BRIDGES OF AMERICA, INC.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Mission Statement To provide individuals with chemical dependency, mental health disorders and/or criminality, an opportunity to experience freedom and healing through therapeutic communities while maintaining personnel safety and restoring the family unit. By treating the whole person, Bridges International believes we are able to nurture a culture of true healing and personal growth within our Therapeutic Communities. This culture raises awareness and helps to bring about changes in the way people think, live, and function. These positive, uplifting changes are then applied to every aspect of their lives. This ultimately impacts their relationships not only with themselves, but with their souls, families, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Bridges programs consist of multiple programs to accommodate the client’s needs; specifically those related to his/her criminal behavior. The program provides substance abuse treatment to inmates and clients with a history of substance abuse problems and/or drug related crimes. The treatment is based on a thorough assessment that identifies the needs, strengths, and weaknesses of each client, followed by an individualized treatment plan to: Develop and implement with the client a plan of long-term recovery, utilizing professional counseling, and self-help groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Bridge Builders 12 step groups. Frank observed men repeating the cycle of the revolving door time after time. He realized that releasing an inmate with $100 and a suit of clothes did little or nothing to change the course of the man’s life. He said that people are incarcerated for making bad choices and the penal system was not addressing that fundamental issue. The average person in society makes about 200 decisions a day and when they are arrested most of their decisions are made for them, such as when to eat, sleep or shower. But when they are released they are once again expected to make about 200 decisions and now they can’t be bad ones. So, in 1976, Frank founded “Christian Prison Ministries” as a way to be part of the solution. This gave him and others an opportunity to share the Gospel with other prisoners and to this end the theme, “Believe a Man Can Change,” was created. During the early 80’s, the drug culture changed and crack cocaine became the drug of choice which created a crime epidemic. The increase of crime eventually resulted in overcrowded prisons. He determined that a diversion program was needed before they even reached the penal system. Another program would treat inmates before returning to the community and deal with community reentry, assisting them in making the essential connection within the community. Frank said, “Releasing a person back into society without treating the problem is just plain wrong.” In 1980, Frank opened up the first “After-care” resident program in Orlando, Florida to provide a bridge long enough to get them to the other side. The Bridges International contract with The Florida Department of Corrections for The Orlando Bridge began a partnership that provided a work-release program with a substance abuse overlay to address drug and alcohol problems. Frank realized that if the inmates did not deal with the underlying problems which contributed to their incarceration that they would return and leave “a hole in time.” City of Auburndale recognizes The Auburndale Bridge as Business of the Month The Auburndale Bridge was recognized as the December 2015 “Business of the Month”. The City of Auburndale would like to recognize The Auburndale Bridge for their longevity, their investment in the community, and the support they provide for the citizenry of Auburndale. In July 2014 Fort Pierce Work Release Counselor Katherina Van Matre was selected as the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA) Clinician of the Year. This award, which was presented at the 2014 FADAA conference in August, honors agency staff who provide direct care services and demonstrate superlative ability in the field of substance abuse treatment, mental health, co-occurring or prevention services. In 2002 Vice President Charles Brown was selected as FADAA’s Person of the Year. In April 2014 Bridges International President Lori Costantino-Brown was nominated by the Florida Parole Commission as a White House Champion of Change for Re-Entry. The White House honors local Champions of Change who are doing extraordinary work to facilitate the re-entry and employment of the formerly incarcerated. In March 2013 The Broward County Bridge was awarded a $10,000 grant in conjunction with Nova Southeastern University and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office to supplement the “Nurturing Parenting Program” provided by Family Central of Broward. The program teaches fathers how to engage their children in healthy ways. In 2012 The National Fatherhood Initiative awarded Bridges International a capacity-building grant in the amount of $25,000. We were honored to have been selected from the 406 applications submitted by organizations throughout the country. The capacity-building funds are used to advance adult literacy and foster a better relationship between our inmates and their children. The Fatherhood Initiative’s mission is to improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible and committed fathers. SCORE Small Business Training Partnership In January 2011 Bridges International partnered with Broward SCORE (Senior Core of Retired Entrepreneurs) to run a 10-week Small Business/Entrepreneurship Training Program. SCORE instructors teach Bridges International inmates the basics of small business start-up and operations (e.g. developing business plans, marketing, customer relations, how the stock market works, etc.). SCORE also assigns mentors to each of the business students. At the end of the course inmates compete for the Best Business Plan and all course completers earn a SCORE Small Business Training Certificate.