NNews-Spring-2022

18 S ince The Bridge Inc., a nonprofit community-based organization, was established in 1971, it has grown in size and remained steadfast in its mission to guide youth toward positive pathways in their lives. They have decades-long partnerships with local school districts and unique programs to strengthen families. Over time, The Bridge has innovated, expanded and evolved to provide behavioral health services to children, adolescents and adults across Essex and Union Counties. “The Bridge has many highly innovative and effective programs,” said CEO Dan Renaldo, citing the Imani Center at Irvington High School as an example. This program has been serving the Irvington community for more than 30 years. Beverly Canady, Director of the Imani Center, and her team help the students build life skills and resiliency through individual, group and family therapy; community service projects; academic and career counseling; and other services. In the Caldwell-West Caldwell district, The Bridge and the public schools have worked together since 1977 to serve the social- emotional learning needs of students. These collaborative efforts have evolved over the years to jointly create innovative programs and services that meet the specific needs of the students, teachers and administrators. In both Essex and Union Counties, The Bridge operates the Family Preservation Services program, an intensive, in-home crisis intervention and family education program for families whose children are at imminent risk of abuse, neglect, or out-of- home placement, and for families preparing to be reunified with their children. The Bridge’s highly trained and dedicated staff, led by Allison Reynolds, Director of Family Preservation Services, is available to each family 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Looking ahead, Renaldo and his team are preparing for their 50th Anniversary Celebration & Spring Golf Classic , which will be held on May 25, 2022, and are looking to strengthen the agency to help meet the challenges all healthcare agencies are facing today and will continue to face in days, weeks and years ahead. Both Canady and Reynolds will be honored at the event for their many decades of inspirational and compassionate leadership. “It is an honor to work with these two incredible women. Their passion, dedication and talent have transformed and saved so many lives and the training and mentoring they provide each day to their staff members will have a lasting, positive impact in our community for the next 50 years,” Renaldo stated. To learn more about The Bridge, visit thebridgenj.org. The Bridge Offers Unique Programs that Empower Children and their Families Spring 2022 Beverly Canady(left), Director of the Imani Center, and Allison Reynolds (right), Director of Family Preservation Services, will be honored during The Bridge’s 50 th anniversary celebration onMay 25 th . “Their passion, dedication and talent have transformed and saved so many lives,” said CEODan Renaldo.