The Bridge is a program of New River Valley Community Services. All treatment services are offered through or in conjunction with NRVCS.

Who is eligible?
• Individuals with involvement in the criminal justice system who have mental illness.
   While persons with substance abuse issues are not denied entry to the
   program, substance abuse cannot be the only difficulty a person is experiencing.

              - Individuals may have pending legal charges;

              - Individuals may be sentenced into the program;

              - Individuals may be ordered into treatment as a condition of probation.

• Individuals must be residents of Floyd County, Giles County, Montgomery County,
   Pulaski County, or Radford City, and their charges contained to the Courts in these
   same areas.

• Individuals who have already been sentenced to serve a jail term, or who have
   current or past charges that are sexual in nature, are not eligible.

• All enrolled individuals must be invested in working on their own recovery.

How long does a participant receive services?
• Participants commit to a minimum of six months of services. The maximum amount of
   time that a participant can receive services in the program is twelve months from the
   date of enrollment, regardless of case disposition or outcome.

What services are offered?
• The Bridge Program is a transitional program that is meant to assist an individual
   between the time he/she is released from jail to the time he/she is stable and able to
   obtain ongoing services to meet his/her long-term needs.

• The Bridge Program currently offers the following treatment groups:

          Seeking Safety: This group is for individuals with a history or trauma.
          This group also addresses substance abuse.

          Self-Improvement & Change: This group addresses substance abuse and
          criminal behavior.

          MRT: This group uses steps and exercises to challenge and re-structure morals
          and thinking patterns.

          Something for Nothing: This is an 8-week shoplifting and theft group for
          individuals with past or current charges that fit within that category.

          Anger Management: This 12-week group examines thinking errors that lead to
          inappropriate anger states and teaches skills for safely managing appropriate
          anger.

In addition we offer the following services based on your need, level of participation and level of attendance:

Individual counseling

Group counseling

Psychiatric Services

Medication Assistance

Case Management - Assistance for obtaining community resources.

Limited Transportation Services

Substance Abuse Services – Random drug screens are administered randomly for therapeutic purposes.

What can I do to get someone enrolled in the Bridge Program?
Call Heather Custer or Dave Rowe at the numbers listed on this page for more information. We can contact the jail and request an opportunity for a clinician to screen candidates for the Program, or you may contact your attorney or probation officer.

If an individual is eligible to receive services from the Bridge Program, the program's case manager will follow up with the client’s defense attorney to request a bond hearing or contact your probation officer.

Monthly progress reports are sent to the Court, the defense attorney, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, any supervisory bodies (i.e. probation, pre-trial services, Department of Social Services), that describe the individual’s progress and participation in the program, and the results of any drug screening assessments.