THE BRIDGELINE

PRE-VOCATIONAL DAY PROGRAM THE BRIDGELINE PROVIDES A PRE-VOCATIONAL DAY PROGRAM SERVING RESIDENTS OF CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY AND 13 SURROUNDING COUNTIES. MEMBERS CAN LEARN VALUABLE WORK AND SOCIAL SKILLS TO ACHIEVE VOCATIONAL AND/OR INDEPENDENT LIVING GOALS. THE STRUCTURE IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE AND EMPLOYABILITY OF BRAIN INJURY SURVIVORS BY FOCUSING ON SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND COMPENSATORY STRATEGIES. SKILL TRAINING INCLUDES ADMINISTRATIVE AND KITCHEN MAINTENANCE WORK, AND ALSO HOW TO INTERACT WITH CO-WORKERS, AND TO COMPLETE TASKS. MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN A WORK UNIT VOLUNTEERING FOR TASKS THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF THE BRIDGELINE PLACE - FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE HIRING OF STAFF, TO ADVOCATING FOR BRAIN INJURY SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, TO WRITING A NEWSLETTER ARTICLE OR PREPARING LUNCH. PARTICIPANTS BENEFIT FROM A COLLEGIAL, PEER RELATIONSHIP AND THROUGH THIS RELATIONSHIP, MEMBERS RECEIVE NECESSARY SUPPORT WHILE STILL MAINTAINING OWNERSHIP OVER THE PLANNING OF THEIR SERVICE THROUGH THE BRIDGELINE PLACE AND THE COURSE OF THEIR REHABILITATION.

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM WITHIN OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM WE PROVIDE SUPPORTED LIVING IN OUR TWO HOMES IN A FAMILY-LIKE SETTING, WHEREIN PERSONS WITH BRAIN INJURIES WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE REMAIN DEPENDENT MEMBERS IN THE HOUSEHOLDS OF THEIR ORIGIN OR AS INSTITUTIONAL CLIENTS LIVE TO THE GREATEST DEGREE POSSIBLE AS INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. TRAINED STAFF LIVES IN WITH RESIDENTS AS FULL-TIME RESIDENTIAL CAREGIVER, FACILITATE THEIR PATH THROUGH INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-DETERMINATION TOWARD PERSONAL GROWTH AND ENGAGED CITIZENRY. STAFF RUNS HOUSEHOLDS TO CREATE THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITIES AND ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL NEEDS FOR RESIDENTS AND ADDRESS THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS WITH THE GOAL TO TRANSITION THEM INTO INDEPENDENT LIVING. TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, WE OFFER STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES, RELEVANT AND SPECIFIC SKILL TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO SET ACHIEVABLE LIFE GOALS. RESIDENTS HAVE CHOSEN TO HOLD A MONTHLY BOOK CLUB (MEMORY TRAINING), MANAGE THEIR OWN LIBRARY, AND SUGGEST OUTINGS. OUR RESIDENTS TYPICALLY HOLD A REGULAR JOB OR A REGULAR VOLUNTEER POSITION, ATTEND CLASSES AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY, INTERACT SOCIALLY WITH MEMBERS OF OTHER HOUSEHOLDS IN THE BRIDGELINE COMMUNITY, TRAVEL FOR VACATIONS, PARTICIPATE IN THE GENERAL UPKEEP OF THE HOMES IN WHICH THEY LIVE, AND HELP OUT AT THE OTHER BRIDGELINE HOMES WITH VARIOUS THINGS.