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The Building Bridges Program

This is a summary of the Building Bridges program in Dayton, Ohio. Building Bridges is a work therapy program that provides an alternative to long-term confinement of juvenile offenders. The concept is to promote self-esteem and provide a meaningful, paid, work experience by offering assistance to the elderly and handicapped. This privately funded program is operated through the Montgomery County Juvenile Court system in Dayton, Ohio.

Building Bridges puts kids in situations where they're likely to succeed. At-risk youth between 12 and 18 years of age who have not responded to more traditional forms of probation and supervision are asked to set reachable goals for managing family relationships, improving social skills and school performance. This hands-on, relationship-focused approach accounts for the program's unmatched 88% success rate. By simply showing each kid they have worth, 88 out of 100 will stay out of institutions.

Programming

Building Bridges is a multifaceted program, working annually with over 200 at-risk youth. The staff and volunteers work to develop one-on-one relationships with each child.

Work therapy is the backbone of the program with kids involved in over 20 different work therapy groups each week, preparing and serving meals at homeless shelters, befriending the mentally handicapped, walking the dogs at animal shelters and cutting grass for the elderly or disabled. Students are paid a small wage for the hours they spend in work therapy. In addition to the wages, they earn self respect, personal fulfillment and dignity from helping others.

The George Foster Home for Boys opened in 1979 to house teenage boys the system had labeled "unworkable." The home focuses on getting the boys prepared for life as adults. They go to school or study for the GED; they learn independent living skills; they participate in recreational activities as a group; and they work with around-the-clock staff and other volunteers who want nothing more than to see them succeed.

The George Foster Care Network is comprised of individual homes where kids live while continuing their rehabilitation work with the Building Bridges staff. These foster families are key members of the relationship building team tasked with providing a degree of normalcy to children who've known only chaos. The network provides tremendous support to each foster parent by way of weekly home visits, 24-hour access to staff, an in-depth training program, respite care and financial assistance to cover incidentals.

Reading For Dollars is a school work therapy program in which kids receive a dollar for every half hour they read out loud to their caseworker or to a volunteer. Kids who need extra help with school have access to tutors almost daily in various locations. The tutoring sites are all supervised by Building Bridges staff.

The Sunday Meal program allows the boys and staff at the George Foster Home to invite guests into the group home for dinner. The guests cook the meal and the boys show off the home, learn how to interact with adults, and see caring commitments from people in their community. The Sunday Meal program is ideal for a church or civic group, or even friends to participate in together.

For more information, please contact Building Bridges, Inc., 2157 Salem Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45406. Telephone: (937) 496-7863.

To find out more . . . http://www.buildingbridgesinc.org/

This summary is provided by the Texas Youth Commission. For more information about programs and research relating to children, youth, and family issues, contact us by e-mail at prevention@tyc.state.tx.us or by telephone at (512) 424-6336.

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