Bridges Homeward Receives $300,000 Grant From Boston Children’s Hospital

Bridges Homeward is excited to announce that we have been awarded a $300,000 grant from Boston Children’s Hospital! This three-year grant will help to ensure that youth have strong, safe parenting relationships to support them as they transition out of foster care into adulthood. Transitioning out of foster care without legal permanency as a young adult can be a vulnerable and terrifying experience. But when youth have adult connections in their life to support and nurture them through that process, they have more successful outcomes and lead happier lives. 

The funds from this generous grant will allow us to enhance our permanency practice, retain key permanency support staff, and continue to provide staff and youth with essential training. Training is a key component of this grant. Through this grant, we will be partnering with two leading agencies in Massachusetts child welfare: Silver Lining Mentoring and Plummer Youth Promise. Silver Lining Mentoring will provide older teens in Bridges Homeward’s care with their Learn and Earn mentoring and life skills series. We have seen in the past how Silver Lining Mentoring’s programs buoy our youth as they transition out of foster care, and we are excited to continue this partnership. 

Meanwhile, Plummer Youth Promise will provide permanency-focused training and consulting to our agency. Plummer is a leader in permanency practice in our state, and we are excited to continue to learn from them. Our staff will be equipped with the best resources and knowledge to help our youth find their permanency.  

This grant is part of Boston Children’s Hospital’s commitment to prioritizing projects that advance racial and health equity. One of the most important aspects of this grant is the impact it will have on non-white youth in the foster care system. More than half of the youth our agency serves are BIPOC. Every day in our work, we see the impact that the cycles of poverty and health inequity perpetuated by systemic racism have on youth, starting from the time they’re infants. But when BIPOC youth have safe, secure, nurturing parenting relationships, they are better equipped to pursue their goals, find their own permanency, and live healthier, happier lives. 

Our grant is part of Boston Children’s Hospital’s Collaboration for Community Health. We are a part of their “Healthy Youth Development” initiative which funds organizations that provide trauma-informed, youth-centered programming and services.  

Click here to learn more about Boston Children’s Collaboration for Community Health.