Organization Name: The Bridge of Northeast Florida, Inc.
Contact Person: Zoe Ann Boyle
E-mail: zoe_ann@bridgejax.com
Phone: (904) 354-7799 ext. 146
Cover Letter: Healthy-start-coalition-grant.docx
Non-profit Status:501c-IRS-letter.pdf
990: [file-365]
Program Title: Healthy Choices (Formerly Straight Talk)
Is this program: A modification of an existing program
Which strategy from the Teen Pregnancy Task Force Community Action Plan does this project address?: Community-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention (Page 15)
Describe the objectives of the program (no more than 4), and the proposed geographic service area
(city, county-wide, or specific neighborhoods) and target populations (i.e. youth, parents, caregivers, teachers, etc..) (1,000 characters):
Objectives: (1) address the risks of teen pregnancy, (2) address high incidents of sexually transmitted disease and infections and (3) address the high school dropout rates for 250 youth already enrolled at The
Bridge living in zip codes 32206, 02, 08 and 09, also referred to as Health Zone l for Duval County.
Health Zone 1 (March 2008 Health: Place Matters Report prepared by the Duval County Health
Department) has the highest poverty level in the county with 26% of the population living below the poverty level. The STD rate in Duval County is staggering with 3,937 per 100,000 people ages 15-24 being infected. Teen pregnancy rates are highest in Health Zone 1. Over 30% of teen girls cite pregnancy or parenthood as a key reason for dropping out of high school; rates are even higher for African-American girls. These statistics reinforce the necessity for the Healthy Choices program at The Bridge to teach students sexuality education and how to make healthy choices for their lives.
Describe the primary activities proposed, their rationale and the staff required to implement the program. (1,000 characters): Program activities include:
1) Weekly classes using Focus on Kids, Our Whole Lives and My Growth Plan age appropriate curriculums on self-esteem, decision-making, physical-emotional development and factual information on contraception and sexually transmitted infections and diseases.
2) Quarterly Teen Summits - providing teens an opportunity to have group discussions on topics of interest in their lives like bullying, teen pregnancy, domestic violence and abuse, rumors and myths about
STIs and HIV/AIDS.
Mary Bishop is a trained sexuality educator/coordinator. She teaches the curriculums and supervises the other sexuality educator. She also meets with teens individually as needed and coordinates Teen Summits.
Allison Smith is also a trained sexuality educator and youth development specialist with The Bridge. Her responsibilities include conducting classes for 5th graders on the main Bridge campus, teen classes as needed, and classes at Southwind Villas, a public housing community.
What are your plans to engage key stakeholders in the design and/or delivery and/or evaluation of the program? (1200 characters):

The Bridge is an integral part of the Jacksonville community. We connect children and teens with services to fully address the risk factors they face. We do this through a strong network of partnerships and collaborations. The program is comprehensive and a long term investment in the lives of children. In addition to classes and teen summits offered at here, participants in the program have access to a Health
Coordinator on staff to arrange referrals for medical services, asthma treatment education and Dental
Services. The Health Coordinator also coordinates referrals for mental health counseling with partnering agency Wayman Community Outreach. There is also a part-time nurse on campus that can provide services and arrange referrals. Evaluation results are presented to funders. Results are the basis for ongoing dialogue between staff and management in a constant effort to maintain high outcomes and to identify trends within our population that might require program adjustments, speakers or advisors. The
Bridge shares results with other community stakeholders in pregnancy prevention such as the Healthy
Start Coalition and Healthy Families program staff.
What are the expected outcomes and how will you know if the program has been successful? (1800 characters):
The overarching goal of the program is to prevent teen pregnancy and early parenthood and the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Other goals of the program are to encourage responsible decision-making and healthy choices and to foster understanding of physical development among preteens and teens at The
Bridge. Expected outcomes of the program are:
1) Ninety percent (90%) (225/250) of youth who successfully complete Focus on Kids/Our Whole Lives and the My Growth Plan curriculums will not become teen parents in 2013-2014.
2) Seventy-five (75%) (188/250) of the students participating in the Focus on Kids/Our Whole Lives and the My Growth Plan curriculums will participate in Teen Summits on topics like nutrition, domestic violence, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse and STIs.
3) Eighty (80%) (200/250) of the students will show increased knowledge of topics on the program post survey after completing the 6 to 8 weeks of classes in 2013-14.
Success for our Bridge Healthy Choices education program is to maintain, for Bridge program participants attending 60 days or more, a 90% or better rate in avoiding teen pregnancy and parenthood.
Changes and improvements in knowledge and behaviors are monitored with pre and post surveys conducted by the Healthy Choices coordinator and educator at the beginning and end of each class series.
We measure the number of students completing the classes through attendance rosters. The Bridge has recently purchased and installed data collection software called Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) where services to each program participant are tracked daily through this program. We will have accurate data as to whom and how often students access our health services or get referrals to outside health services.
Describe the anticipated implementation timeline. (500 characters):
This is an active program already in place at The Bridge. Funds received through this grant will partially fund the coordinator and educator as well as program activities during 2013 and 2014.
What is the agency's total fiscal year budget?:

$5,779,762
What is the proposed total budget for this project?:
$20,000
Budget: Healthy-Start-grant-request-budget-PDF.pdf
Budget Justification: Healthy-Start-grant-request-budget-PDF1.pdf
Sustainability: a. Is there currently existing funding (full or a portion) for this program? If so, from whom and how much?:
The Bridge currently receives funding for this program. The Jaguar Foundation has funded this program as part of their “Straight Talk” initiatives. This fiscal year we received $35,000 in funding from them.
This funding ends in June 2013 and is not expected to be renewed. The Medtronic Corporation is a long-standing donor in support of this program. We received $5,000 in funding from them this fiscal year. We have received a donation from Baptist Health to support a part-time nurse on the Bridge staff. b. Assuming this program was funded, what are your expectations about potential match funding from other sources and future funding to sustain this program?:
Sexuality education is a sensitive subject on a national level and is particularly difficult to secure funding for in the Jacksonville area. The Bridge has continued to search out donors willing to participate in supporting our Healthy Choices program. The Medtronic Corporation is a long-standing donor in support of this program and we will continue to apply for a grant from them. We continue to search for foundations, organizations and donors who will support this vital service. We are hopeful that the installation of our new Efforts to Outcomes data collection system will provide us with more extensive data on this program and enable us to apply for more national grants.