News
Non-Profit Counseling Center Receives Accolades for Excellence
Krist Samaritan Center Recognized and Reaccredited by Samaritan Institute
Krist Samaritan Center proudly announces that it has received reaccreditation from the prestigious Samaritan Institute as well as high praise for organizational excellence during the rigorous evaluation process.
Such reaccreditation comes with great honor as each center affiliated with the Samaritan Institute must undergo a careful review of their organizational structure to ensure efficient administration, management, high-quality clinical processes and professional accountability as well as careful personnel and financial practices.
Vice President of the Samaritan Institute, Paul A. Bretz, D.Min., LCSW, MHSA, completed the visit to the Center and had many positive words to say about the Center’s clinical practices. “This was the strongest accreditation site visit during my tenure at the Institute,” said Bretz. “The Center’s local and national reputation for meeting and exceeding nationally recognized quality standards is richly deserved.”
Bretz also affirmed that of the 90 centers affiliated with and accredited by the Samaritan Institute nationwide, the Krist Samaritan Center is the single largest provider of charitable services, accounting for more than $1 million of the $20 million in charity care generated by the network of U.S.-based Samaritan Centers. During its 24-year history, the Center has provided more than $14 million in charitable services, made possible by contributions from local congregations, individuals, foundations and through the Center’s annual gala, A Samaritan Celebration, which benefits the Center’s Counseling Assistance Fund. The fund helps provide affordable counseling services and educational programs to people of all economic backgrounds.
“We’re honored to receive such a positive affirmation of our work,” said Executive Director of the Krist Samaritan Center, Dr. Gerald DeSobe. “Our affiliation with the Institute helps us to further our mission of ‘touching lives, healing hearts’ and with our 25th anniversary approaching, we plan to continue growing our services throughout the greater Houston area.”
The Samaritan Institute is an organization committed to helping affiliated Samaritan centers provide cost-effective, team-oriented counseling, consultation and education while emphasizing how the mind, body, spirit and community are interrelated. Founded in 1972 in Indiana, the program began when two pastors, a physician and a seminary professor noticed that by combining their fields, they were better able to help people with stress-related problems in an effective way. Today, with 481 Samaritan centers in 389 cities in the United States as well as Japan, the program is one of the largest providers of professional counseling. For more information, please visit www.samaritaninstitute.org.