THE BRIDGEWAY ‘WAY’ 

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Bridgeway Family Homes recently developed and launched its' Bridgeway Treatment Program (TP) in September of 2016 to serve Foster Children/Youth with complex care needs. These are Foster Children/Youth who would otherwise be considered for placement in a residential Group Home setting.

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The Treatment Foster Parents are the foundation of our success. They provide the daily therapeutic interventions for our Foster Children/Youth. 

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The latest research on the neurology of maltreatment has challenged traditional approaches to treatment Foster Child/Youth in care. This means that the Bridgeway Treatment Foster Homes will be attachment focused rather than consequence driven.  The attachment and child trauma literature (Bremner, Delaney, Hughes, Perry, Siegel) suggest that emotional connection is at the heart of healing.  Recovering from trauma and the capacity to make interpersonal connections involve learning in a fundamental, neurological sense. It is vital that our child/youth experience safety and nurturance in relationship with a experienced Foster Parents with whom they can emotionally connect with and who can model the skills for their recovery needs.

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Supporting the Foster Children/Youth will be a comprehensive group of professionals including:

• A Treatment Foster Home Manager

• A Treatment Foster Home Supervisor providing 24/7 support

• Clinical Consultant, Clinical Assessor, and Child/Youth Support Staff - known as FSW or FSW (Family Support Workers and/or Family Support Specialists)

• School Success Teams (Certified Teachers, S.E.R.T. Special Educational Resource Teachers)

• Transportation Services, Addiction Counsellors

• Access to Psychologists, Health Care Professionals, Art Therapist and other Children’s Mental Health professionals as required.

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It is the mission of Bridgeway Family Homes to provide a Treatment Program where:

• Children/youth are provided with a caring, structured and clinically supported milieu where they can begin to build their self-esteem in a family environment;

• Children/youth are able to transition to adulthood with the acquisition of living skills based on the potential of each child/child/youth

• Children/youth have stable relationships in their lives that allow them to have a foundation for other relationships in their lives

• Children/youth are empowered and engaged in their own communities and personal passions

• Children/youth achieve educational and skill based success – they achieve Ontario’s SSGD

• Children/youth are a part of a program that uses evidenced based treatment and practice

• Children/youth are engaged and empowered to build their future

• Children/youth have a place to call home