The Bradenton Bridge TC/Work Release

Director: Angela D. Ashley

Angela D. Ashley came to Bridges Of America upon retiring from the Florida Department of Corrections in 2005. Although she worked all areas of secure facilities during her 23 years , her passion always remained with community facilities and especially female offenders..Over the years Ms. Ashley was invited to speak at national conferences (ACA and National Institute of Justice) regarding effective programs at this level. This experience has been vital to the development of the Bradenton Bridge.

Under Ms. Ashley’s direction the Bradenton Bridge has achieved several distinctions including a full-fledged International Toastmaster’s chapter (Toastmasters In Transition) as well as an annual reunion event where alumni return to share their testimonies as well as recommit to their recovery.

Ms. Ashley’s core belief is that by assisting the clients who come to Bradenton Bridge to become strong confident women we will have a generational impact. These women will return to their families and their children will reap the benefit.

Site Description

The Bradenton Bridge began in July 2005 as part of Bridges of America, a nonprofit corporation in partnership with the Department of Corrections. We are in the business of rehabilitating prisoners and reducing recidivism, the chance that inmates will return to prison. TBB is an innovative "therapeutic community" that provides intensive substance abuse counseling and life skills classes so that prisoners can successfully reenter society and become productive citizens.

TBB intensively works with 120 women prisoners to get their lives back on track. Addiction is at the core of our inmates' problems, so our drug and alcohol treatment teaches problem solving and relapse-prevention skills. Rigorous classes include domestic violence prevention, criminal thinking and victim awareness, parenting classes, grief counseling as well as health and nutrition classes.

For the first time in many of their lives, inmates have positive classroom experiences and the chance to learn skills to get and keep jobs. Adult Basic Education, preparation for the GED, and the Ready to Work program trains inmates to compete for stable employment. ServSafe Certification and the Culinary Arts Program certified by the American Culinary Federation, along with hands-on kitchen experience hones skills for long-term employment in the food industry. Our work-release program helps the women gain needed work experience and make valuable community contacts. Our Toastmasters club teaches confidence and success in communicating.

The Bradenton Bridge’s mission is to help women prisoners reinvent their lives so they can become hard-working, tax-paying citizens. Statistics have shown that a combination of education and recovery programs during and after release reduces the chance of returning to prison by 30%. We prepare our residents to see themselves as winners, as responsible people who will make good decisions for themselves and their families.

Value Added Services

• Family Development
• Victim Awareness
• Anger Management
• Criminal Thinking
• Addiction Education
• Financial Management
• Employment Re-Entry Counseling
• Domestic Violence
• Self-Esteem
• Adult Basic Education
• GED
• Grief Counseling
• Bible Study
• Mentoring
• Therapeutic Community Concepts
• Community Re-Entry Counseling
• Housing Assistance
• Female Health Counseling
• Arts and Crafts
• Couples Counseling

Community Services

Achievements

• The Bradenton Bridge consistently scores excellent ratings from the Florida Department of Corrections and the Florida Department of Children and Families.
• The Bradenton Bridge has partnered with local organizations (such as Hope Family Services, Manatee Glens and Manatee Technical Institute) to expand value added services.
• The Bradenton Bridge gives back to the community through volunteer work. Some of the recipients have been the American Cancer Society, Manatee Operations Troop Support, Habitat for Humanity and the Manatee County Adopt-A-Road program.
• Toastmasters In Transition is a full Chapter supported strictly by the residents. In June 2010 the Bradenton Bridge will have met requirements to become a President’s Distinguished Chapter (one of eight in the world and the first in a correctional setting).
• The Bradenton Bridge has developed a strong core of volunteers who average over 100 hours a month in providing programs.
• Participants in the work release program consistently earn more per hour than other sites.