A Pit Stop on the Road to Self-Sufficiency
New Rehabilitative Curriculum Motivates Success in Residents

   SAN DIEGO — St. Vincent de Paul Village will celebrate the efforts of 250 clients who have completed the first level of the organization’s Bridges to Independence program on Thursday, August 8, at 7 p.m., at the Village’s main facility at 1501 Imperial Avenue.

   The one-of-a-kind program, which assigns unit values to various rehabilitative benchmarks, is structured much in the same way as universities structure their curricula.

   "Just as you have to complete credit hours in college to move from class to class, our Bridges to Independence program has been developed in such a way that, as our clients complete various programs and classes, they can monitor their own progress and keep track of what they need to do to succeed," says Fr. Joe Carroll, president of St. Vincent’s. "What we’re finding is this new program has really empowered our clients, giving them ownership of their accomplishments and motivating them to continue with the program."

   The program is designed with four different levels – basic, intermediate, advanced and advanced with honors – each of which require clients to meet specific criteria before moving on to the next level. Those criteria range from obtaining a valid picture identification card to obtaining a permanent source of income.

   "Our residents will be ready to move on in life once they complete the program," Fr. Joe says. "It’s an extension of what I call the university of the human spirit – everyone at our Village, staff and volunteers included, grows professionally and personally through the powerful and rewarding experience St. Vincent’s provides.

   For more information on Thursday’s celebration, call (619) 525-1608.

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