The Orlando Bridge

Director: Karen Neis

Karen Neis has 21 years of experience in the field of substance abuse, criminal justice, and mental health. She has worked as a counselor in various levels of care to include chemical and alcohol detoxification, out-patient services, MICA (mentally ill, chemically addicted) day treatment services, TASC (treatment alternatives to street crimes), residential treatment, and intake substance abuse placement services. She has also had the experience of establishing and facilitating women- specific substance abuse groups, delivered prevention services to youths in foster care settings, and taught addiction education courses geared toward certification in the state of New York.

Karen began working at Bridges of America as the Clinical Director of The Sanford Bridge upon moving to Florida in 2005. One year later, she was promoted to the Executive Director of that facility. Ms. Neis remained in this position for approximately 3 1/2 years up to the date the center was down-sized due to The Department of Corrections financial cuts. Bridges of America offered her a position within the Quality Management Department where she stayed for a few short months and then moved back into programming as the Assistant Facility Clinical Director of The Orlando Bridge Transition Re-entry Center in August, 2009. In April, 2010 Karen accepted the position of Executive Director of The Orlando Bridge. She looks forward to many more exciting and fulfilling years with Bridges of America.

Site Description

The Orlando Bridge is a 91 bed (69 Orlando Bridge, 22 Sanford Bridge), residential, Theraputic Community for adult male felony drug offenders with substance abuse/dependency and/or criminal behavior issues. June 1, 2010 The Orlando Bridge celebrated its 30 year anniversary. The Orlando Bridge is located in Orange County and receives referrals from Orange, Lake, Polk, Seminole, Osceola, Indian River, and Brevard Counties.

The Orlando Bridge has 17 staff members to include The Executive Director, The Program Director, six Counselors, The Program Support Supervisor, five Program Support Technicians, The Employment Specialist, The Business Administrator, and The Transportation Technician. We have two assigned probation officers from the department of Corrections.

Value Added Services

• Employment Re-entry Counseling
• Job Placement Counseling
• GED Training
• Adult Basic Education Training
• Organized Recreation
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Ready To Work Program
• Other class topics include: Advanced Criminal Thinking, Mapping Your Steps, Smoking Cessation/Health Education, Parenting, Anger Management, Domestic Violence, Criminal Thinking Classes, Therapeutic Community Concepts, 12 and 12 Workshops, Family Development, Addiction Education, Life Skills, Youthful Offender Groups, Bridge Builders, Bible Study, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Food and Nutrition Education Program (FNEP)

Community Services

Achievements

• The Orlando Bridge continues to receive 100% gradings on all audits through The Department of Corrections and The Department of Children and Families.
• The Orlando Bridge began a relationship with The Men's Warehouse in 2008 which is now a wonderful asset company-wide
• Graduations are conducted quarterly followed by successful Family Day events.