Meeting growing demands
Bridges Treatment Center expands

Bridges Treatment Center, a residential treatment center for children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 with emotional and behavioral problems, has expanded its facilities and services to meet the needs of more than 100 children. The treatment center has added two new cottages with 40 beds, six classrooms, offices for therapists, a computer lab and library.

This is Bridges' second expansion. The center, which opened July 5, 1987, with 40 beds, first expanded to 62 beds in 1997.

"In January 2000, we became eligible for Medicaid reimbursement, which increased our referral numbers," said Bill Gorman, director. "We were suddenly at full capacity, with a waiting list. Even with our reputation—due primarily to our clinically sound and creative staff—we knew our referral sources would be forced to seek placement outside of Bridges if we did not make significant changes to the campus. "

Dogwood Cottage, which opened in July, is Bridges' latency age cottage where programming is tailored to children 10 and under (see story on page 2). Willow Cottage is the center's new transition cottage, which also houses classrooms and clinical offices. Original cottages include Ivy Cottage, which houses girls ages 11 and older, and Cedar and Chimney cottages for boys 11 and older.

"We are excited about our transition cottage, which will house males and females, ages 7 to 17, who are anticipating discharge from Bridges," Gorman said. "By planning discharges in this manner, we can make sure wraparound services are in place."

Each child in the transition cottage will have the opportunity to visit his or her new school and meet teachers and counselors. A designed curriculum will be programmed chronologically, developmentally and academically. Life skills, such as filling out job applications, and social skills, such as male-female living situations, will be taught.

"The focus of Willow Cottage, and campus wide, is to provide security, safety, reassurance and confidence to the children as they work toward a successful transition to their community," Gorman said.

Bridges began exploring the idea of expanding its campus for a second time in 1999.

"It had become apparent that the need for services to this special population of children was continuing to grow," Gorman said, noting that from 1999 to 2002 the number of referrals to Bridges doubled.

"Although the program was running at capacity, we did not have the space or program design to meet future needs. Due to many sociological problems, such as single-parent families, dysfunctional families and abandoned and orphaned children, it became obvious that communities could not provide the services needed. Without our help, these children would not be able to develop the educational and vocational skills to care for themselves and would become "throw-away" children instead of productive members of society.

"For the past 17 years we have been able to provide a caring, safe environment to almost 800 children, some of whom are presently attending college, have graduated from college, joined the armed forces or are holding down responsible jobs," Gorman said. "These young people are prime examples of what psychiatric treatment can accomplish in a nurturing and caring environment."

Four board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists staff the treatment center along with psychologists, social workers, licensed professional counselors and special education teachers. Psychiatrists are John Hendrickson, M.D., J. Gregory Fisher, M.D., medical director of Piedmont Psychiatric Center, J. Preston Bond, M.D., and Susan Bunnell, M.D. The center also has a group home for boys ages 8 to 18, Bridges at Brightwell, in Amherst County.

Bridges is accredited by the Joint Commission on Health Care Organizations on the East Coast, licensed by the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services, Medicaid and the Virginia Department of Education. For information, call (434) 947-5700.