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Bridge Program
The Bridge Program was created to help women who were progressing in services at the Women’s Reentry Program and Sisters Program to move along the continuum of care successfully into our Women’s Harm Reduction Program. As the Program has developed, the Bridge team is accomplishing that and much more:
Our Bridge staff offer the key wraparound services of legal advocacy, Peer Support, employment support and coaching, and community building. They work within each of the programs to provide those service components on site. Through the positive relationships they form with the clients they are serving, they then foster the successful linkage into services at the WHRP by being the welcoming point of contact orienting the clients to the WHRP program to continue and deepen their healing and recovery journeys.
Examples of our Wraparound Services:
Legal Advocacy: The Bridge case manager is incredibly knowledgeable about the intricacies of the legal system. She provides 1-1 and larger workshop sessions with women to answer questions about how the criminal justice system works and how to navigate court appearances and probation. Upon request, she can review a woman’s case status, help facilitate effective communication with attorneys, and support women during virtual community court appearances. She also coordinates on site advocacy and education sessions with Marquette legal clinic and guest attorneys on a variety of relevant topics.
Peer Support: Benedict Center recognizes that Peer Support Specialists (PSS) are a vital part of our healing and recovery support team. They foster hope, offer helpful resources, demystify the process and benefit of program services, and buoy each participant with the kind of nonjudgmental support and understanding that comes from having walked a similar path. At Sisters Program, our PSS is available to women who come to the drop in centers for various types of support. At our WHRP our PSS is talking with women before and after their groups, troubleshooting any challenges, and encouraging engagement and communication. At the Community Integration Program, our Lead Case Manager is also an experienced PSS, and residents there connect with her to identify and work on the issues and patterns keeping them stuck, so that they can chart a different course for the future.
Employment Coaching: Many of the clients of our Programs struggle with insufficient financial resources to afford a stable life for themselves and their children. Our Employment Specialist educates and supports women while the increase their knowledge and skills in the areas of resume building, online job applications, interviewing, and on-the-job work behaviors that foster success. She also offers employment classes at the CRC and at the WHRP program, and equips graduates of the class with technology to succeed in today’s online job seeking environment. Our employment specialist stays informed about job training programs, GED programs, and employers who are eager to work with women who are building work experience or who need a second chance after legal trouble.
Our Bridge Services team also coordinate the tangible wraparound supports for clients in our programs to remove barriers and support self-sufficiency. They help women navigate any challenges they have that may otherwise delay or disrupt their chances of success. Finding a safe and affordable place to live is an often-identified challenge for women in our programs. Our staff help women seek shelter, gather identification documents, search and apply for apartments, and navigate tenancy challenges.
Lastly, our Bridge Case Manager coordinates and cultivates Peer Connections gatherings to foster community and healthier living. These gatherings include guest speakers and educational sessions on important life skills, field trips to discover fun activities as part of a healthier lifestyle, and events that enhance caring connection.
Support our Meal Program
Make a direct and immediate impact by providing life-sustaining nutrition through pre-packaged bagged lunches, hot lunches, sodas, and/or snacks! Drop-off times are every Monday at 9:00am at our office. These meals and snacks will support both our Sister’s Program and the Women’s Harm Reduction Program
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