What’s New
at Bridges Homeward
Shane and Howard’s Adoption Story
Congratulations to Howard and Shane who will be finalizing Shane’s adoption on National Adoption Day in 2024!
Changes and challenges in child welfare practice
Before she was the Director of the Office of the Child Advocate for Massachusetts, Maria Mossaides served as Executive Director of our very agency from 2008 to 2015. For our 150th anniversary, we are honored to have her share her reflections on some of the biggest shifts in child welfare practice throughout her career.
Edward Finds Stability in Fatherhood
When Edward moved into our Independent Living progam at age 19, he had two goals: to be a good father for his daughter, and to afford living on his own. Was he able to meet those goals?
Adopt or Foster with Bridges Homeward This Fall!
Are you ready to offer a safe, nurturing, loving home to a youth in foster care? Then you should apply to join our upcoming Massachusetts Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP) training series, starting this September! MAPP training is a required training course for all adoptive and foster parents.
Lindsay reconnects with her family
Due to the trauma she has lived through, Independent Living resident Lindsay’s ability to trust adults in her life has ebbed and flowed in the time that we’ve known her. Read about the progress she’s made in her three years in our Independent Living program.
A Focus on Foster Parents
In a given month, we receive 150 referrals from the Department of Children and Families for children who need foster care placement. Of the over 1000 referrals we received last year, we were able to place 9 youth. You can make a difference for these youth by becoming a foster parent with Bridges Homeward.
Reunifying Kyle with His Mother
June is National Reunification Month. Reunifying youth in foster care with their biological parents is an essential part of our work. Reunification sounds amazing, but what does it look like? The story of Kyle reunifying with his mom exemplifies some of the complications we see many families experience on their way to permanency.
Building Bridges, Building Families
Helping foster and adoptive parents to build their families is a huge honor for our agency. And one of the areas we work with foster and adoptive parents the most on is preparing them for caring for a child from a different racial or ethnic background.
Our Impact on Foster and Adoptive Families
Our Family Services program works with anyone who wants to become a foster or adoptive parent, from biological family members of children in foster care to folks with no personal connection to the child welfare system who just want to support youth. Our approach is efficient, inclusive, and totally supportive of our parents’ needs!
Find Us at Pride in Your Community This Year
We’re excited to participate in two major Pride festivals this year: Boston Pride for the People in Boston and North Shore Pride in Salem!
Alicia Wilson Wins the 2024 Vivienne Campbell Foster Parent of the Year Award
Alicia’s dedication to the youth in her care is extraordinary. Recently, she changed a young man’s life by committing to serve as his permanent foster home. Congratulations, Alicia!
Our Impact on Youth in Foster Care
We’ve offered intensive foster care services for youth in Massachusetts for over 100 years, albeit under different names. But what is our agency’s impact on youth in foster care? We talked to Intensive Foster Care Program Director Laqunda Nystrom to find out.
Maddie Made It Out of Intensive Foster Care
For National Foster Care Month, we’re proud to share this story that exemplifies our Intensive Foster Care team’s dedication to helping every child find permanency.
Adopt or Foster with Bridges Homeward This Spring!
Are you ready to offer a safe, nurturing, loving home to a youth in foster care? Then you should apply to join our upcoming Massachusetts Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP) training series, starting this April! MAPP training is a required training course for all adoptive and foster parents.
Spotlight on: Our Harbor Area Healthy Families Program
Today we’re spotlighting our impact on young and teen parents (ages 23 and younger) living in Chelsea, East Boston, Revere, Winthrop, and Charlestown! Read all about our Harbor Area Healthy Families Program.
Our Impact Supporting and Stabilizing Families in Greater Boston
“We’re here to plant seeds with our families,” says Family Support & Stabilization Director Thara Young. “Once we’re out of the picture those seeds are hopefully able to grow.” Read about Bridges Homeward’s impact in supporting families and helping them to stabilize!
Our Vision for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Our Executive Director Yoyo Yau outlines the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion at our agency and plans for how we will implement these values moving forward.
150 Years of History
For 150 years, we’ve built bridges between the youth and families we serve and the resources that help them stabilize, find love and safety, and pursue fulfilling lives.