The Long Island Children's Bridger Program
Serving Nassau and Suffolk
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Mission
The Long Island Bridger Program is a support service for youngsters with serious emotional disturbances which has been developed to assist those youngsters in adjusting from one living environment to another. This becomes particularly important when a youngster is moving from a hospital or other residential program to a less structured setting. The Bridger Program, as part of an overall, collaborative discharge plan, offers intervention which helps create a smooth transition from one living environment to another. This serves to lessen the impact of the change in environmental support.
Population Served
Youngsters eligible for the Bridger Program are currently living in a psychiatric residential setting. This may include:
- Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital
- OMH Community Residence
- OMH Residential Treatment Facility
- OMH Teaching Family Home
- OMH Family-Based Treatment Home
To receive services from the Bridger program, the youngster must be moving back home or to a lower level of residential care within the local child-serving system.
Priority is given to youngsters who have a history of one or more of the following:
- Multiple inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations in a brief period of time;
- A lengthy stay in current residence with minimal ability to transition to a new environment;
- Extreme anxiety concerning a change in living arrangements;
- Extreme difficulty or failure in a less restrictive environment.
The youngster must be a legal resident of either Nassau or Suffolk County, currently residing in, and moving to, a residence within either County. Youngsters must be under the age of 18 years in order to receive services from the Bridger Program.
The Program
The Bridger Program is an adjunct to ongoing mental health treatment and other related services. Youngsters work with a mental health paraprofessional under the guidance of a certified social worker. Prior to the youngster's discharge from one living environn1ent to another, the Bridger begins working with the youngster, family, and treatment teams to become acquainted with the youngster, his strengths and needs, the elements of therapeutic intervention that have been helpful, and any concerns there might be regarding movement to a new living environment. A plan for service is developed which includes the frequency and duration of Bridger visits, the identification of specific issues to be addressed, and interventions to be used by the Bridger. A Bridger, working in concert with the treatment teams and the youngster's family, can identify new concerns and carry out interventions that will result in a smooth, successful transition for the youngster.
Information and Application
To obtain more information about the Long Island Children's Bridger Program, or to obtain an application, contact:
- Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center Bridger Program (631) 370-1819
- Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency, & Developmental Disabilities Services
- Suffolk County Department of Health, Division of Community Mental Hygiene Services
- Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center NYS Office of Mental Health