About the Bridge Family Center
Based in West Hartford, Connecticut, the Bridge Family Center is a comprehensive, regional nonprofit agency that provides a broad range of services for children and families throughout the Greater Hartford area. Founded in 1969, the Bridge offers a safe haven for children and families in crisis as well as positive, healthy intervention and prevention programs.
Our Mission
To foster the courage and strength in children and families to meet life's challenges and build fulfilling lives.
Our Program Areas
Youth and Teen Services
For nearly four decades, we have served West Hartford as its Youth Service Bureau. We offer school-based programs, emergency in-school counseling response, positive youth development programs, mentoring, and the West Hartford Teen Center.
Parents and Caregiver Services
Our Family Resource Center is a vital source of support for young children and parents. We offer significant parent education, in-school support groups for children going through divorce or separation, reading readiness programs, developmental screenings, after-school learning and enrichment activities, before- and after-school daycare for preschoolers, social skills groups, and early childhood intervention programs.
Mental Health Counseling
We have counseling centers in West Hartford, Avon, and Rockville to support children, families, and adults. Our therapy team includes a Psychiatrist and an APRN. We accept private insurance, as well as Medicare and Medicaid.
Residential Services
We offer a safe haven for teens and young adults throughout our region, many of whom have experienced significant trauma. A high percentage of the girls we care for are victims of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking. We provide:
- Short-Term Assessment and Respite youth shelters throughout Greater Hartford and beyond for children ages 11-18 (DCF referred)
- Emergency Shelter for homeless children and teens ages 13-17
- Transitional and Independent Living programs for young adults ages 16-21
Our Core Beliefs
Our children and families are the center of our work.
The Bridge believes that every family and child has many strengths. Our job is to build on those strengths.
We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.
The best interests of the children and families we serve guide every aspect of our work. We put forth our very best effort in all that we do.
We are committed to quality, integrity, and a holistic approach to care in a welcoming, nurturing environment. We do not give up easily. We work hard to find a way. We make it happen.
As an organization, the Bridge is committed to being a source of pride for our donors, board of directors, staff, and volunteers.
We value the diversity of our workforce. We expect teamwork and collaboration. We set high standards for ourselves and support each other along the way. We celebrate our successes and learn from our mistakes.
Our culture is grounded in accountability, innovation, excellence, and transparency.
The Bridge is guided by sound business practices and committed to maintaining our fiscal health so we can continue to offer high-quality services for generations to come. We support our workforce by offering competitive wages, benefits, and ongoing training.
We strive to hire and retain the best of the best.
Adopted by the Bridge Board of Directors: March 16, 2010
Financial Information
The Bridge Family Center services are funded by private donations from individuals, foundations, corporations, and organizations; the Town of West Hartford; the State of Connecticut Departments of Children and Families (DCF) and Education; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
For additional information or a copy of our audited financial statements, please contact Hildee Fontanella, Chief Financial Officer, at 860.521.8035, ext. 1103.
The Bridge's IRS Form 990 is available at GuideStar.
Every Family. Every Child. Every Time.
The Bridge Family Center is here to support the needs of this community without hesitation. Contact us today if you or a loved one needs support.
