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Tele-health via Zoom at the Bridge |
| | Due to COVID-19 the Bridge recognized that our outpatient programs would not be able to meet in person for the foreseeable future. As we transitioned to telehealth, the Bridge was faced with the challenge of providing groups remotely. After a lot of planning, learning and reconfiguring, the Bridge now runs 15 virtual groups per week.
Jess is part of the Personalized Recovery Oriented Services program (PROS), a comprehensive model that integrates rehabilitation, treatment and support services to promote recovery and achievement of personal goals for people with serious mental illness. As a drama therapist, Jess runs groups such as Dramatic Expression, All the World’s a Stage and Coping with Anger.
To understand potential barriers to tele-health, the PROS team sent surveys to clients and staff, asking about access and comfort with technology and interest in remote groups. Staff got a chance to experiment with Zoom, including playing a remote game of Pictionary!
The daily groups have a ‘drop in’ policy and usually have 5-15 participants. Groups include: Mindfulness & Meditation, Coping with Isolation through Connections, Move Your Body and Cooking on a Budget: Quarantine Edition.
Jess said talking with clients first about any barriers preventing them from participating in remote groups made the switch go smoothly. Jess and the rest of the PROS team, will continue to run remote groups and keep our clients engaged until we can all be together again.
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| Please Support Our Virtual 2020 Annual Dinner Challenge
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| The Bridge cancelled its annual Partner’s in Caring Awards dinner which was planned for June 2, 2020. This loss of revenue, at a time when our expenses have increased substantially due to the COVID-19 crisis, will have a tremendous impact on our financial resources over the coming year.
Our unexpected costs due to COVID-19 will soon reach $1,000,000.
Our goal for this challenge is to raise $250,000 by June 30, 2020.
Our Board of Directors has generously agreed to match $100,000 of this amount. Please consider making a donation in lieu of attending our annual dinner, to help offset the following emergency costs in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
• Over $200,000 for medical and other essential supplies to help protect our front-line staff and help keep our facilities clean and sanitized. Care packages and food deliveries help our clients follow the “stay at home” order and health and safety guidelines.
• More than $250,000 per month for personnel costs for overtime, incentive and sick pay for staff to fill in extra shifts as colleagues are out on sick leave and to ensure that our programs remain open.
• $500,000 for technology equipment and connectivity to provide tele-health which is crucial to helping clients maintain their psychiatric and physical health stability thereby reducing unnecessary hospitalization and emergency room use.
We are truly grateful for all your help thus far and hope you contribute to this special appeal.
All donations are 100% tax deductible and will help us continue to provide our essential services to our vulnerable population.
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