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| Briefs from The Bridge
~Fall 2017 |
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The Bridge Expands Its Services with Four New Programs |
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A common area in The Bridge's Safe Haven program, which opened in August.
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| This summer, The Bridge opened four new programs aimed at helping New Yorkers struggling with homelessness and mental illness.
In August, The Bridge's Safe Haven shelter opened in the Bronx. This 41 bed program is a temporary shelter for chronically homeless men who had been living on the street. A variety of services are provided on-site, including 24-hour staffing; meal service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; case management; therapeutic and social groups; and medical services from an on-site LPN and the Ryan Center's mobile primary care unit. The program has even started a gardening group!
Clients are anticipated to stay at the program for approximately six to nine months, and then move on to more permanent housing, such as supportive housing. Safe Haven staff will assist clients with the process of identifying appropriate housing placements and submitting housing applications.
The Safe Haven model is unique in that it attempts to minimize barriers clients may have to entering the shelter system -- there are no curfews and fewer restrictions as compared to traditional shelters, and the program emphasizes harm reduction rather than taking a zero-tolerance approach to substance use. Clients are referred to the Safe Haven by Outreach Teams from two partner agencies, BRC and BronxWorks. |
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The Bridge's Safe Haven - Each room hold between two and five beds. |
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The Bridge is also opening three new ACT teams.
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a person-centered program designed for people living with a serious mental illness and who can benefit from more intensive intervention than is generally provided in a traditional treatment setting.
Each ACT Team serves 68 clients and is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team, including a social worker, a nurse, a psychiatrist, a substance abuse specialist, and other clinicians. Rather than having clients come in to an office to receive services, ACT staff go out to clients to meet with and provide services to them in a location most convenient for the client -- this could be their home, a park, or a local coffee shop. ACT staff meet with clients frequently, at least six times each month.
The Bridge's three new ACT Teams, two based in Manhattan and one based in the Bronx, will work with clients who are living in a New York City mental health shelter. In addition to the services typically provided by ACT Teams, these three programs will also focus on helping clients find and maintain appropriate housing.
With the addition of these three ACT Teams, The Bridge now has a total of seven ACT teams operating in Manhattan and the Bronx. |
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ACT Teams provide services in community settings, making it easier for clients to receive the help they need.
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Partners in Caring Awards Gala Raises More Than $566,000 for Bridge Programs |
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The Bridge’s Partners in Caring Awards Gala was held on June 7, 2017 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Nearly 400 friends of The Bridge gathered to celebrate the agency’s 63 years of service and to pay tribute to the 2017 honorees.
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Clockwise from Top Left: Gregory M. Weston accepting his award from Bridge CEO Susan Wiviott; BFC Partners accepting their award from Bridge Board Member Ronald Garfunkel; Gale Brewer accepting her award from Bridge Board Chair Cynthia Wainwright |
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Receiving awards this year were Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer, recipient of the Government Partner in Caring Award; BFC Partners, recipient of the Partner in Caring Corporate Award; and Gregory M. Weston, Recipient of the Partner in Caring Individual Award. Two Bridge clients, Michael B. and Kate T., shared their stories and the importance of The Bridge in their lives. Noted radio personality Pat Carroll served as emcee for the evening, which raised more than $566,000. |
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A New Mural is Completed at Rita Berger House |
| | | The High School for Excellence and Innovation has completed another beautiful mural at a Bridge residence! This mural was completed at Rita Berger House, and the clients who live there had input on the design and even helped with the painting!
Thank you to everyone who helped make this mural a reality! |
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| Join Us on 10/26 for the Costumes and Cocktails Halloween Party! |
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Support The Bridge at Shake Shack's Donation Day - 10/18 |
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| Please join us for Donation Day at the Morningside Heights Shake Shack! Mention The Bridge or show this flyer when you order on October 18th, and Shake Shack will donate 25% of your purchase to The Bridge! |
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