By Jessica De Leon
The Bradenton Herald
MANATEE, Fla. — The fate of an inmate transitional and work release facility in Bradenton that many women credit for helping change their lives after prison remains in limbo, as it faces having to close its doors in July.
Bradenton Bridge houses 118 women who are either in transition from prison or have exited into the work release program. While there, the women live in a structured environment and are provided with counseling, classes and employment opportunities so they can prepare for their re-entry to the community.
But on July 24, Bradenton Bridge may be forced to shutter the doors of its facility at 2104 63rd Ave. E., Bradenton, when the state’s contract with Bridges of America, the facility’s private not-for-profit operator, expires. It is the second time in recent years the facility has been at risk for shutting down.
A spokesman for the Florida Department of Corrections said the state has no plans to close the facility, but he acknowledge there is pending litigation over who will manage the facility. A hearing in the case is set for May 19.
“The department at this time has no intention to cease work release operations at the Bradenton facility,” said McKinley Lewis, communications director for the Florida DOC.
On Tuesday morning, Bradenton Bridge called a news conference to share some of the facility’s success stories in an effort to rally support and keep the center open.
For Catherine Rodeheaver, the program at Bradenton Bridge absolutely changed her life, she said.
“I lost everything going to prison so this gave me the
tools I needed to not only handle my situations that I didn’t know how to handle with my addiction, but it also gave me the tools to start a whole new life,” Rodeheaver said. “Without this program that wouldn’t be possible. I would leave with $50 and a bus pass from prison and go back to Ohio where the same people and places await me.”
She is able to understand that now, only because of what she has learned at Bradenton Bridge, she added.
“It hasn’t been easy by any means. I had my times in the program where it was really rough, and I looked at going back to prison because I made some bad choices. However, I was blessed and able to continue in the program,” Rodeheaver said.
Rodeheaver credits the program with enabling her to get and furnish her own home when she got out. She has also been able to keep a job and is grateful to now be the sous chef at the Seafood Shack in Cortez.
As of Tuesday, Bradenton Bridge’s future remained uncertain, according to Bridges of America President and CEO Lori Costantini-Brown.
“The issue is not funding,” Costantini-Brown said. “We aren’t really sure what the problem is.”
Bridges of America was the sole respondent to the Department of Corrections request for proposal. But their contract proposal has not been accepted.
Three times, Bridges of America has been granted six-month extensions to their previous contract. The most recent is set to expire on July 24.
Currently, about 25 of the women are in the work release program, Costantini-Brown said. But the others would be forced with making the transition back to prison.
“These beautiful faces here are our future,” County Commissioner Robin Sue DiSabatino said. “They are on a pathway to success.”
DiSabatino, whose district includes the Bradenton Bridge’s location, asked all those in attendance to stand and hold hands, as a sign of solidarity with the women.
“I just want to make sure our governor and the legislators hear our story and see the faces,” DiSabatino said. “They have created a very successful program here in Bradenton Bridges. Why mess with that?”
Misty Miller has two children who are depending on her.
“I had no direction in life. I really didn’t know how to do it and how it get there,” Miller said.
Thanks to Bradenton Bridge she was able to find her way.
“It changed my life, It changed my children’s lives,” Miller said. “I still have the job I got through work program here.”
Copyright 2016 The Bradenton Herald