Centra Bridges Treatment Center

Click here for Centra Bridges Partial Hospitalization Program, the newest addition to our continuum of mental health services for children and adolescents.

Watch Our Informative Video About Centra Bridges

Centra Bridges Treatment Center is a well-established 14-acre residential facility in Central Virginia. Bridges is dedicated to the belief that all children deserve a success-oriented treatment program.

Residential Treatment Program

Centra Bridges Treatment Center is dedicated to excellence, integrity, innovation, value and service. Established in 1987, the focus of Bridges is to provide a success-oriented, therapeutic environment that includes the participation of the family and the community in the child's treatment. Central to our philosophy is our commitment to providing optimal care at a reasonable cost.

The program is designed to allow all children the chance to succeed -- sometimes for the first time in their lives. Our goal is to provide the therapeutic intervention, support and structure necessary for each resident to be successful.

Bridges treats boys and girls with a wide-range of emotional and behavioral problems.

Get Adobe Reader

To view documents on this page you will need to download Adobe Reader, which you can get for FREE by
clicking here.

 

• Mood disorders, including bipolar and major depression
• Attachment issues
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Anxiety disorders
• Learning disabilities (emotionally disturbed/learning disabled)
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Personality disorders
• Intellectually delayed (IQs 52 and above)

Our Comprehensive Treatment Program

At Bridges, we conduct treatment within a therapeutic milieu designed to provide a maximum of peer involvement. Daily activities promote cooperative interaction, healthy confrontation and recognition.

• Individual, group and family therapy
• Licensed, educational services, including special education services
• Occupational therapy
• Speech and hearing services
• Social skills training
• Nutrition, fitness and health programming.
• Psychological testing
• Assessments, treatment planning and recommendations for therapy, education and medication management upon discharge

To view or print Centra Bridges Treatment Center's brochure, click here or on the image to the right.

To read about "The Dangers of Teenage Stress" by Gina Meadows, Director, click here.

Education Program

The on-campus education program serves males and females, ages 6 to 17. Students with emotional disturbance, behavioral disorder, and/or mental illness attend a structured special education and treatment program. General education students are also eligible for enrollment. 

The philosophy of the founding director, William Gorman, still stands today: "Children First." Teachers at Centra Bridges feel that all children have the capacity to succeed. From the initial referral of a student to the tour and interview process that follows, Centra Bridges seeks to identify the strengths that each student possesses in order to build positive student-teacher relationships.

Once enrolled, students are issued school uniforms and attend classes housed in one of two buildings. Physical education classes can utilize either an indoor gymnasium or an outside sports field.  Five-and-one-half hours of daily instruction are provided in the areas of English, mathematics, social studies/history and science. High school-aged students will be enrolled in a Vocational Applications class with opportunities to participate in on-campus work experiences which include culinary arts and environmental services. High school students may also have the option of enrolling in Apex online courses for credit. This allows selected students the opportunity to recover credits and/or to expand credits toward graduation.

The curriculum at Centra Bridges is aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning and takes into consideration individual student goals and interests. Instruction is provided and report cards are issued on a six-week basis during the traditional school year (August to June). Traditional credits are offered, allowing students opportunities to work toward standard, modified standard and special education diplomas. Students then participate in a Summer Education Program that relies heavily on enrichment, hands-on activities and various field trips to attractions in the area. Students catch up on academic credits and reinforce basic skills while having fun experiences in the summer.

Our students also receive support in the school through individual, family and group therapy opportunities. The school's behavior support program and levels emphasize positive reinforcement by offering students the chance to earn Bridges Bucks that can be spent in the Bridges Store, based on successfully meeting educational expectations.

Treatment Team

Centra Bridges at Brightwell

Located in rural Amherst County, Virginia, Centra Bridges at Brightwell is a group home for males between the ages of 8 and 18. Educational settings are a part of the program and can be public, private or other academic opportunities. The program's philosophy, enacted through dedication and commitment, is to offer a home-like environment with dedicated staff that provides a safe and nurturing atmosphere for a special needs population. At the eight-bed facility, the focus is on developing positive, age-appropriate social behavior, independent living skills and problem-solving methodology. The goal is to help residents learn whatever is needed to be successful in life and develop their confidence to the point where they can re-integrate back into their community.  For more information, click here.

Location and Contact Information

Centra Bridges Treatment Center

693 Leesville Road
Lynchburg, VA 24502-2828
434.200.5700 (phone) and 434.947.5708 (fax)

Director, Gina Meadows, RN, MSN, APRN, BC
Dee Edwards, Assistant Director
Medical Director, John L. Hendrickson, MD

Funding, Accreditation and Licensing

Services are funded through Medicaid, CSA and other sources.  Centra Bridges is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), the Virginia Department of Education (DOE).  Licensure from the Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities (VAISEF) is pending.

For referrals, please call 434.200.5700 during business hours. Emergency admissions are not accepted. If evening or weekend calls are necessary, please contact Centra Mental Health Intake & Resource Center at 800.947.5442 for additional information.