Bridges
MESD Bridges programs support positive educational transitions and outcomes for disengaged youth and their families, including justice-involved youth.
When students become eligible, a Transition Specialist meets with them and supports them throughout their educational journey, regardless of where it takes them in Oregon. Our Specialists provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive support and mentoring to our youth and their siblings when eligible. This support builds trust-based relationships between the Transition Specialist, the student, the student’s family, and other involved adults. Our aim is for participants to transition into school settings or the workforce in order to pursue their post-secondary education and career goals.
Multnomah ESD Main Office
11611 NE Ainsworth Cir.
Portland, OR 97220
(503) 255-1841
Bridges Director
Christine Otto
cotto@mesd.k12.or.us
(503) 257-1759
Program Manager
Sidonia Simpson
ssimpson@mesd.k12.or.us
(971) 710-2010
Bridges Programming: Background and History
In 2015, the Oregon Legislature enacted House Bill 2016, directing the Oregon Department of Education to develop and implement a statewide education plan for African American/Black students from early childhood through post-secondary education.
In 2016, the state awarded Bridges (formerly Bars to Bridges) its first Student Success Grant to provide transitional services for African American, Black, Biracial, and Multiracial students. The program focuses on increasing engagement in school and before- and after-school activities, supporting key educational transitions, utilizing trauma informed practices, and improving post-secondary attendance and persistence.
Since its inception, Bridges has received additional funding through Student Success Plans from the Oregon Department of Education, Youth Development Oregon, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. These investments have supported the expansion, enrichment, and creation of new program tracks under the Bridges umbrella, strengthening supports for youth furthest from opportunity as they pursue educational attainment and pathways to employment.
The Bridges Program is a specialized educational advocacy and wraparound support framework for students disengaged from school due to educational disruption. Bridges Transition Specialists act as system navigators, providing reentry services as students transition back into educational settings from justice, hospital, or treatment facilities.
The Evolution of a Model
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2016 Inception: Launched as Bars to Bridges, it was one of the first recipients of the African American and Black Student Success Plan grant (HB 2016), focusing on advocacy for justice-involved youth.
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2019 Expansion: Services grew to include workforce access via Youth Development Oregon funds. Simultaneously, the Hospital/LTCT Bridges track was established to support youth transitioning from medical or long-term care facilities.
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2021–Present: The model was replicated with funds from the Latino/a/x and Indigenous Student Success Plan and Youth Development Oregon to provide reengagement and reconnection services. This ultimately became East County Bridges.
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2022: The passage of SB 1522 formally expanded the definition of appropriate education for children in detention to include transition services, leading to the creation of facility-specific programs like DEL (Donald E. Long) Bridges and Baker Bridges.
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2024–2025 Expansion: Federal funding introduced the HerPath program for female-identifying youth, and the Bridging Island Futures program was launched by funds from the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Student Success Plan.