Bridge Program

The State University of New York University Center for Academic and Workforce Development, through funding from the New York State Legislature, has administered the Bridge program since 1993. Bridge is designed to help end the cycle of public assistance dependency and increase the economic self-sufficiency of unemployed, underemployed, and youth recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Bridge is currently housed in SUNY’s 10 Educational Opportunity Centers, one state college, 5 community colleges, and 3 community-based organizations. The 19 Bridge programs, operating in 35 counties across the state, offer a range of programs and services that fall into three categories:

pre-employment services which use a holistic approach to address the personal, educational, and employment related needs of TANF recipients

post-employment services which use a holistic approach to address the personal, educational, and employment related needs of TANF recipients who are employed full- or part-time

youth services that address the unique academic and career needs of at–risk youth

Since its inception, Bridge has been designed to:

• engage participants in programs and services with the primary focus on employment
• serve as a key resource in helping local departments of social services engage TANF recipients in work activities
• add value to local communities by building upon existing partnerships
• create programs leading to career ladder employment in high demand, high wage jobs
• develop customized education and training programs for public assistance recipients
• customize programs and services for local employers

• 5,735 participants received Bridge programs and services
• 82 percent of all participants were female
• 18 percent of all Bridge participants were men
• 32 percent of participants were Black – non-Hispanic women and 31 percent were White – non-Hispanic women
• 6 percent of participants were Black – non-Hispanic men and 6 percent were White – non-Hispanic men
• 2,062 women and 74 men had children under the age of 6
• 2,502 women and 445 men were unemployed at time of enrollment in Bridge
• 1,136 women and men were not in the labor force at time of enrollment