B.R.I.D.G.E. Program
About the program
The B.R.I.D.G.E. Program connects individuals with disabilities and their caregivers to personalized resources through meaningful mentorship and advocacy. We also provide training for professionals. Our goal is to empower individuals to define and pursue their ideal life, providing guidance, encouragement, and tools to navigate systems, build confidence, and advocate for their unique goals and values. We have also created an easy to follow guide to county services. Links below for our guide in English, Oromo, Somali and Spanish.
The B.R.I.D.G.E. Program is funded by the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Connectors grant through the State of Minnesota, Department of Human Services.
Individual Mentorship
We connect individuals who want help navigating Minnesota Home and Community Based (HCBS) services with a trained mentor who has personal experience of obtaining services for themself or someone they care for. We help connect people to services while encouraging independence and self-advocacy skills.
Become a
Mentor
All mentors are required to attend a training session. We are now offering virtual training for our prospective mentors! Training will go from 9:30pm-2pm with a break from 12pm-1pm for lunch. Dates for training will be the 3rd Wednesday of the month September-December 2025. Training dates for 2026 have not been determined yet.