Our speaker on Friday, February 1st was Tracy Rubstello, Director of Development for The Bridge Receiving Center. Tracy stated that a problem in the State of Washington there is currently a shortage of 1,655 foster homes. The Bridge Receiving Center will be a 30-day receiving center for children 6-17 years old who are entering foster care for the first time and need a safe, healing place to land.
The Bridge Receiving Center's purpose is to create a more stable environment for kids entering foster care. Recently The Bridge Receiving Center acquired the Highland House at Cedar Springs Camp in Lake Stevens which is a three bedroom house currently under renovation that will be the first house on the site with a capital campaign of $2 million dollars. Transitional center's therapy group raised $240,000 to date. Current monthly cost is $13,000. They have 21 monthly donors of $51 with the goal of increasing that to 41 donors. There is a mentoring program for both kids and adults.
Operations include: round the clock staffing; program oversight; food, clothing, bedding & linens; suitcases/backpacks for each child; stuffed animals, toys & books; electricity and internet (for staff use only; trauma-informed care that includes counseling and therapeutic play; activities that facilitate health & wellness and facilities & amenities that provide a sense of calm and safety.
Remodeling of the home includes: adding a bedroom; expanding the dining room; adding a counseling/intake office; building a therapeutic playroom; opening up the line of sight throughout the center; creating a serenity entry garden and building a fence around the property.
Tracy Rubstello started and ran her own nonprofit that worked in Rwanda post-genocide in helping establish healing and reconciliation as well as poverty reduction programs. Tracy majored in Advertising at the University of Washington and has a long history of nonprofit work. In her free time Tracy delights in spending time with her family.