Case Management
A Bridges social services coordinator meets with students individually on a regular basis, either at school or at the student center, to help with goals and find out if they need assistance with any area of their lives, scholastic, physical, or emotional. The social services coordinator then helps them find solutions to their challenges, and more importantly, serves as a caring adult to give them feedback.
Lifeskills
All Bridges students are required to attend bi-monthly lifeskills meetings. Held every other tuesday after noon, these meetings offer information about living on your own, from budgeting tips to self defense to etiquette. Transportation is provided and lunch is served.
Kay Absher Savings Account
The Kay Absher Savings Account, named in memory of the former director of the Norman Housing Authority, who was an enthusiastic champion for the program, is an incentive-based savings plan for all Bridges students. Students received financial rewards for following the core tenants of the programs: scholarship, school attendance, and extracurricular involvement.
Through the Absher account, students are credited $5 for each school week they have perfect attendance, $15 for each 9-week grade of C or above, $5 for participation in Bridges programs such as Lifeskills, and $5/month for joining school clubs or organizations. College prep work, such as taking the ACT, job shadowing, filling out financial aid paperwork, or taking a career interest assessment with our career coaching coordinator, earns an additional $10 per activity. Students also receive funds for leadership or extracurricular activities.
Students may acquire up to $800+ a year, payable only upon successful completion of the Bridges program.
Bootstrap Scholarship
Established by Norman businessman Jim Agar a dozen years ago, the Bootstrap program has given $100,000 in scholarships to date. Seniors who intend to go to technology school, community college, or a state college are eligible to receive $2,000 towards that goal. Bootstrap scholars don't necessarily make the best grades; they're the students who have "picked themselves up by their bootstraps" to make their lives successful.
Student Assistance Program
Living alone is tough and can be expensive. Bridges tries to help diminish those costs by offering help with school supplies, medical bills, car problems, or other unexpected expenses. We also provide emergency loans. A food and supplies pantry, available to any Bridges student, is located in the student center.
Career Coaching
Any senior is eligible to participate in the Career Coaching program. This program pairs students with trained volunteers who set up job shadows, help them decide which careers they like, and assist them in tasks toward that career, whether they need to fill out financial aid, apply to college, or get connected with a well-paying job. Career coaches can connect students with the resources they need to be successful. In fact, in spring 2009 62% of our career coaching students went on to higher education.
Bridges College Program
A limited number of Sooner Pointe apartments are available, space permitting, to Bridges students who are attending college. Students receive the same sliding-scale rent as high school students and have access to student center computer lab and laundry facilities. College requirements are slightly different and college students are not eligible for monetary rewards.
