Planning and Implementing a Support Program for Students of Color

The Bridge Program is an innovative orientation program for new MSW students of color. The primary purpose of the program is to provide an early opportunity for new students to develop supportive and sustaining relationships with other minority students, faculty, and community practitioners. Providing social and informational support may help to mediate the impact of role, family, and job conflict mentioned by students as obstacles to completing their degree program. This paper describes a two year pilot of the Bridge Program goals, structure, and content, including formative assessment data. The paper concludes with a discussion of the lessons learned in creating the Bridge Program and suggestions for adapting the program model to other settings.