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Bridge
Connection I
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1824
Pearl Street (Bridge Main Campus) |
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- Program Manager: Pat
Stinson, RN, MA
- Number of staff: 4 Full Time Youth Development Specialists
- One Part Time Administrative Assistant
- Referral Process: Schools, Parents with children in the program, BUS Staff
- Program Goal: Teen Pregnancy Prevention
- Number Served: 255
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Bridge Connection I provides
comprehensive case management services to over 250 young people each year.
Youth Development Specialists work with families to improve social and educational skills and access to healthcare.
Youth and their families are connected to Bridge academic, social and
health services (such as eye eams and dental care) as well as referrals
to community agencies.
Bridge Connection I
Outcomes:
- 100% successfully avoided pregnancy.
- 99% increaed their reading and/or math scores.
Bridge Connection
I Highlights:
- 2,370 home visits, 3144 visits with parents outside of the home and 5,011 visits were made to school by staff.
- All children received Health Education in Bridge programs.
- 78 children and youth visited The Bridge Adolescent Health Clinic for immunizations and medical care.
- 124 children and youth received dental care.
Success Stories:
Youth
Development Specialists often have to go above and beyond the
description of services that cover their job. A great example of that
is the story of Breyun. Today he is a 12 year old attending 7th
grade at Paxson Middle School. Several years ago, an accident occurred
while Breyun and his friends were out playing in their neighborhood.
One of his feet was crushed resulting in the amputation of three of his
toes.
In addition, the accident and her resulting absences from work, caused
his mother to lose her job and things got really tough at home. In the
middle of the winter, Breyun began to have pain in his hip due to an
infection caused by his previously injured foot. The infection had
spread to his bones and blood. He spent weeks in the hospital and then
was placed in homebound school for eight weeks. Again, his mother lost
her job and eventually their electricity was turned off.
Breyun’s case manager from The Bridge took him books and games to
help him pass the time he wasn’t studying. The case worker also
brought food for the family and helped with referrals for assistance.
She was finally able to work out a payment plan with JEA and in time,
the mother found another job.
Breyun was very concerned he was going to miss taking his FCAT tests
and would not be promoted. He was able to convince his doctors and his
homebound teacher to letting him attend school two hours a day to take
his FCAT test.
He was also on the school safety patrol and had his heart set on the
annual trip to Washington DC that summer. His Bridge case manager
agreed to take him on the trip. He was able to participate in two fund
raisers, coming to school on his walker with an IV in his arm to help
sell snacks at a carwash. He kept his grades up, passed the FCATS and
was able to make the trip to DC.
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