The Bridge accepts both male and female residents, ages 12-17. Admittance is favored for status offenders, youth who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment, youth of average intelligence and the availability of adequate funding to meet the youth's physical, emotional, and educational needs. The Bridge cannot accept chemically dependent individuals, actively psychotic youth, youth with extreme eating disorders, those who have exhibited active aggressive or dangerous behaviors to self or others individuals with severe histories of dangerous crimes (arson, assault, weapons charges, rape etc.), severely developmentally delayed and/or neurological impaired youth, individuals expressing active suicidal ideations, or who have physical conditions that require intensive medical support, extreme and extensive sexual offending behaviors and those afflicted with a disease that could endanger other residents and/or staff. It is the policy of the Center that no resident shall be allowed to smoke or use any other tobacco products.

Youth are referred to The Bridge by the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), the Department of Family and Services (DFCS) and the Multi-Agency Alliance for Children (MAAC). Prior to admittance the child must be approved by the State Provider Relations Unit or the Department of Juvenile Justice.

The completed application, pyschological evaluation, psychiatric evaluation, psychosexual evaluation, social summary, current placement treatment plan and any necessary additional information are sent to The Bridge for review. After the Clinical Team has reviewed a child’s application, then the Intake Coordinator will schedule an interview or contact you for more information.