The Bridge
Download as PPT, PDF0 likes219 views
The Bridge provides specialized education, therapy, and residential care for youth with mental health issues and histories of abuse. It operates a seven-acre campus with residential halls and an accredited school. The proposed project would fund a Special Behavior Class to help students with aggression, self-harm, sexual acting out, and other challenging behaviors stabilize emotionally and behaviorally so they can return to regular classes. The Bridge is requesting $40,000 from the grant to fund salaries, supplies, equipment, and materials for the class.
The Bridge
- 1. The Bridge, Inc. Special Behavior Class
- 2. Description of Agency The Bridge provides specialized education, therapy and residential care to youth with intense behavior challenges and mental health diagnoses resulting from physical and sexual abuse. The seven-acre campus houses several residential halls and a fully accredited school. The school follows the year-round schedule of the Atlanta Public School System. The goal of the school is to increase academic scores and help students gain control of their behaviors by improving their quality of life and social functioning through innovative community-based and family-focused therapeutic services.
- 3. Description of Proposed Project The Bridge School plans to use the funding to support a Special Behavior Class which is a year-round therapy. The class is designed to help youth with aggressiveness toward staff and peers, self harming, and sexually acting out, property damage or threatening to run away. With individual attention, the class is meant to stabilize emotional and behavioral health so the student can return to the classroom and other activities. The Bridge plans to use funds for salaries and benefits, supplies, computer equipment, and educational material.
- 4. Project Costs and CG Grant Request Salaries $77,500 Benefits $15,000 Supplies $ 5,000 Computer Equipment $ 2,500 Educational Material $ 5,000 Total $105,500 Grant of $40,000 or 37% of total cost
- 5. Project Costs and CG Grant Request % of Expense for Programs 82% (higher is better) % of Expense for Administration 14% (lower is better) % of Expense for Fundraising 5% (lower is better) Unrestricted Net Assets $3,712,172 Awarded $5,000 for Art Therapy Program in February, 2008.
- 6. Agency Strengths Accredited school which works with Department of Juvenile Justice, DFCS, and MAAC, a group of 8 other nonprofit behavioral healthcare providers Contracted as a Federal Medicaid provider Continually increases academic progress by 1 or more grade levels after 7 months in program. All 8 th graders passed CRCT test Successfully returns over 70% youth to family or foster homes. 8-year partnership with Cirque du Soleil The Bridge provides “aftercare” for one year after students leave to return to homes and/or the community. Despite state funding cuts, The Bridge has ended the last two fiscal years with a balanced budget.
- 7. Agency Challenges Increased number of youth entering The Bridge with serious mental health issues that requires more one-on-one behavior assessment and modification. Strategically preparing for a decrease in private fundraising because of current economic conditions In discussion with the foundation community for support for facility improvements, largely due to an aging building and property damage caused by the more intense youth we are serving