OUR MISSION

At Bridges to Healing International, our mission is to support unaccompanied and orphaned children and young adults facing unmet health challenges. Our short-term goal is to help them feel better each day, while our long-term vision is to empower them to lead fulfilling and productive lives. We take a personalized approach, focusing on one young person at a time. We firmly believe that every individual deserves to live with dignity, have access to essential medical care, and receive dedicated support to ease the suffering caused by illness and disease. Our work creates a vital BRIDGE between institutional care settings and local medical resources, ensuring comprehensive physical and mental healthcare.

OUR VALUES

CONNECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE TO LIFE-SAVING CARE

We focus on young people living in shelters in Tanzania and Bolivia who face complex health challenges with limited access to medical care. Many struggle with multiple illnesses simultaneously—lab tests often reveal co-infections such as malaria, typhoid, HIV, and untreated parasitic diseases. This population is among the most vulnerable in the world, facing separation from their families, disabilities, malnutrition, and extreme hardship. We are dedicated to ensuring they receive comprehensive, life-saving healthcare.

EMPOWERING WOMEN

For over twenty years, we have been committed to empowering under-resourced young women, with a special focus on those who are disabled, indigenous, or survivors of gender-based violence. By providing resources, advocacy, and support, we help them build brighter futures and overcome systemic barriers.

COLLABORATION

Bridges to Healing International works hand-in-hand with local healthcare providers and shelter staff, enabling us to respond swiftly when marginalized young people need medical attention. Our partner organizations—led by women deeply rooted in their communities—are dedicated advocates for the health and dignity of those they serve. This collaborative approach strengthens our impact and fosters lasting change.

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REDUCING INSTITUTIONALIZATION

We believe that children and young adults should, whenever possible, be cared for by their families. To support this goal, we fund community health workers who provide physical and mental health support to single mothers raising children with chronic illnesses and disabilities. This initiative helps prevent unnecessary institutionalization and strengthens family units.

STRENGTHS-BASED APPROACH

Young people with developmental or physical disabilities are often overlooked and excluded from decisions that impact their health and education. At Bridges to Healing International, we prioritize their unique abilities and strengths in every care plan. Our strengths-based approach empowers individuals and local partners, leading to improved health outcomes, reduced disease burden, and increased school attendance.

DATA-DRIVEN IMPACT

We assess our impact through a data-driven approach and regular evaluations. By combining quantitative data, continuous reporting, and long-term outcome tracking, we monitor progress, gain valuable insights, and make informed decisions. This ensures our work remains effective, sustainable, and aligned with our mission to deliver the highest quality healthcare to those who need it most.

OUR STORY

Our leadership team brings together decades of experience in healthcare, child welfare, and international aid, shaped by work across 25 shelters and resource-limited settings. Our founder’s journey began in the 1990s with full-time work at a shelter in Bolivia, followed by extensive experience in various institutional environments. This first hand exposure provided deep insight into the challenges of caring for large numbers of young people—many of whom were living with chronic illnesses and disabilities, as well as the aftermath of violence. However, these shelters operated on extremely limited budgets, making it nearly impossible to access the specialized healthcare they desperately needed.

In 2001, the first comprehensive health program was implemented at a shelter, and its success led to replication in several others in the following years. The results were immediate and profound—after hiring a full-time local nurse, infection and illness rates dropped by more than 50% within a short period. To expand the program’s reach, a 501(c)(3) organization was established in 2011.

Today, BTHI is increasingly focused on supporting adolescent women—one of the most vulnerable populations in institutional care. These young women often face extreme adversity, including surviving sexual violence, living with disabilities, and the hardships of being raised by single mothers living in poverty.

Board of Directors

Jim DeHarpporte
Dr. Florence Gillman, PhD
Dr. John Gillman, PhD
Karen Reilly
Patrick Reilly
Dr. Spencer Rickwa, DO – Medical Director
Erin Rickwa, MSW – Executive Director