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Copyright Ó 2007 Bridgeway Center, Inc. · 137 Hospital Drive NE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 · (850) 833-7500
Rape Crisis Center/Crisis Hotline · Fort Walton Beach (850) 244-9191 · Crestview (850) 682-0101
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Children's Mental Health Month
Bridgeway Center offers a one-on-one behind the wheel instruction program. It is designed for individuals in pursuit of a Florida Driver’s License or for licensed drivers that would like to improve their driving skills.
Bridgeway Center, Inc. Victim Services
Bridgeway Center, Inc. is the Rape Crisis Center for Okaloosa County. Bridgeway offers a variety of services for victim's of crime in both Fort Walton Beach and Crestview. Sexual assault victim's can obtain advocacy services 24/7 by contacting the Crisis Hotline/ Rape Crisis Center at 244-9191 in Fort Walton Beach and 682-0101 in Crestview.
This will generate contact with the volunteer Sexual Assault Trauma Team. An advocate can also be called by health care agencies, law enforcement, or individuals requesting services.
Victim's Services can be obtained for anyone who has been directly or indirectly involved in a crime of violence. The Victim's Services Coordinator will do an initial assessment, develop a safety plan, and make referrals as appropriate. Multiple internal and external services are available. Available referrals include: assistance in filling out victim compensation forms, individual and group therapy, psychiatric services, case management, possible residential treatment, inpatient treatment, referrals for immediate shelter, and assistance in obtaining injunctions.
Lessons are composed of individual instruction tailored to the needs of the new driver. Students must obtain a restricted driver’s license or learner’s permit prior to course commencement. Enroll by contacting our Driving School office in Ft. Walton Beach at 833-7474 or in Crestview at 689-7938.
The goals of the program are for the student to develop knowledge and skills needed to safely, legally, and economically operate a motor vehicle. An emphasis is placed on proper decision-making and risk management skills.
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Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)
Often times a victim may have difficulty facing the system due to current stressors, anxiety, and fear.
The Victim's Advocate is available to assist. For additional information, please call 833-7400 in Ft. Walton and 689-7810 in Crestview.
Law enforcement officers from Okaloosa and Walton Counties were invited to attend 40 hours of intense Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) 04/07/08 through 04/11/08. Those attending were 23 Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office deputies, 3 Department of Corrections officers, 2 Adult Protective Services investigators, 3 dispatchers, and the Forensic Coordinator from Cope Center in Walton County. The training, hosted by Bev Barbarisi, LMHC, Forensic Community Relations Director for Bridgeway Center, Inc. is designed to:
- Reduce the stigma related to mental illness.
- Treat mental illness as a disease, not a crime.
- Enable officers to understand and communicate effectively and safely with mentally ill individuals, especially during a period of crisis
- Provide officers the resources to appropriately refer people into the mental health/substance abuse treatment system.
- Increase officer, consumer, and community safety.
(Children's Mental Health Month is part of the National Mental Health Association's Campaign for America's Mental Health)
- Mental health is essential to children's overall health and well being.
- Mental disorders in children are real, common and treatable.
- Early identification, diagnosis, and treatment help children and families reach their full potential.
- Left untreated, children's mental health disorders can lead to problems at home, trouble in school, substance abuse, and even suicide
- Children's mental health matters!
Good mental health is essential to the overall health and well being of everyone! Children rely on the adults around them to have their needs met. To ensure the greatest possible success for children, the National Mental Health Association suggests the following actions:
Bridgeway Center, Inc. supports mental wellness for all of our citizens. None in our community are more important than the most vulnerable, children.
Families and communities need to know that: