Executive Business Plan Bridge Over Troubled Waters Ashlee Amparan COM 300: Public Relations California Baptist University December 19, 2013
Bridge Over Troubled Waters 47 West Street Boston, Massachusetts Telephone: (617) 423-9575 Email: bridge@bridgeotw.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary 2. Services 3. Utilization of Services Summary 4. Market Analysis Summary 5. Strategy and Implementation Summary 6. Management Summary 7. Financial Plan 8. Appendix
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Bridge Over Troubled Waters (also known as “Bridge” in the Boston community) is a non-profit organization that serves the children of the greater Boston area. Bridge has stood by the following statement since its foundation: “At Bridge, we believe every kid deserves a chance for a healthy, productive, independent life. We have been providing life-changing services for homeless and at-risk youth ages 14-24 since 1970.”1 Bridge partners with the Non-Profit Sector of Massachusetts, Mass. Coalition for Homeless, Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, and Health Leads in order to bring hope to thousands of children that otherwise would be left alone to fend for themselves. Bridge firmly believes in preventative maintenance, so the youth that are entangled in problems regarding gangs, domestic violence, addiction, pregnancy, mental-health issues, school failure, significant learning disabilities, trauma histories, sexual exploitation, sexual orientation discrimination, or aging out of foster care are Bridge’s target. If these kids can be helped, then the perpetuation of unhealthy living conditions can be eliminated. In order to ensure quality services for Bridge clients, research and analysis have been conducted to observe where finances and additional services are needed. With Bridge’s unwavering success since 1970, the continued investigation by Bridge’s financial team is pivotal to maintaining this organization and continuing to make a difference in Boston’s at risk youth.
2. SERVICES Bridge provides the following services to promote a better living situation for its clients2: 1. Counseling for substance abuse, family and peer relationships, survival needs, and other crisis intervention services. 2. Emergency Youth Shelter provides homeless young adults ages 18 to 24 with shelter, food, clothing, meals, and safety. 3. GED and Career Development helps students who have not completed high school earn their GED. 4. Maternal Group Home provides housing, life-skills training, and support to homeless pregnant or parenting girls ages 18 to 21 and their children. 5. Medical and Dental Care includes weekly dental clinics, medical clinics, and HIV/STD testing and counseling to youth ages 14 to 24. 6. Mobile Medical Van offers basic first aid, referrals, and health advice. It can be found at Park Street, Copley Square, and Harvard Square every weekday evening. 7. Runaway Services provides support to runaway youth and their families and is the primary responder for calls to the National Runaway Switchboard for the Boston area. 8. Transitional Day Program includes basic survival services such as food, health care, and a safe place to go to get off the streets. 9. Transitional Living Program provides housing, life-skills training, and support to homeless youth ages 18 to 21. 10.Warming Center is open every night, including weekends, from 10:00 PM to 6:45 AM, offering homeless youth warmth, safety, and supportive adults who can help.
2. Utilization of Services Summary3 During the past year, Bridge served more than 2,600 youth through the range of services we provide to help young people move from troubled to transformed and take control of their lives. Below are some recent program outcomes: •
The Mobile Medical Van made 2,861 contacts with youth ages 14 to 24 and 8,479 contacts with adults 25 and over. Some 715 youth received medical care on the van.
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Street outreach staff made 1,074 contacts with youth ages 14 to 24. •
311 youth participated in the Transitional Day Program.
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215 youth participated in the GED Program, and 36 youth received their GED.
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74 youth and 16 infants resided at and received services through Bridge’s Maternal Group Home and the Transitional Living Program.
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135 youth utilized Bridge’s Emergency Youth Shelter.
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Bridge staff completed 701 new intakes.
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173 youth received in-house medical and/or dental services.
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1,345 youth received counseling services.
4. MARKET ANALYSIS SUMMARY
Although there has been some success in alleviating homelessness in the Boston area, there is still much that needs to be done. According to the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless4, the following statistics were given pertaining to Bridge’s targeted homeless and impoverished youths: As of December 13, 2013, there were over 4,200 families with children and pregnant women in Massachusetts’ Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter program. 2,147 of these families with children were being sheltered in motels. This number does not count those families who are doubled up, living in unsafe conditions, or sleeping in their cars-- or many of the 5,400 families who will time out of the state's HomeBASE rental assistance program during fiscal year 2014 • 2011 data from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE), released in August 2012, estimates that 13,157 high schoolaged students in public schools are experiencing homelessness on any given day in Massachusetts. This number includes an estimated 5,853 unaccompanied high school students who are experiencing homelessness and not in the custody of their parent or legal guardian • ESE estimates that there are over 44,000 students of all ages experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in Massachusetts public schools. • According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s September 2012 American Community Survey report, the overall poverty rate in Massachusetts increased to 11.6 percent in 2011 from 11.4 percent in 2010. This includes an estimated 738,514 people in Massachusetts living in households that fell below the poverty threshold ($23,021 for a family of four) Bridge’s marketing analysis is primarily focused on the homeless and impoverished population in Boston. •
*Note: This section would also include graphic depictions (pie charts, bar charts, line charts, etc) of Bridge’s marketing analysis of Bridge’s target Boston population. • ◦
5. STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION SUMMARY Bridge depends on private donations and volunteers to provide cohesive
services for those in need.5 Bridge cherishes the generous individuals who volunteer their time to make a difference in the lives of homeless and at-risk youth. Volunteers are the heart of Bridge services. Bridge offers three principal ways in which volunteers may help transform the lives of vulnerable young people: •
Coordinate a drive
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Engage youth through the Youth Empowerment Program
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Provide medical and dental care
We have also implemented various links on the website for people to get involved in Bridge. A link to “Client stories” allows people to put names to the numerous faces that Bridge has helped. There is also a “donate now” link for people that would rather donate money or necessary items. Lastly, Facebook and Twitter links allow interested volunteers or donors to access the latest news and events occurring at Bridge. *Note: The statistics regarding the current number of volunteers, what service the volunteer for, and the number of volunteers still needed would be graphically displayed here.
6. Management Summary Paid staff* consists of: • 5 counselors for scheduled counseling sessions • 2 Emergency Youth Shelter supervisors • 2 GED Teachers • 2 Maternal Group Home counselors
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1 doctor, 1 nurse for Mobile Medical Van 1 Runaway Services receptionist 2 Transitional Day supervisors 2 Transitional Living Program counselors 2 Warming Center supervisors
*The staff is paid based on wages set by the State of Massachusetts Volunteer staff includes: • 6 GED volunteer tutors • 4 Maternal Group Home volunteers • 12 doctors, 25 nurses, and 40 volunteers for medical and dental clinics
7. Financial Plan Financial situation based on governmental grants and private donors determined and shown graphically. The services that are utilized the most will also determine how much money a particular service will get.
8. Appendix Miscellaneous, pertinent information, such as Rape Center Crisis, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, and National Runaway Services contact information
REFERENCES: 1, 3. Bridge Over Troubled Waters. Recent Program Outcomes. 19 December 2013. Web. http://www.bridgeotw.org/recent-program-outcomes.html 2. Bridge Over Troubled Waters. Services Overview. 19 December 2013. Web. http://www.bridgeotw.org/services-overview.html 4. Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. Basic Facts on Homelessness in Massachusetts and Across the Country. 19 December 2013. Web. http://www.mahomeless.org/advocacy/basic-facts 5. Bridge Over Troubled Waters. Volunteering. 19 December 2013. Web. http://www.bridgeotw.org/volunteer.html hh
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People
Warming Center
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Staff Board of Directors
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Benefit CD Released Spring 2013 Newsletter Published Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Act Passes Bridge Launches New Website Bridge Named Champion in Action Bridge Honored by Bank of America
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