The typical Bridges Academy student is a bright, sensitive adolescent boy between the ages 13 and 18, with a history of emotional, behavioral and/or academic problems at home or in school. He may have a short history of drug or alcohol use, be in minor legal trouble along with truancy, plummeting grades, and disregard for rules and curfews. He might have difficulty fitting in with a traditional classroom environment and may not feel comfortable within his peer group. There may be cases where the teen has run away from home, has exhibited sexual promiscuity, or has shown verbal and physical aggression. Diagnostic categories include: Depression, Oppositional Defiance, ADD, ADHD, Anxiety, Borderline, and Bi-Polar disorder among others. Our program works well with boys who are exhibiting any of the following:

Low self-esteem Disrespectful behavior Lack of accountability Defiance toward authority figures Lack of problem solving skills Poor family relationships Lack of anger management skills Underachievement and Perfection Identified as talented and gifted Entitlement Non-Compliant Lack of Life-Skills

Addictive behaviors Social isolation Codependency Attachment issues Victim-role issues Out of control behavior at home, in school, or in the community Shows poor motivation in their participation of family life, school, or other activities Loss of interest in sports and/or hobbies Poor Hygiene and/or personal self-care

Many of our students performed well academically in the past, but their grades have spiraled downward due to a variety of factors including emotional or family issues, drug and alcohol use, or poor school attendance. Academic histories vary, but may include:

Sudden decline in grades, attendance, or attitude Learning Disabilities (mild to moderate with some compensatory skills)

Information Processing issues History of disruptive behavior in the classroom Poor organizational study skills

Family issues may include:

• Adoption
• Divorce and/or separation
• Death
• Abuse (physical, verbal, sexual)
• Extreme sibling rivalry
• Poor Communication Skills
• Poor Coping Skills
• Addiction (Past or Present)

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