History
Since our founding in 1969, the Bridge has been a beacon of hope for the children, adults and families in the community. Though there have been changes in our name and our services, and we have expanded and become a multi-service agency for the Greater Hartford area, we maintain our commitment to helping children, youth, adults, and families meet life's challenges and build fulfilling lives.
Bridge founder and first Executive Director Dick Jackson, alarmed by growing drug use among teenagers, begins training volunteers and peer counselors to reach out to these alienated young people in West Hartford, CT.
1969
The Bridge opens a drop-in center in the YMCA annex on North Main Street in West Hartford to provide a social alternative to the drug culture, and a place where young people and adults could meet, talk, and solve problems.
1970
The Bridge moves its counseling center and offices to the basement of the First Church of Christ on the town green.
1971
The Bridge signs a contract to provide social services to the West Hartford Public Schools.
1974
Ruth Freymann becomes the second Executive Director of the Bridge and begins a four-year effort to open a regional shelter for teen runaways.
1975
The Bridge counseling center moves to the First Baptist Church. The Junction 1019 shelter opens on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford. The shelter was later renamed the Bridge Youth Shelter, and in 2013, Freymann House, in honor of the woman most responsible for its beginning.
1978
The Bridge becomes the Youth Service Bureau for the Town of West Hartford.
1979
Selma Lobel becomes the third Executive Director and brings Looking In Teen Theatre to the Bridge. This troupe performed skits in area schools dramatizing real-life issues facing youth. (In 2003, the theater group affiliated with the Capitol Region Education Council.)
1980
Wayne Starkey becomes the fourth Executive Director.
1987
The Independent Living Program starts to assist youth in state care to become independent adults. Tune-In to Life begins to promote healthy lifestyles in the community.
1988
The Family Resource Center begins at Charter Oak School to provide support for families with children at the school.
1991
David Johnston becomes the fifth Executive Director.
1994
Margaret Hann becomes the sixth Executive Director of the Bridge. The Transitional Living Apartment Program (Moving On) opens to assist male adolescents ages 16 to 21 in developing the skills to live independently.
1998
The Bridge moves to its current headquarters at 1022 Farmington Avenue near West Hartford Center. A name change becomes official: The Bridge Family Center.
1995
The Bridge opens a drop-in Teen Center at Elmwood Community Center in West Hartford.
1999
Youth in Transition begins to serve homeless youth ages 16 to 21 who were not in the state system of care.
2004
The Bridge opens Eleanor House, a therapeutic group home for girls ages 13 to 18, in Hartford.
2006
The Bridge converts its West Hartford youth shelter to the STAR (Short Term Assessment and Respite) Home model for adolescent girls ages 11 to 18 and opens three additional homes in CT in Manchester, Southington, and Harwinton.
2007
The Bridge opens a STTAR Home in Wolcott, CT for adolescent boys ages 11 to 18.
The Bridge is licensed as an outpatient psychiatric clinic for children and adolescents.
2008
The Bridge opens Bridge East, a counseling center in Rockville, CT.
2011
The Bridge opens Bridge West, our third counseling center, in Avon, CT.
2015
The Bridge celebrates 50 years of bringing hope and healing to those in need.
2019
The Bridge opens Bridge Elmwood, a counseling center in the Elmwood section of West Hartford.
2020
The Bridge receives accreditation from the Council on Accreditation.
Youth in Transition, is reinstated and serves homeless youth ages 16-21, who are not involved in the state system of care.
Eleanor House, a Therapeutic Group Home in Hartford is closed.
2021
The Bridge opens the Mosaic Parenting Center in Hartford.
The Bridge opens its fourth counseling center, Bridge Central, on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford.
The Bridge moves the STTAR Home from Southington to Hartford.
2022
The Bridge closes the Counseling Center in Avon and opens a new Counseling Center at 2 Bridgewater Road in Farmington.
The Bridge opens a Mosaic Parenting Center in Cromwell.
2024