Strategic Alliance with Bridge Builders
Bridge Builders Community Partnership and The Children’s Village Form a Strategic Alliance Designed to Enhance Capacity to Serve Children and Families in the Highbridge Community in the Bronx.
BRONX, NEW YORK, NY — January 17, 2013 – Bridge Builders Community Partnership Initiative (BBCPI), established in 2003 as collaboration of community-based organizations committed to improving child welfare in the Bronx, and The Children’s Village (CV), a 161-year old charity serving children and families, announce a strategic alliance.
In announcing the alliance, Chairman of the Bridge Builders Board of Directors, Mr. John Rios said, “The Children’s Village is a leader that shares our values regarding the empowerment of parents, especially those involved in the child welfare and justice systems, and The Children’s Village believes in the strengths of our community.” BBCPI has been collaborating with CV since its inception, working on foster parent recruitment, parent advocate training, and a joint grant from the New York Office of Children and Family Services to provide support to kinship foster families.
The organizations will retain their independence, but are developing a strategy for effective collaboration and partnership that will enable them to best serve children and families involved with the child welfare system across the Bronx. Dr. Jeremy Kohomban, President and CEO of The Children’s Village said, “Bridge Builder’s core belief that a network of customized neighborhood services is the first and best line of defense is directly in line with the mission of The Children’s Village. Empowering struggling families to advocate for themselves is key to their success.”
As part of the alliance, Tonyna McGhee, Assistant Vice President for New York City Community-Based Services at The Children’s Village, has been named Executive Director of Bridge Builders. Along with Ms. McGhee, Dr. Lisa Gill was appointed Program Director and will be responsible for Bridge Builders’ day-to-day operations. Together the new leadership brings several decades of experience in child welfare and program development, which they will use to build upon Bridge Builders’ nearly decade-long success.
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Founded in 2003, Bridge Builders Community Partnership Initiative is a community-based organization dedicated to improving child welfare outcomes in the Highbridge community in the Bronx, NY. Bridge Builders is a collaboration of social service providers, foundations, families, and the Administration of Children’s Services working to improve family well-being. www.bridgebuilderscipi.org.
Founded in 1851, The Children’s Village works in partnership with families to help children develop the skills and positive attitude needed to succeed as healthy contributing adults. Each year, CV serves more than 10,000 of New York’s most at-risk children and their families. Programs include short-term residential programs, shelters, street outreach, foster and adoptive homes, a community center in Harlem, programs for youth involved with the juvenile justice system, and a host of family support services. http://childrensvillage.org
