Journeys: Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Spring 2016

journeys

47 West Street, Boston, MA 02111

spring 2016 | bridgeotw.org Bridge Launches New Website

bridgeotw.org Make a donation online at bridgeotw.org

Breaking Ground this Spring!

The Bridge Program System

Street Outreach

Runaway Hotline

Counseling & Support

Executive Director Elisabeth Jackson (left) recently met with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (right) in Washington to support Bill Jackson goes (RHYTPA, S.262/ to Washington H.R. 1779) Runaway and Homeless Youth and Traffi cking Prevention Act. Jackson also met with Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey, US Congressman Michael Capuano, and legislative members.

Year Up honors Bridge Over Troubled Waters as Outstanding Community Partner During its 2015 Graduation Ceremony, Year Up honored Bridge Over Troubled Waters as Outstanding Community Partner. The award was made, “In sincere appreciation of your outstanding contributions to Boston’s urban community.” Adding, “By believing in our young adults, you are empowering their lives and helping to close the Opportunity Divide in our country.”

Drop-in Day Center

Medical & Dental Clinic

Education & Career Development

Apple Inc. recently recruited 25 employees to prepare, cook, and serve a fantastic pasta luncheon to nearly 50 youth at Bridge.

Apple organized trivia games with prizes, brought snacks and other survival kits, food and take-away games. A generous contribution was also made to Bridge. Thank you Apple!

Events

Emergency Residence

Single Parent Residence

Transitional Residence

Apple Brings a Byte to Eat! JUNE

5K Races

5&16

MAY 19

Annual Luncheon

JUNE

Golf Tournaments

Bridge’s annual luncheon for supporters and Bridge youth will be held at the 47 West Street location.

8&14

For the 2nd year in a row, on June 8th, RCN is organizing their annual golf tournament to support Bridge Over Troubled Waters.

Nashawtuc Country Club selected Bridge Over Trouble Waters as the beneficiary of their annual charity golf tournament on June 14th.

Bridge’s Young Professional Group is recruiting runners for the Freedom Run on June 5th, with proceeds benefitting Bridge.

To support their efforts go to www.crowdrise.com/bridge-overtroubled-waters-freedom-run MercerCares selected Bridge to be the recipient of the proceeds from their annual 5K event on June 16th.

November — National Homeless Youth Awareness Month! Bridge is organizing a fun and exciting fundraising event to promote awareness and raise critical funds for our kids this November. Stay tuned!

Bridge is thrilled to announce that Liberty Mutual Insurance provided signifi cant funding support for the renovation and expansion of our housing residences!

Bridge was also selected by the City of Boston, Department of Neighborhood Development, and the Commonwealth Offi ce of Housing and Economic Development to receive additional and critical capital funding.

Bridge will be able to serve more homeless young people in a setting which affords signifi cantly improved opportunities for community-based programming in an enhanced milieu-oriented setting, the ideal configuration for relationship-based youth development services, which Bridge has found are most effective for building community, family connections and healthy mother/child bonds.

Renovation Impact: • Increase the number of mothers served from 7 to 11 with up to 2 babies per family at any given time.

• Provide 28 individual bedrooms for homeless youth • Make living spaces more “home-like,” with expanded living space, new counseling rooms for one-to-one interactions and adequate space for life-skills learning • Completely reconfigure communal spaces to foster milieu-based, relationship-oriented services • Enhance and upgrade internal systems, including energy-effi cient HVAC systems; increased storage, a full sprinkler system and more secure & controllable main access, wireless internet connectivity for online education and access to essential information and resources, upgraded outdoor space including the children’s playground and back deck, and improved handicapped accessibility, including two fully accessible bedrooms/bathrooms • New furnishings in all bedrooms and communal spaces throughout the residences.

• Programs are located in an ideal residential neighborhood in Boston and may serve 46 homeless individual boys and girls at any given time.

bridgeotw.org

1

Programs Street Outreach and Mobile Medical Van: Street Outreach is Bridge’s daily “foot patrol” of trained outreach workers who make regular, consistent contact with homeless youth on the streets throughout a range of neighborhoods in Boston and Cambridge where homeless youth are known to gather. The Mobile Medical Van (MMV), the fi rst program of its kind in the nation, connects with the street outreach team each weeknight. The MMV is a national model for providing critical care: medical attention, survival kits, clothes, food, and referrals to in-depth, low barrier, open intake services at Bridge, and other agencies as required.

Runaway Program: Bridge is the local respondent for the national runaway hotline offering 24-hour access to a counselor and safe overnight accommodations away from the streets for homeless youth ages 14-17 for up to 72 hours.

Counseling and Support Services: Bridge’s licensed clinical counselors are trained and experienced in working specifi cally with homeless youth and utilize a variety of counseling methods tailored to each youth including trauma informed and positive youth development approaches. Counselors “meet youth where they are at” during their initial intake and set up appointments for follow up counseling sessions or provide referrals to Bridge’s in-house services or to outside agencies.

Counseling & Transitional Day Program (TDP): This is Bridge’s drop-in center where homeless youth Support receive survival aid each day during the week. Youth can have a hot meal, take a shower, access lockers, and do their laundry; and connect with TDP case managers to obtain documentation papers (identification cards, transcripts, CORI records, etc.), participate in life skills workshops, and enjoy community dinners.

Home Neighborhoods

55

July

Ethnicity Latino 23%

32%

Black 52%

Why Do Kids Become Homeless

Charlestown

White 22%

1%

3% Other

Dorchester 12%

32%

10% 7%

Hyde Park, Roslindale & JP

Conflict with Family

5%

Emergency Residence (ER): This unique residential program is a short-term transitional

Mattapan

3%

3%

Abusive Home

Unaccepting Lifestyle

Legal

Substance Abuse

Family Relocation

27%

Living Situation 5%

21% 18%

18%

7% 4%

Independent Programs Living

Relatives

Shelters

Streets

Family

Friends

5% 39%

Roxbury

How Kids Learn

25%

10% S. Boston

2

50

49

Boston Central

3%

Single Parent House (SPH): This is Bridge’s open-intake, transitional living program for pregnant and parenting homeless young women and their children—the only one of its kind in the City of Boston. The SPH serves seven families at any given time and they may stay for up to two years.

December

November

65%

Education and Career Development Program: This program encompasses a three-tier

program for up to 12 young men and women, ages 18-24, at any given time. Residents are required to maintain employment, continue their education, meet weekly with a Bridge counselor, and work with case managers on reaching their goals. Residents have access to all of the services at Bridge; and may stay in the TLP for up to two years.

53

6%

E. Boston

Transitional Living Program (TLP): This is Bridge’s long-term transitional residential

59

Allston/Brighton

services staff ed by healthcare professionals from Healthcare for the Homeless and Tufts and Harvard Dental Schools at its West Street headquarters location.

residential program for homeless youth who are able to commit to intensive counseling, maintain employment, save 70% of their income, continue their education, and work with case managers to obtain long-term transitional or permanent housing. During the winter months, Bridge opens up the Warming Center, as an adjunct to the ER, each night to youth who need overnight shelter and survival each day from November through April.

September

50

In-House Medical and Dental Clinics: Bridge offers weekly free medical and dental

approach to academic and career success. (1) Classes to prepare youth to earn their alternative high-school degree are provided on a fl exible schedule with small class sizes, and rolling admission that enables youth to enroll at any time. Morning and afternoon classes accommodate students who work. Many youth enter the program after being out of school for several years. (2) College Pathways provides guidance counseling to youth who wish to enter or continue college and may include financial aid incentives to help youth enter and stay in college or job training programs. (3) Career Development off ers Open Job Search hours and job training in soft skills.

New Intakes

October August

11%

11%

6%

6%

5% Outreach

Hospital

3% Family

Friends

Internet

School

Service Provider

3

Programs Street Outreach and Mobile Medical Van: Street Outreach is Bridge’s daily “foot patrol” of trained outreach workers who make regular, consistent contact with homeless youth on the streets throughout a range of neighborhoods in Boston and Cambridge where homeless youth are known to gather. The Mobile Medical Van (MMV), the fi rst program of its kind in the nation, connects with the street outreach team each weeknight. The MMV is a national model for providing critical care: medical attention, survival kits, clothes, food, and referrals to in-depth, low barrier, open intake services at Bridge, and other agencies as required.

Runaway Program: Bridge is the local respondent for the national runaway hotline offering 24-hour access to a counselor and safe overnight accommodations away from the streets for homeless youth ages 14-17 for up to 72 hours.

Counseling and Support Services: Bridge’s licensed clinical counselors are trained and experienced in working specifi cally with homeless youth and utilize a variety of counseling methods tailored to each youth including trauma informed and positive youth development approaches. Counselors “meet youth where they are at” during their initial intake and set up appointments for follow up counseling sessions or provide referrals to Bridge’s in-house services or to outside agencies.

Counseling & Transitional Day Program (TDP): This is Bridge’s drop-in center where homeless youth Support receive survival aid each day during the week. Youth can have a hot meal, take a shower, access lockers, and do their laundry; and connect with TDP case managers to obtain documentation papers (identification cards, transcripts, CORI records, etc.), participate in life skills workshops, and enjoy community dinners.

Home Neighborhoods

55

July

Ethnicity Latino 23%

32%

Black 52%

Why Do Kids Become Homeless

Charlestown

White 22%

1%

3% Other

Dorchester 12%

32%

10% 7%

Hyde Park, Roslindale & JP

Conflict with Family

5%

Emergency Residence (ER): This unique residential program is a short-term transitional

Mattapan

3%

3%

Abusive Home

Unaccepting Lifestyle

Legal

Substance Abuse

Family Relocation

27%

Living Situation 5%

21% 18%

18%

7% 4%

Independent Programs Living

Relatives

Shelters

Streets

Family

Friends

5% 39%

Roxbury

How Kids Learn

25%

10% S. Boston

2

50

49

Boston Central

3%

Single Parent House (SPH): This is Bridge’s open-intake, transitional living program for pregnant and parenting homeless young women and their children—the only one of its kind in the City of Boston. The SPH serves seven families at any given time and they may stay for up to two years.

December

November

65%

Education and Career Development Program: This program encompasses a three-tier

program for up to 12 young men and women, ages 18-24, at any given time. Residents are required to maintain employment, continue their education, meet weekly with a Bridge counselor, and work with case managers on reaching their goals. Residents have access to all of the services at Bridge; and may stay in the TLP for up to two years.

53

6%

E. Boston

Transitional Living Program (TLP): This is Bridge’s long-term transitional residential

59

Allston/Brighton

services staff ed by healthcare professionals from Healthcare for the Homeless and Tufts and Harvard Dental Schools at its West Street headquarters location.

residential program for homeless youth who are able to commit to intensive counseling, maintain employment, save 70% of their income, continue their education, and work with case managers to obtain long-term transitional or permanent housing. During the winter months, Bridge opens up the Warming Center, as an adjunct to the ER, each night to youth who need overnight shelter and survival each day from November through April.

September

50

In-House Medical and Dental Clinics: Bridge offers weekly free medical and dental

approach to academic and career success. (1) Classes to prepare youth to earn their alternative high-school degree are provided on a fl exible schedule with small class sizes, and rolling admission that enables youth to enroll at any time. Morning and afternoon classes accommodate students who work. Many youth enter the program after being out of school for several years. (2) College Pathways provides guidance counseling to youth who wish to enter or continue college and may include financial aid incentives to help youth enter and stay in college or job training programs. (3) Career Development off ers Open Job Search hours and job training in soft skills.

New Intakes

October August

11%

11%

6%

6%

5% Outreach

Hospital

3% Family

Friends

Internet

School

Service Provider

3

journeys

47 West Street, Boston, MA 02111

spring 2016 | bridgeotw.org Bridge Launches New Website

bridgeotw.org Make a donation online at bridgeotw.org

Breaking Ground this Spring!

The Bridge Program System

Street Outreach

Runaway Hotline

Counseling & Support

Executive Director Elisabeth Jackson (left) recently met with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (right) in Washington to support Bill Jackson goes (RHYTPA, S.262/ to Washington H.R. 1779) Runaway and Homeless Youth and Traffi cking Prevention Act. Jackson also met with Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey, US Congressman Michael Capuano, and legislative members.

Year Up honors Bridge Over Troubled Waters as Outstanding Community Partner During its 2015 Graduation Ceremony, Year Up honored Bridge Over Troubled Waters as Outstanding Community Partner. The award was made, “In sincere appreciation of your outstanding contributions to Boston’s urban community.” Adding, “By believing in our young adults, you are empowering their lives and helping to close the Opportunity Divide in our country.”

Drop-in Day Center

Medical & Dental Clinic

Education & Career Development

Apple Inc. recently recruited 25 employees to prepare, cook, and serve a fantastic pasta luncheon to nearly 50 youth at Bridge.

Apple organized trivia games with prizes, brought snacks and other survival kits, food and take-away games. A generous contribution was also made to Bridge. Thank you Apple!

Events

Emergency Residence

Single Parent Residence

Transitional Residence

Apple Brings a Byte to Eat! JUNE

5K Races

5&16

MAY 19

Annual Luncheon

JUNE

Golf Tournaments

Bridge’s annual luncheon for supporters and Bridge youth will be held at the 47 West Street location.

8&14

For the 2nd year in a row, on June 8th, RCN is organizing their annual golf tournament to support Bridge Over Troubled Waters.

Nashawtuc Country Club selected Bridge Over Trouble Waters as the beneficiary of their annual charity golf tournament on June 14th.

Bridge’s Young Professional Group is recruiting runners for the Freedom Run on June 5th, with proceeds benefitting Bridge.

To support their efforts go to www.crowdrise.com/bridge-overtroubled-waters-freedom-run MercerCares selected Bridge to be the recipient of the proceeds from their annual 5K event on June 16th.

November — National Homeless Youth Awareness Month! Bridge is organizing a fun and exciting fundraising event to promote awareness and raise critical funds for our kids this November. Stay tuned!

Bridge is thrilled to announce that Liberty Mutual Insurance provided signifi cant funding support for the renovation and expansion of our housing residences!

Bridge was also selected by the City of Boston, Department of Neighborhood Development, and the Commonwealth Offi ce of Housing and Economic Development to receive additional and critical capital funding.

Bridge will be able to serve more homeless young people in a setting which affords signifi cantly improved opportunities for community-based programming in an enhanced milieu-oriented setting, the ideal configuration for relationship-based youth development services, which Bridge has found are most effective for building community, family connections and healthy mother/child bonds.

Renovation Impact: • Increase the number of mothers served from 7 to 11 with up to 2 babies per family at any given time.

• Provide 28 individual bedrooms for homeless youth • Make living spaces more “home-like,” with expanded living space, new counseling rooms for one-to-one interactions and adequate space for life-skills learning • Completely reconfigure communal spaces to foster milieu-based, relationship-oriented services • Enhance and upgrade internal systems, including energy-effi cient HVAC systems; increased storage, a full sprinkler system and more secure & controllable main access, wireless internet connectivity for online education and access to essential information and resources, upgraded outdoor space including the children’s playground and back deck, and improved handicapped accessibility, including two fully accessible bedrooms/bathrooms • New furnishings in all bedrooms and communal spaces throughout the residences.

• Programs are located in an ideal residential neighborhood in Boston and may serve 46 homeless individual boys and girls at any given time.

bridgeotw.org

1