Bridges of Hope’s Transitional Service Program is targeted at providing a “Bridge” as in our name to individuals who have feelings of hopelessness due to the time spent away from the community or a home.  Our target is to assist those individuals who have lost natural supports needed to get out of the hospital and stay out.  Unfortunately, many individuals who reside in Psychiatric Hospitals have no means or supports to meet their basic needs once discharged. This, we find, is the largest barrier to maintaining a healthy and safe lifestyle when the clinical support(s) are no longer available down the hall and the number one fear is, “Where will I sleep tonight, How will I eat?”.  It is our mission to first meet the basic physical and mental health needs to reduce stress and desperation and then target improving overall independence and development of coping skills.  Transitional Services provide immediate residential assistance in a variety of environments ranging from extremely structured to mild-moderate support depending on the individual’s needs.  In most situations the individual will begin the program by being discharged to the more structured environment where he/she resides in an apartment that is monitored by a team of staff within the unit complex.  The help center has staff available to help with medication administration, house checks, and provides assistance depending on level of need such as cooking, shopping for food, cleaning laundry etc..  Bridges of Hope’s Hospital Liaison assists with immediate linking to entitlements and insurance as well as emergency medical and mental health treatment and medication by working together with hospital staff to provide transition planning prior to discharge date.  Once the individual has obtained entitlements,  Bridges of Hope offers a payee service for our clients to learn budgeting techniques and management of finances to avoid eviction or other negative ramifications.  When our client has completed his/her goals and developed more independent coping skills, he/she will receive assistance with moving to a more independent living arrangement and establish a relationship with a landlord to build creditability.  Transitional Services are available to Adults who have a history of Chronic Institutionalizations and are currently in a Hospital or other institutional setting and in need of assistance with coming home (to the community).