The Orlando Bridge TC/Work Release

Director: Raul S. Banasco

Mr. Banasco joined the Bridges of America Leadership Team in June 2011 as the Facility Director of The Bradenton Bridge and in January 2012 became the Facility Director at The Orlando Bridge. He spent 25 years in public service at the city, state and county levels. Mr. Banasco began his career in the in 1986 with the New York State Juvenile Justice Department. In 1988, he joined the Florida State Department of Corrections (FDOC) as a Correctional Officer at the Central Florida Reception Center. During his 19 years with FDOC, he served as a Correctional Officer, Classification Officer, Probation Officer, Probation Supervisor, Classification Supervisor, Assistant Warden of Operations and Programs, and Warden. In addition, he served as the Director of Staff Development for over 28,000 employees throughout the State of Florida, both for Institutions and Probation & Parole services. In October 2006, he was appointed as Major of the Orange County Corrections Department in Orlando, Florida. In September 2008, he was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief of the Osceola County Corrections Department, where he served until retiring in December 2010.

Mr. Banasco earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Iona College in New York and continued his education at Florida Atlantic University with a Master of Arts Degree in Public Administration. He is also a Certified Public Manager, Certified Jail Manager, Certified Corrections Executive, and a Certified National Auditor for the American Correctional Association.

He is an active member of several national and local professional organizations in the area of corrections and law enforcement. He is currently a member of the American Correctional Association Affirmative Action Committee (since 2002), American Jail Association, North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents and Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency. He is also a member of the Central Florida Y.M.C.A. Achievers Board of Directors. He is a founding member of the National Organization of Hispanics in Criminal Justice and served as President of the organization from 2006 to 2009. Most recently he was elected to serve on the Executive American Correctional Association Board of Governors as the Large Ethic Minority Board Member for the 2010 – 2014 term.

Mr. Banasco firmly believes that offenders deserve an opportunity to prove that with positive programming and their commitment to self-help programs, they can achieve "change for a brighter future".

Site History

On April 1, 2009, The Orlando Bridge Transitional and Work Release Center opened its doors to receive 100 inmates from the Department of Corrections. Since then, we have increased our capacity to 288 inmates: 206 in Work Release and 82 in TC. We diligently work to prepare these inmates for a successful transition back into the community.

TOBTC is a therapeutic community and Work Release Center providing an atmosphere of positive peer pressure and positive role models. Our inmates/clients are carefully screened and the majority has admitted to prior substance abuse and/or has been convicted of a drug charge. The Program is designed to seek out and eliminate the root cause of the substance abuse problem and provide healing for the whole person: spirit, body, and mind. We have multiple alternatives to meet the needs of clients with diverse treatment issues. We offer academic, vocational, as well as psycho educational classes, processing groups, and individual counseling to each resident.

The Orlando Bridge Transitional Center is one of the many programs/facilities that are a part of Bridges or America. Bridges of America has a long and successful history of trustworthy service to the State of Florida. There has been a sound, mutually rewarding working relationship between the Bridge rehabilitation programs and the Florida Department of Corrections since 1976. During the long tenure of this partnership, The Bridges have embraced the strict guidelines and regulations of the Florida Department of Corrections. They have, in fact, passed every inspection and fulfilled every contract for client services.

Bridges of America’s goal/mission is to equip a client with the necessary life skills to increase his chances of successful integration into the community without returning to the destructive behavior that led to his arrest. We strive to increase the offender's self-esteem, self-reliance, and sobriety, as well as reducing the hostility brought on by ignorance and despair. We also assist the client with reintegration into society by providing referrals for job placement, housing, and available community.

Value Added Services

• HIV/AIDS Education
• Adult Basic Education
• General Education Degree
• Father Read
• EFNEP Food and Nutrition
• Nurturing Fathers Group
• Toastmasters International
• Training Champions
• Meditation Training
• Smoking Cessation
• Bridgebuilders
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• 12 and 12
• Purpose Driven Life Class
• Iglesia Christiana Pentecostal De Orlando mentors
• International College of Ministry
• Contemplative Preyer
• Prison Fellowship
• St. Luke's Methodist Church
• Worship Service at the Cathedral of St. Dismas
• Bible Study

Community Services

• Assisting The Society of St. Andrew church in separating and packaging fruits and vegetables that are donated from local farmers.
• Volunteering with The Second Harvest Food Bank.
• Currently in the process of adopting a nursing home in which our staff and inmates will donate their time and skills to assist the staff and residents at the nursing home.

Achievements

• A+ Computer Certification Program has been implemented.
• Florida Ready To Work Program now in progress.
• Osha Safety Certification Class established.
• 100% score on DCF Audits
• 100% score on DOC Operational Audits