BRIDGES Transitional Living Program

The Program

BRIDGES is a transitional living program funded by Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and contracted by KanCare Services, to provide services to homeless and runaway youth. Basic components of the program include:

• Supervised Living Arrangements
• Life Skills Training
• Support Services

Purpose

In its second century of service, the Wichita Children's Home provides runaway residential services to an average of 500 youth per year. The transitional living program bridges a gap in care through the provision of supportive services to homeless youth who are not involved in state social services. Teaching homeless youth the skills necessary to become self-sufficient will help them to avoid long-term dependency on existing social services programs.

• Building
• Responsibility and
• Independence through
• Developing
• Goals ands
• Empowerment
• Skills

Program Objectives

• To provide stable, safe living accommodations while youth participate in the program.
• To provide necessary services to assist youth in developing the skills needed to enable them to live independently.
• To provide necessary educational information, counseling and community referrals to homeless youth.

The Facts

The Numbers

• There are 15,000 to 20,000 homeless persons in Kansas with 10-20% of them under the age of 21.
• An estimated 1.5 million youth run away from home each year, while at least 500,000 more youth are homeless.
• Three of every five runaways have been thrown out of their homes and report negative consequences while on the street.

The Consequences

Once on the streets, youth may be forced into theft and prostitution. They are mentally and physically abused; suffer from malnutrition and exposure, and a high percentage of them contract AIDS.

Life on the street forces young people to trade their youth, their minds and their bodies just to survive.

Eligibility Requirements

• Participants must be between the ages of 16½ thru 20 years of age
• Current living environment is unsafe and an alternative is unavailable
• Participant are not currently using alcohol or other drugs.

Area Served

The project serves homeless youth from the Wichita Metropolitan Area.

Participation Requirements

All participants must complete an intake information packet and several assessment evaluations to determine eligibility. Upon acceptance by the assessment team, a participation contract must be signed.

Services

Counseling

• Crisis and Situational
• Individual Life Plan
• Alcohol and Drug Services
• Aftercare Services

Residential

• Emergency Shelter
• Supervised Cluster Site Apartments
• Semi-supervised cluster site apartments
• Community Living

Education

• GED Preparation
• Social and interpersonal skills
• Life skills training
• Job readiness and interview training
• Household budgeting
• Health care

Employment

• Pre-employment skills training
• Job placement assistance
• Vocational training/Post secondary

BRIDGES Transitional Living Program
810 North Holyoke
Wichita, KS 67208
Phone: 316-684-6581
Fax: 316-684-7249