Family Service Madison Inc

PROVIDE HUMAN SERVICES TO INSTILL HOPE AND PROMOTE WELLNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

BRIDGES FOR FAMILIES IS AN EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS OR DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES LIVING WITHIN THE MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1992. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE REQUIREMENTS AS DESCRIBED BY WI DHS CHAPTER 90 AND PART C IDEA. BRIDGES FOR FAMILIES IS COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING NATIONAL EARLY INTERVENTION BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS DEFINED BY RELATIONSHIP-BASED PRIMARY COACH AND TEAMING PRACTICES IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THE TEAM USES EVIDENCE-BASED EARLY INTERVENTION COACHING AND TEAMING PRACTICES TO SUPPORT THE CHILD AND PARENT IN THEIR EVERYDAY ROUTINES AND ACTIVITIES. TEAM MEMBERS DEVELOP PLANS HONORING THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE, RECOGNIZING PRIVILEGE AND SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION AND THE IMPACT ON MARGINALIZED GROUPS. THE SERVICE TEAM ARE SELECTED FROM THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINES: SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, SOCIAL WORKERS, INFANT MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS, FAMILY EDUCATION AND COUNSELING SERVICE PROVIDERS, INFANT MASSAGE SPECIALISTS, REGISTERED DIETICIAN/NUTRITION, TEACHER OF THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS, DEAF/HARD OF HEARING SPECIALIST.

COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES - PROVIDES OUTPATIENT AND IN-HOME THERAPY TO CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS, MANY RELATED TO THE EXPERIENCE OF TRAUMA. CLIENT EXPERIENCES ARE MANY BUT INCLUDE CHILDHOOD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, FAMILY SEPARATIONS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND LIFE TRANSITIONS RESULTING IN DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, ATTACHMENT ISSUES, DIFFICULTY FORMING AND MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS, DIFFICULTY WITH DEVELOPMENTAL TRANSITIONS, SELF-INJURIOUS BEHAVIORS, AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS, AND POOR ACADEMIC AND WORK PERFORMANCE. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM HAS OVER THIRTY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE PROVIDING TREATMENT TO PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, AND CLIENTS WHO USE AGGRESSION, BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS, MALE AND FEMALE. THIS HAS GIVEN US THE KNOWLEDGE BASE TO EFFECTIVELY WORK WITH BOTH COURT ORDERED AND VOLUNTARY CLIENTS WHO OFTEN ARE UNMOTIVATED TO PARTICIPATE IN TREATMENT.

DAY TREATMENT SERVICES - THIS DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH, MALE AND FEMALE, AGES 10-14 WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN THEIR HOME, SCHOOL, AND/OR COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS DUE TO MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES. THESE CHILDREN ARE UNABLE TO SUSTAIN FULL SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND REQUIRE AN INTENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION TO GET BACK ON TRACK. YOUTH MAY PRESENT BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND JUVENILE JUSTICE ISSUES. PROGRAM GOALS: TO STABILIZE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS THROUGH A STRUCTURED TREATMENT ENVIRONMENT, TO INCREASE THE CHILD'S LEVEL OF SUCCESS IN HOME, SCHOOL, AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS, TO SUPPORT PARENTS/CAREGIVERS TO MORE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE THEIR CHILD'S CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR, TO COORDINATE WITH SCHOOL PERSONNEL THROUGH REGULAR CONTACTS/VISITS TO SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATE THE CHILD INTO FULL DAY SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, TO BUILD ON THE CHILD'S STRENGTHS WHILE IMPROVING SOCIAL AND COMPETENCY SKILLS, TO DECREASE COMMUNITY/DELINQUENCY VIOLATIONS, AND TO ASSIST THE CHILD/FAMILY IN MEETING THEIR IDENTIFIED NEEDS AND GOALS.