The Bridge Teen Center

Where do I find the FREE student membership application?

For the safety and well-being of The Bridge Teen Center family, every student needs a student membership application on file. Once it is filled out and filed, it lasts until a student graduates high school.  Click HERE for an application, or pick one up at The Bridge. 

 

Are the programs free?

Yes, all programs at The Bridge are free to teens (and parents). Students who attend concerts at The Bridge without a completed membership application must pay a $5 cover charge.

 

Where are you located?

The Bridge is located in a 5,000 square foot space, located at 15555 S. 71st Court, behind the Dunkin Donuts (north of 159th Street, just east of Harlem Avenue).

 

When are you open?

Monday 

Office Hours: 10-6

 

Tuesday- Thursday 

Office Hours: 10-6

Student Hours: 2-6   (Summer Hours: 1-6) 

 

Friday

Office Hours:10-3

Student Hours: 7:30-10:30pm 

 

Saturday and Sunday we are closed.

 

(Check the CALENDAR for specific program hours and to sign-up)

 

Are you affiliated with a church?

No, The Bridge Teen Center is a faith-based nonprofit community center, not affiliated with any church or denomination. The Bridge does receive financial and volunteer support from churches of varying denominations in the community.

 

Where do you get your funding from?

People like you who recognize the need and want to make an investment in the future of young people in our community. Currently, The Bridge receives funding from individuals, corporations, small businesses, churches and foundations in the community. 

 

How do you handle kids that need emotional/behavioral help?

The Bridge recognizes that some students will come to the center with serious emotional/ behavioral needs that may require professional attention. Each staff member at The Bridge is trained to recognize these needs, and will be able to direct the teen (or parent) to the appropriate resource. Currently, The Bridge is working with specific local counseling agencies to refer students who require immediate assistance. In the future, The Bridge will have a professional counselor on staff. The Bridge also has a “community resources database” for referrals based on the needs of the teen or parent.

 

Why did you choose Orland Park?

Orland Park businesses, residents and leadership have been very supportive of the concept of a community center uniquely designed around the interests and needs of suburban teens. There are more than 20,000 teens in communities surrounding our location, which is uniquely positioned to allow us to also serve students in surrounding communities like Tinley Park, Palos, and Oak Forest.

 

Is there more than one Bridge Teen Center?

At this time, the one and only BTC is located in Orland Park. However, response to our programs and mission is drawing great interest from other communities - so multiple sites are part of our long term plan.

 

Is this a place for troubled teens?

The Bridge recognizes all teens face “trouble” at some time in their life and need a support system to help them through that. The staff at The Bridge is trained to identify students that need immediate professional care and will direct them to a care facility that meets his/her needs.

 

How do students get there?

Currently, students find their way to The Bridge by way of a parent/guardian, by taking the PACE bus, or (in good weather) riding their bike.  We are in the early stages of launching an afterschool "Bridge Bus" transportation model.  Check the homepage of our website for details in the coming months.

 

Are there residency restrictions?

No.  To date, we have seen students from more than 30 different school districts all over the Chicagoland/NW Indiana area.  Come one, come all!

 

Are you open during the after-school hours for teens to hang out?

Currently students are welcome to drop-in on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  There are also many free programs offered during afterschool hours (CLICK HERE FOR INFO).  Our hours are listed in this section of the website.  

 

What type of security do you have in place?

The Bridge continually strives to provide a safe atmosphere for parents and students.  We have taken every precaution to create a safe environment and provide adequate accessibility for every student. Each student (and adult) is required to check-in and out of The Bridge during each visit. We keep a ratio of 1:5 adults to middle school students and 1:10 adults to high school students for student safety. Our front desk volunteer monitors who comes into the facility as well as activity in the parking lot. We have a complete security system (with one-button police/fire access) and surveillance cameras to monitor activity inside and out.  Anyone over 18 years old must go through the volunteer process to be on site during student hours, and must wear a nametag while on the premises. The Bridge has different levels for volunteering depending on interaction level with students. Every volunteer is required to complete an application, is crossed referenced with the National Sex Offender list, has a sixty minute interview, and receives extensive training for their role. Along with the complete volunteer process, all mentors are required to have a complete background check before entering The Bridge mentor program.

 

What type of programs do you offer?

Programs in our storefront site are offered for both teens and parents. Please click here for more info.

 

What type of help do you need from me?

We are grassroots organization, relying entirely on the support of the community. We need support in many areas, including, but not limited to: