Bridge to Justice
The Bridge to Justice Campaign is a $2M infrastructure investment children and families need before, during, and after family court: sustaining high-quality child advocacy, launching a post-court Resource Navigation Program, and creating a feedback loop to inform family court practice and systems change.
The Gap
Once final orders are issued, many families lose coordinated support just as they’re working to stabilize routines, follow parenting plans, address safety needs, and connect with basic services like housing, food, mental health care, and employment.
The Solution
A social worker (“Resource Navigation Manager”) will work with each family to build an individualized support plan, personally introduce the family to existing service providers (a “warm handoff”), and support until connections take hold.
Why This Model Will Work
Studies show that resource navigation support is much more effective than a referral list (Taylor & Minkovitz, 2021). These programs serve different populations than Family Law CASA, but the pattern is consistent: people are far more likely to achieve stability when a trusted navigator personally connects them to services during a major life transition.
The TCN model employs Community Health Workers, who have lived experience being incarcerated, to meet with folks exiting incarceration and have significant health needs to establish a relationship and help coordinate care when they are released.
A study at the Santa Clara TCN Site found that attendance at the first medical appointment following jail release increased from 30% to 70% when patients met with a Community Health Worker for a pre-release warm handoff.
This study is cited in the following publications:
- 2017 Peninsula Press Article, a project of Stanford Journalism
- 2019 Policy Brief from California Health Policy Strategies (Page 16)
- 2022 Joint Meeting of US Dept of HHS, CDC, & HRSA (Page 43)
- 2024 Healing Hands Publication, National Health Care for the Homeless Council (Page 15)
Explore More: TCN Evidence & Data ; The TCN Model
The Ohio Bridges Program supports young adults who emancipated from foster care after the age of 18. Program participants work directly with Warm Handoff Specialists. The Specialists help facilitate smooth referrals, minimize service gaps, and ensure participants remain connected to resources during the handoff process.
- Over the first 3 months of the new Warm Handoff Specialists being deployed, referrals to the program increased 26% over year prior.
According to 2025 Bridges Impact Report, 55 participants were surveyed 3-6 months after exiting program. These are the top five areas with significant improvement:
- 52% increase in participants who no evidence of persistent or recurrent substance use that is detrimental to social, occupational, emotional or physical health.
- 51% increase in remaining employed full-time for longer than 3 months.
- 39% increase in ability to meet basic and additional needs without subsidized benefits and exhibiting appropriate spending habits.
- 33% increase in level of school engagement demonstrated by the participant’s dependent(s).
- 30% increase in residing in stable housing and the young adult can afford the entire housing cost.
Of current 2026 Bridges participants:
- 94% of survey respondents stated that their current housing met their needs.
- 99% of respondents reported feeling safe in their current living situation.
- 63% of respondents have maintained their current housing for 6 months or longer.
Learn more: About Ohio Bridges; 2025 Ohio Bridges Impact Report
The IASN provides services and support to help youth and young adults who exit foster care near or after the age of 18 make a successful transition to adulthood.
Youth engage with IASN on a voluntary basis. Once enrolled, they are paired with a Self-Sufficiency Advocate (SSA) who assists with connections to housing, funding for emergency expenses, education, job training/employment, and healthcare.
In 2025, 176 new youth engaged in support from the IASN. Of those youth:
- 50% entered program without completing high school.
- 46% had received either IEP or 504 accommodations in school.
- 34% were employed during their intake.
- 35% experienced homelessness at some point in their life.
- 32% had been incarcerated at some point (not the same as a conviction) in the 2 years prior to their intake.
Of the 226 youth who exited services in 2025:
- 82% have a high school credential.
- 99% feel safe in their current home.
- 63% have full or part-time employment.
Of the youth engaged in services at the close of 2025:
- 67% were working full or part-time.
- 24% were enrolled in education program.
- 91% reported they had safe and stable housing.
- 96% reported they had a supportive relationship with a positive adult.
- 48% indicated they had enough money to cover their expenses for the prior month.
Learn more: About IASN; 2025 IASN Impact Report

In South King County, I see every day how complex and overwhelming custody-related challenges can be for caregivers. Family Law CASA already plays a critical role in ensuring that children’s voices are heard in court, and expanding resource navigation services would fill a major gap for families who need help accessing stability, safety, and basic supports during these stressful transitions.This added support would directly strengthen child well-being and school success.
Jess Nũnez, School Counselor & Community Advisory Board Member
Timeline
This timeline highlights the key phases of Bridge to Justice — showing how each step expands advocacy capacity, strengthens family navigation, and builds the long‑term supports children need as they move through and beyond the court process.
- Begin the next phase of the Bridge to Justice Campaign to raise the final $1M.
- Hire half-time Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator to sustain the Child Advocacy Program.
- Hire full-time Communications Manager to create organizational capacity and infrastructure.
- Renew MSW Internship with Seattle University to define referral pathways, partnership needs, and draft program evaluation measures.
- Launch new program with a full-time Resouce Navigation Manager.
- Hire full-time Deputy Director to support organizational growth.
- Expand MSW Internship to include a second Seattle University student to support resource navigation services.
- Hire a second, full-time Resource Navigation Manager to grow program.
Campaign Commitments
Thank you to these individuals and foundations for their commitment to the Bridge to Justice Campaign. With their support, the Campaign reached the halfway point, raising $1M as of May 2026.
Anonymous
Ayanna & Darryl Colman
Brad & Sasha Elias
Brianna & Matt Sanders
Bryan Digel
David Worthington
Dawn McGeorge
Deidre McCormack Martin & Ted Martin
Dr. Melanie English
Ed & Deborah Greenleaf
Elizabeth Park
Gary & Kristin Sampson
Hon. Jean Rietschel, Ret.
Jacqueline Balinbin
Justice Bobbe Bridge, Ret. & Jon Bridge
Katherine & David De Bruyn
Katie & Brian Burgess
Ken Hart & Family
Knossos Foundation
Korynne Wright
Lanine & Matthew Lange
Larry Engel & Kate Battuello
Matt & Kim Teagarden
Mei & Dr. Andy Shih
Midori Sagara
North Star Charitable Foundation
Quackenbush Family Fund
Page Perey
Polly Lenssen
Rachel Caufield
Verónica Quiñónez