Diakon child and family programs have transitioned to a separate organization, Diakon Child, Family & Community Ministries.

Programs in the new organization include Diakon Family Life Services, which has an office in Topton; the adoption program, and Diakon Youth Services, which serves at-risk teens from throughout the region.

"While this change should be largely invisible to the public, we believe it will have an important effect on our goal of growing these programs, which serve people of all ages throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania and much of Maryland," said Mark T. Pile of Macungie, Diakon president-CEO.

Since the mid-1800s, Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries has been serving children and families through a wide range of programs such as Diakon Adoption & Foster Care, which has an office in Topton.

"This change will allow us to have two service-related boards, one focused on child and family social services, the other on post-acute long-time health care and retirement accommodations," Pile said. In addition, the transition should assist with fund-raising opportunities including grant submissions for the child and family programs.

Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries consists primarily of senior living and housing communities such as The Lutheran Home at Topton and Luther Crest, Allentown. Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries and the new organization report to the parent Diakon organization.

Programs within Diakon Child, Family & Community Ministries directly carry on the heritage of service begun in 1868 and 1897 when, respectively, the Tressler Lutheran Home for Children, Perry County, and The Lutheran Home at Topton in Berks County began.

In 2013, programs in the Lutheran-affiliated organization served nearly 21,000. In addition, nearly 400,000 received products from non-profit groups benefiting from Diakon Kathryn's Kloset warehouse ministry.

In addition to adoption, family counseling and youth services, the organization includes the Diakon Kathryn's Kloset program, Diakon Community Services in Schuylkill and Berks counties and surrounding regions, Diakon's Lutheran Disaster Response program, congregational services, and adult day services centers in Pottstown and Hagerstown, Md.