Bridges Associates

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Who we are

Our Mission

Bridges Associates, Inc. helps children and adults who learn differently to take charge of their lives.

What we do

Bridges Associates provides the following services.

Outreach consultation to schools, agencies, programs and teams
Diagnostic assessment with children, families and adults
Psychological testing and neurodevelopmental evaluation
Training and Take Charge!® Coach Certification

New Projects (2007)

Bridging Out Stories of Resilience
Take Charge!™ Training and Community Based Projects for children and adults and families

Product Development

Self-sustaining Social Enterprise
Publish Adaptations
Marketing and Advertising Plan
Licensing and Contracts, Copyright applications

Our History

Bridges Associates, Inc., established in 1989, is a private not-for-profit organization governed by a voluntary Board of Directors. Programs and services are funded through the following means:

Fees for individual services
Private donations
Grants
Corporate sponsors
In-kind donations
Contracts

Since its inception, the Board of Directors' long-range vision has been for Bridges to function as a socially responsible not-for-profit organization, supporting viable programs and, through the production and sale of materials, providing educational and job skill training opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Over the years, our pilot programs have included the following:

Bridging Out (1990-present): a monthly social enrichment group for adults with significant neurodevelopmental disabilities
Adult ADD+ (1993-1998): a support group for adults living with Attention Deficit Disorder
Riding Outreach (1999-2004): a therapeutic recreation program that combined horseback riding and barn work with socialization.
Social Enrichment programs (1994-2001) structured youth programs, including Creative Arts & Play, Help with Homework, Projects for Fun, and the KanDoo Kangaroo ™ Classroom Puppet Show

Participants in all of our programs have been the guiding voice in the development of our current focus, the Take Charge!™ Educational Coaching program

Our Accomplishments - since 1989

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Developed clinical, education and training program
Maintained professional licenses and memberships in national organizations.
Maintained a consistent website presence (1994-present);with a complete overhaul 2005
Published books with program members (Bridging Out: Puzzle Book 1991; Riding Outreach Program: Handbook 1999; Take Charge!™ Educational Coaching Curriculum: 2004)
Participated in Practice Development Business Coaching Group and Supervision Training to change the organization's image and focus to education, training and research
Community activities include: Steering Committee Multicultural Festival of Cape Cod (2001-2005); Member, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce (2003 –present); Appointed to the Governor’s Council, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission; Steering Committee Member Barnstable County Council for Children, Youth, and Families; Member Sudden Impact
Recipient of challenge funding and business development coaching (venture philanthropy) to publish and produce the curriculum

PROGRAMS

Bridging Out Program (1990-present), a group for adults with significant learning disorders
Adult ADD+ (1993-1998), a support group for adults with ADD and related conditions
Take Charge!™ Youth groups, social enrichment programs (1993-2001): received 5 continuous years (1995 – 2000) of funding from the Town of Barnstable and Fleet to run youth groups (KanDoo™ Classroom, Homework, Creative Arts & Play etc) for the recreation and community services department.
Riding Outreach Program, in collaboration with Sea Horse Farm in Harwich (1999-2004); received donation for barn in 1998 from private donor.
Programs received national recognition in three editions of “Exceptional Lives” by Turnbull, Turnbull, and Shank and raised nearly $340,000 from grants and individual donations for program development and support.

EDUCATION, TRAINING and RESEARCH

Graduate intern training (1993-present). Clinical internship site for Family Therapy Department, UMASS Boston 1999- present; and previously other counseling and family therapy programs. Affiliations with Curry College, Master’s Degree Education program (faculty, mentoring).
Sponsored twenty major conferences (1990-2000) featuring nationally known experts in the fields of neuro-developmental and neuro-psychiatric disorders, self-esteem, family relationships, learning strategies, and coaching.
Offered six, 2-day (10-hour) training seminars in Take Charge!™ Educational Coaching program (2003-present); trained over 50 parents and professionals; developed working relationships with ¼ of coaches. Organized pilot program data to successfully obtain funding for training. Conducting follow up survey.
Offered numerous workshops, presentations and exhibits to local, state and national audiences for parents, schools, community and professional groups on learning and attention differences and the TC program as community education and public awareness.
Developed training/programs with Cotting School, MAMFT, AET, Barnstable County House of Corrections, Cape Open Door, Child Care Network. Presented and displayed at various local, state, and national conferences including: LDA; MAAPS; New England Network Youth Workers Conference; CEC; CHADD; LDW; AD-IN.
Participants in a clinical research study of the relationship between learning disabilities and substance abuse (University of Minnesota, National Institute of Health Study). Proposal submitted to University of New Hampshire (2004) for outcome based study.

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