Positive Youth Development Programs

The Bridge's Positive Youth Development programs focus on young people's strengths and offer them hope for the future.

Students at lunch table

Positive Youth Development Programs

The Bridge Family Center’s Positive Youth Development (PYD) program is comprised of a constellation of services and activities for teens, both in and outside of school. Mentors and youth counselors work with teens one-on-one as well as with school administrators and teachers. Teens participate in after-school and evening activities at the West Hartford Teen Center. For those who are interested in more commitment, the Teen Leadership Committee focuses on community service. The Bridge Counseling services are also available for youth who need more targeted therapeutic intervention. Support groups are held at the middle and high schools. Examples of youth groups are:

  • Sisterhood Girls 
  • Middle School Boys
  • Children of Divorce and Separation 
  • Anti-bullying 
  • Lunch Clubs

What unites all these distinct services is the focus on adult-teen connection, relationship, and communication. Counseling and group activities often extend beyond the school year, into the summer months.

Circumventing Peer Pressure

As psychological pressure on teens in general seems to be growing, social pressure to conform to group norms is also on the rise. This is not new and is always the case with teens looking for peer acceptance and a sense of community. What has changed are parenting abilities, external factors that support or impede parents' ability to guide their children, and social influences that challenge family patterns and beliefs. When the bonds between adults and teens are murky, the possibility of at-risk behavior grows. Intervention is needed to help teens see that there are safe and positive ways to connect with others that are of benefit to themselves and their community.

Long-Term Program Goals

The fundamental goal of Positive Youth Development hasn't changed over time. Youth still need substantial structure and support from knowledgeable adults so they can develop the skills and inner resources to manage life's complications. The Bridge staff works to help teens develop life skills including decision-making, communication, stress management, and a sense of positive self-regard so that they choose healthy rather than harmful behaviors.

Teenagers laughing together

Lasting Impressions

Through the various activities offered by PYD, students learn to better navigate the challenges of this stressful time (i.e., their teen years). They find support and build their self-esteem, they learn that there are ways to deal with their anxiety and fear, ways to identify their confusing emotions and come to terms with their stress without projecting it onto the world or holding it too closely inside themselves.

By engaging teens in meaningful activities that also involve thoughtful discussions about life in general and specific problems in particular, the groundwork is laid for long-term success. Teens are learning that there are alternatives to early sexual encounters, drug and substance use, delinquency, and other enticing behaviors that at first seem like they will fill their need for connection and closeness with others. Through their participation in PYD, teens come to realize they have the power to make choices about their behavior. Over time, some subtle and surprising changes can happen: a teen's behavior in the classroom can improve; their involvement and leadership in groups might increase, and their ability to mentor and share their learning with other teens might also increase.