated care” is through Fee Assistance. At the beginning of the counseling process, when there is financial need, the therapist may negotiate a reduced fee with the client. This means that the therapist and the agency agree to accept less than the actual cost of providing the counseling hour — creating a gap that we call on our Fund Development efforts to bridge.

We also maintain a Professional Training Program, in which we provide supervision for master’s level therapists who are working toward state licensure or toward an additional degree.  Therapists in this program provide hundreds of counseling hours each year for those who come to us with extremely low incomes — individuals, couples and families who truly have nowhere else to turn.

Our mission statement says: “We dedicate ourselves each day to make this a more peaceful, just and compassionate world — one intentional, healing encounter at a time.” Our Board of Directors and Samaritan staff are immensely grateful for the help of those who actively share this commitment.