The Bridge Over Troubled Waters is a comprehensive crisis intervention and prevention agency. Through vision, passion, and diligence, The Bridge has grown to become the 9th largest comprehensive crisis center in Texas; serving 20,000 people annually from southeast Harris county and surrounding areas. The Bridge offers an abundance of supportive services including: 75-bed Emergency Shelter, 24-hour confidential hotline, 24-hour outreach and advocacy, transitional housing and longterm housing, extensive non-residential services, on-site children's services (including childcare), community prevention and education training, case management, counseling, therapy, safety planning, support groups, and many others. All Bridge services are available at no-cost to those who reach out for support. To learn more about The Bridge or to find out more information, you can visit www.tbotw.org
Healthy Relationships is a Bridge sponsered program that works to prevent relationship abuse by providing prevention education to elementary students, secondary students, and teachers in collaboration with schools and community organizations in southeast Harris County. Teen dating violence is one of the fastest growing types of abuse in the U.S. (Teen Relationship Abuse Fact Sheet, March 1998). In fact, 1/3 of teens report experiencing abuse (including verbal/emotional) in romantic relationships (Halpern, Ph.D., American Journal of Public Health, 2001), and 1/5 of teen girls report being physically or sexually hurt by a dating partner (Silverman, Ph.D., Journal of the American Medical Association, October 2001).
These situations pose immediate danger and can be a precursor to domestic violence. An estimated 6 family violence incidents occur in Harris County hourly, and females age 16 to 24 experience the highest rates of nonfatal intimate partner violence (USDOJ, Bureau of Justice Statistics, October 2001).
Dating violence can begin so subtly that teens may not recognize its potential harm. In early stages, teens may excuse abuse because they misinterpret unhealthy behaviors as love, they fear rejection, or it has become a social norm. As the situation escalates, perpetrators use isolation, threats, and emotional, psychological, physical, or sexual abuse to exercise power and control. At this point, victims may feel they are alone and not reach out for help.
"Many of the contributing risk factors for sexual and physical assault have been identified in childhood and adolescence" indicating prevention should start early and continue through the teenage years (Wolfe and Jaffe, January 2003). The Bridge is the only agency of its kind in its service area and schools and organizations rely on The Bridge for assistance regarding abuse prevention.
Who I'd like to meet: The Bridge created this website as an opportunity for students and members of the community to support one another with a central goal--preventing (or breaking) the cycle of abuse. This is a safe place to express yourself and learn more about having a healthy relationship. This is where you can come if you have questions or want to get answers.
The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Inc.'s Friend Space (Top 6)
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Thank you for the add and for your support in this vital cause to increase the effort to EDUCATE our youth of the dangers of drugs and violence. Our future generation depends on the youth of today. Alcohol and Drugs are plaguing our society and we need to attack it head on where it is digging its roots; with our youth in our schools. Knowledge and Truth are the key to help them stay clean. They deserve the TRUTH about all of the drugs they will incounter. They are simply too smart to accept the old 'Just Say NO' adage. Todays teens want to KNOW for themselves, and a rebellious society we have created. They will seek the truth themselves and we must educate them with it. That's what they respect; That's what they deserve! A NEW D.A.R.E. REQUIRES A NEW APPROACH! Please help spread the word and tell your friends about D.A.R.E. Feel free to visit D.A.R.E. online at www. dare. com for more info on starting a D.A.R.E. program in your area and/or to show your support. Peace :-)
