The Bridge Family Center Inc.

Based in West Hartford, Connecticut, the Bridge Family Center is a comprehensive, regional nonprofit agency that provides a broad range of services for children and families throughout the Greater Hartford area. Founded in 1969, the Bridge offers a safe haven for children and families in crisis as well as positive, healthy intervention and prevention programs.

OUR PROGRAM AREAS

Mental Health Counseling

We have counseling centers in West Hartford, Avon, and Rockville to support children, families, and adults. Our therapy team includes a Psychiatrist. We accept private insurance, as well as Medicare and Medicaid.

Residential Services

We offer a safe haven for teens and young adults throughout our region, many of whom have experienced significant trauma. A high percentage of the girls we care for are victims of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking. We provide:

Short-Term Assessment and Respite youth shelters throughout Greater Hartford and beyond for children ages 11-18 (DCF referred);

Emergency Shelter for homeless children and teens ages 13-17; 

Transitional and Independent Living programs for young adults ages 16-21.

Youth and Family Services

For nearly four decades, we have served West Hartford as its Youth Service Bureau. We offer school-based programs, emergency in-school counseling response, positive youth development programs, mentoring, parenting services, and the West Hartford Teen Center. 

Family Resource Centers

Our Family Resource Center is a vital source of support for young children and parents. We offer significant parent education, in-school support groups for children going through divorce or separation, reading readiness programs, developmental screenings, after-school learning and enrichment activities, before- and after-school daycare for preschoolers, social skills groups, and early childhood intervention programs.

With an annual budget of over $8 million, the Bridge Family Center served nearly 9,000 young people and families last year. Bridge Family Center services are funded by private donations from individuals, foundations, corporations, and organizations; the Town of West Hartford; the State of Connecticut Departments of Children and Families (DCF) and Education; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Bridge is governed by a Board of Directors composed of 17 individuals from West Hartford and the Greater Hartford community. About 175 staff members carry out the programs and services of the Bridge, assisted by more than 150 volunteers.