journeys fall/winter 2016 | bridgeotw.org
Did you know? November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month On July 11, 2007 The United States Congress established November as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month according to representative Jim McDermott (110 Congress 2007-2008). Since then, the resolution has been adopted by many national organizations and school districts across the country. According to the National Network for Youth, 2014 Policy Briefing there are 1.9 million youth (ages 12-24) who experience homelessness.
Why are Youth Homeless? They are experiencing abuse, child welfare involvement, racial disparities, poverty, disconnection from schools, and discrimination of sexual orientation or gender identity. The goal of the National Homeless Youth Awareness Month is to bring attention and encourage discussion among students, parents, district employees and community members. Youth homelessness affects us all.
What is Bridge Doing?
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Bridge hosted its first Bridge 2 the Future fundraising event on Thursday, November 3 at the Outlook Kitchen + Bar at The Envoy Hotel-Boston. Our goal is to promote awareness about youth homelessness and inspire the next generation of friends and supporters to embrace Bridge’s mission to serving homeless and high-risk youth. It’s not too late to make a donation in recognition of National Homeless Youth Awareness month. Go to:
www.bridgeotw.org/bridge2thefuture
bridgeotw.org
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Program Updates
Donor Updates Thank You from everyone at Bridge Over Troubled Waters for your generous contributions.
Runaway Program: On July 12th, Bridge was trained as a Safe Place agency by the National Safe Place Organization. Should a youth need assistance, they can depend on any location with the Safe Place sign. There they can find designated supporters who will help them discuss their situation and determine next best steps. Here in Boston, Bridge not only is a Safe Place location, but is responsible for the training of all other establishments that become Safe Place sites in the city. Bridge is also the responder to all Safe Place establishments that are temporarily caring for a young person.
Street Outreach Program:
Congratulations to Bridge’s 2016 Graduating Class
Bridge has increased the number of trained outreach workers from 3 to 5 in order to reach and connect with more homeless youth, during the mornings and at shelters, with the ultimate goal of bringing them into Bridge’s continuum of care. Transitional Living Residences:
New Ways to Support Bridge BridgeBuilder (Recurring Gift Program)
We get life can be busy... At Bridge we’ve implemented a recurring payment option for donors. Donations now can be set up automatically for weekly, monthly or annual scheduling. Simply log on to bridgeotw.org, click donations and check off recurring payment option. Amazon Smile
Purchase items on Amazon and choose Bridge Over Troubled Waters Boston as your nonprofit, Bridge will receive 0.5% of your total purchase at no additional cost to you! To sign-up, please log on to www.amazon.com. • • • • 2
Select: Wish List Choose: Find a wish list or registry Search: Bridge Over Troubled Waters S elect: Bridge Over Troubled Waters Boston bridgeotw.org
National Evaluation of Transitional Living Programs for Homeless Youth. Bridge has been chosen by a consortium of federal agencies, the Family and Youth Services Bureau; the Office of Data Analysis, Research and Evaluation; and the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation to participate as one of 14 other agencies in a nationwide impact study and evaluation of Transitional Living Programs (TLPs) for homeless youth. The goal of the study is to learn about the impact of TLPs on runaway and homeless youth, focusing on how the program affect participants’ housing, social connections, psychosocial well-being, education, and employment outcomes. Using a random assignment process, impact study will explore the following questions: 1. What is the effect of TLPs on youths’ housing stability? 2. What is the effect of TLPs on youths’ positive social connections? 3. What is the effect of TLPs on youths’ psychosocial well-being? 4. W hat is the effect of TLPs on youths’ attachment to education or employment? 5. How are TLPs structured and operated? 6. What services are delivered by TLPs and how are they delivered? 7. What program factors and approaches influence youth outcomes? In today’s era of scarce resources, results of the study will have substantial credibility among policy makers and funding agencies, provide definitive information on program effectiveness and offer national visibility, with a focus on informing future program policies, practices and funding decisions.
Bridge Expands Its Job-Readiness Program for Homeless Youth Bridge is pleased to announce the opening of Level UP, a new program to develop essential employment skills, from productivity software to problem solving and teamwork. This program is designed to address the lack of opportunities for meaningful internship programs for the youth Bridge serves. Youth will receive a thorough grounding in Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint over a period of up to three months. Through a combination of group instruction, independent practice, and individual coaching, youth will learn at their own pace while still being able to deal (with Bridge’s help, of course) with the immense complications that come with being at risk or homeless. Once they have completed their preparation, youth will spend three months in paid internships in a Bridge department. This will mean being an active member of a team in a demanding workplace environment, with the added benefit of receiving the ongoing support of professionals, including personal mentors. Michael Mengech, Education and Career Development Coordinator
“As they approach the end of their internships, youth will be polishing their resumes, working on their interviewing skills, and vigorously networking, just like every other young person intent on embarking on a long-term career,” concludes Education and Career Development Coordinator Michael Mengech. We encourage anyone (especially employers) who would like to learn more about this exciting new program to contact Michael Mengech at mmengech@bridgeotw.org.
Community Events Program (Third Party Event Fundraisers)
The way you care for Bridge, we care for you! A special thanks goes to our Third Party Donors. Myopia Polo Club, Bridge’s Young Professionals, MercerCares, RCN and Nashawtuc Country Club and all the individuals that created events (lemonade stands, Triathlons and drives) to benefit Bridge.
Third Party Donors raised over $10K @ the 5K Freedom Run
Your contributions are helping us tackle youth homelessness. Please consider creating your own fundraiser. Be on the look out for future charity events that you can also join to fundraise on behalf of Bridge!
Youth Count As the lead runaway and homeless youth program provider in the City of Boston, Bridge collaborated with other agencies this past spring to implement the 2016 Massachusetts Youth Count. Bridge worked in partnership with the Boston Emergency Shelter Commission and the Homeless Youth Provider Network to conduct and compile results of this two week count in Boston. Bridge worked with other organizations to coordinate comprehensive services and a street-based outreach and survey effort to develop an accurate point-in-time count of the number of youth who are homeless or at risk for homelessness. Bridge also took an extra step and hired other homeless youth to help with the count by reaching out to their peers and encouraging them to participate. Bridge also is working with Chapin Hall, the research institute at the University of Chicago, to lead the implementation of the nation-wide Voices of Youth Count project, an important youth-centered initiative to determine an accurate count of the numbers of unaccompanied homeless youth in Suffolk County and expand our knowledge of the experiences of these vulnerable and often over-looked young people. Because homeless youth are so often invisible and under-counted, these efforts are critically important as we advocate for adequate resources to serve them and prevent long-term homelessness among them. For more information, please visit the Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Boston) Facebook page! bridgeotw.org
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47 West Street, Boston, MA 02111
Make a donation online at bridgeotw.org
The Bridge Program System
Street Outreach
Runaway Hotline
Counseling & Support
Drop-in Day Center
Whole Foods Dimes to Dollars Program During November’s National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, Bridge has been selected by Whole Foods Market at four Cambridge locations, listed below, to participate in the Dimes to Dollars Program. All funds raised throughout the month of November will benefit Bridge.
•F resh Pond Mall, 200 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge, MA 02138
Medical & Dental Clinic
Education & Career Development
NOV
• 340 River St, Cambridge, MA 02139
During National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, Bridge will set an official briefing date for the launch of Safe Place!
Transitional Residence
Homeless Youth Grantees Conference. Bridge will attend the 2016 conference in Florida.
NOV
Thanksgiving Dinner for Kids at Bridge. We will be hosting a dinner
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DEC 18
for our kids on November 23 at Bridge Over Troubled Waters.
A Light Through the Ages Presentation. Bridge is being honored for
our important work in the community by The Central Reform Temple in Boston.
During the month of December, Bridge will be celebrating a multicultural Holiday experience with our youth!
MAR
13-14
APR
Safe Place
Single Parent Residence
14-15
• 45 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143 • 115 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Emergency Residence
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National Summit on Youth Homelessness. Bridge will be a participant at the 2017 Summit.
2017 Annual Gala. Save the Date! Bridge’s Annual Gala and Auction will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at the Four Seasons Hotel-Boston.
For more information please contact June Mattioli at jmattioli@bridgeotw.org