The Bridge was founded in 1970 as a shelter for runaway teens. The Bridge provided emergency shelter and short-term basic care, with the primary goal being family reunification. Over time, The Bridge developed more comprehensive programming for its clients, with emphasis on psychological services and safety for the children. Services were delivered through a day program in Midtown Atlanta while shelter was provided in collaboration with the Salvation Army Youth Lodge.

In 1990 The Bridge moved its services to a renovated elementary school in West Atlanta offering specialized treatment and housing for abused and neglected teens. Two additional programs were created to develop and maintain an educational and vocational training program to increase success rates in a school or work environments as well as transitional program that supported residents’ move back to their families, schools and communities. The Bridge expanded its services again in 1999, with a 10,000 square foot Learning Center that includes a full sized gym and recreational facility, classrooms and a computer lab. Three cottages were also opened on campus to offer specialized treatment to small groups of residents.

As a result of the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ “unbundling” of residential and therapeutic services, The Bridge was required to change the delivery of services. The Bridge implemented three distinct service areas on July 1, 2007 including the Residential Program with beds for 56 youth age 12 to 17, The Bridge Family Treatment Center providing psychiatric, counseling and substance abuse services to elligible youth in the Residential Program and elligible youth in the greater Atlanta community and The Bridge School, an educational institution accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).