Children & Youth

Building Bridges to Success

School Based Youth Services Program - New Brunswick Bridge

The New Brunswick Bridge program helps students overcome obstacles, discover their strengths and become prepared for adult life.

The School Based Youth Services Program (SBYSP): New Brunswick Bridge, is a comprehensive social service program that provides individual counseling, group counseling, class presentations, youth development and employment preparation. Using a pedagogical and collaborative approach, each school is assigned a team consisting of a Site Administrator, a Mental Health Clinician and a Youth Development Specialist.

The mission of SBYSP is to improve the life prospects of New Brunswick Public School students. We work to assure academic success by building on the students’ strengths and supporting them in overcoming obstacles. Our New Brunswick site is part of a statewide network that began in 1987 to help young people navigate their adolescent years, finish their education, obtain skills leading to employment or continuing education, and graduate healthy and drug free.

SBYSP is located in New Brunswick High School, as well as Lord Stirling Community School, McKinley Community School, and Roosevelt Elementary School.

OUR IMPACT

For 2016 – 2018

442

children & youth were enrolled

25+

community service hours were served by campers

91%

community service hours were served by campers

74%

daily attendance rate; compared to 65% nationally for similar camps

35%

of the campers were female; more than double the national average for co-ed soccer programs

50+

high school students were provided a paid position as junior counselors

20%

of attendees never played soccer before

92%

of all campers said they want to continue to play soccer

For September 2017 – June 2018

459

different students reached

281

students received group counseling in topics such as mindful awareness and empowerment

265

students received mental health counseling

1876

students attended various LGBTQ and educational events and clothing/food/toy drives

6

students completed the instructional portion of the Youth Intervention Program

220

students attended Soccer Camp

For 2016 – 2018

442

children & youth were enrolled

25+

community service hours were served by campers

91%

community service hours were served by campers

74%

daily attendance rate; compared to 65% nationally for similar camps

35%

of the campers were female; more than double the national average for co-ed soccer programs

50+

high school students were provided a paid position as junior counselors

20%

of attendees never played soccer before

92%

of all campers said they want to continue to play soccer

100%

of student parents have remained in school

86%

of student parents graduated from high school

98%

delayed having a second child until after graduation

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Young girls doing kicking drills

Young boys stretching and warming up

Two youth going for the ball

Working on their footwork and agility

A young boy practices scoring a goal

Passing the ball to a teammate

A young girl throws the ball in to start a play

Captain Mike Bobadilla with a camp attendee

Camp attendees and counselors

More camp attendees with their trainers and counselors

Focused on her work

Learning to make a penalty kick

All of the camp's attendees, counselors and trainers

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

Camp attendees preparing for soccer skills camp

KEY ISSUES

SBYSP was started in 1987 in partnership with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), to help the young people of New Brunswick. Our goal is to assure academic success by building on students’ strengths and supporting them in overcoming obstacles. Specifically, we help them:

  • Navigate their adolescent years
  • Finish their education
  • Obtain skills leading to employment or continuing education
  • Graduate healthy and drug free

We do this by providing the following workshops and services:

  • Individual and Group Counseling
  • Psychoeducational Groups
  • Healthy Youth Development
  • Case Management/Family Services
  • In-Classroom Educational Workshops
  • Employment Services
  • Recreation
  • Pregnancy, Teen Dating Violence, Substance Abuse, & Suicide Prevention
  • Referrals to community-based services providers and other school program

PROGRAM Partners

This program is funded by the NJ State Department of Children & Families and is located in four schools in the New Brunswick school district. SBYSP is a partnership between the NJ State Department of Children & Families, New Brunswick Board of Education, Youth Advocate Program, and New Brunswick Tomorrow.