MCPS Bridge

[Anonymous]

Tell me about your experience in the Bridge program. Our DD has ASD and ADHD. Also anxiety and depression so has had panic attacks and reported thoughts of self harm at school occasionally. No aggression, no elopement, meltdowns or other “behaviors.” She has occasionally said unkind things to other kids when stressed (“why are you staring at me?!” “Nobody cares what you think” etc ). Wondering if Bridge might be a good fit. She’s currently in Asperger’s but hates school.

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

I’m interested in info as well. OP—I’ve posted asking for info before but seem to get very responses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m interested in info as well. OP—I’ve posted asking for info before but seem to get very responses

I wonder how big the program is - how many kids in each school in each grade.

[Anonymous]

bumping ... wondering about this for MS as well (would be Briggs Cheney). What are typical behaviors there like?

[Anonymous]

I have questions about Bridge too. And what is the difference between Bridge and SESES? My DD has HFA but I'm not sure if Asperger is appropriate or Bridge or SESES?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have questions about Bridge too. And what is the difference between Bridge and SESES? My DD has HFA but I'm not sure if Asperger is appropriate or Bridge or SESES?

Exactly same question here! I've read several threads in here but some of the info is contradictory. Dx for mine is HFA, anxiety, depression, ADHD hyperactivity

[Anonymous]

I don't fully understand it all, but this is what I have gathered from this board regarding middle school programs.

Asperger's- almost fully mainstream, but with a separate resource class to help. There are also trained paraeducators in the classes to help the children meet their IEP goals. This program is run by the Autism unit. This program seems very similar to the amount of support for students in the GTLD program, though that program is run by the GT/LD unit.

SESES: Mostly mainstreamed with the possibility of a couple of self-contained classes dedicated to coping skills. For kids with behaviors but who can be mainstreamed with paras in the room to assist. From what I can gather, students often have ADHD, anxiety, and ODD in this program. The program has a dedicated social worker to help with behaviors that pop up.

Bridge: Much more restrictive than the first two. It is a separate wing of the school where the kids can stay all day if needed. Classes are small and taught by special educators. When kids are ready, they can be mainstreamed for a class or two, but spend most of the day in the separate wing. The program is for kids who have behaviors, but not aggressive behaviors. The most common diagnosis for Bridge seems to be HFA, though that is not required.

RICA: Even. more restrictive than Bridge. It is for kids who need self-contained classes but also might be aggressive. Has therapy incorporated into the program. There is no possibility of mainstreaming, but when kids are ready they can do part day at RICA and part-day at a local high school. To be placed in this program, students need to be recommended by the central IEP unit and also be admitted through an application and interview. Some parents have stated that it is hard to get admitted.

There is also something called ESESES that keeps coming up on the board as another option for high schoolers only, but I am not really sure where it fits with BRIDGE, SESES and RICA.

** I am just a parent who has tried to gather information over years of reading these boards. I am very sorry if I am misrepresenting any programs- please chime in if I am!

[Anonymous]

ESESES is self contained and has more mental health support, including a full time dedicated social worker. This year a second ESESES opened at Sherwood. Prior to that the only program was at Magruder.

The difference between that and RICA is that RICA is fully contained and provides medical management, which parents have to agree to accept, whereas ESESES does not provide medical management. Also ESESES is housed in a wing of a regular high school while RICA is in its own building.

Another thing about ESESES is that they only have class four days a week. The fifth day they go to an outside retreat - I forget the name of the place. And, there is NO homework, which is huge for parents who have typically been really traumatized by the time their kids start in ESESES.

I don't know about SESES in MS, but from what I saw in HS, it offers safe space and more support, though no dedicated social workers. I don't remember that kids have any nonmainstreamed classes, though it's been awhile since we were looking at SESES. My recollection is that Kids take regular classes. If they are not capable, there is some ability to support them outside the class, but not consistently or full time. Basically, they have to be able to be at least mostly mainstreamed with support. I loved the program at Northwood, but it wasn't enough support for my child.

I know that rules changed due to Covid, but if you can, I highly recommend that you visit each program you are considering and meet with the program director. Schedule your tour when the program director will definitely be there. The program directors know if the program will be right for your child.

[Anonymous]

I would add that RICA has a psychologist assigned to each student and family. My son has scheduled therapy sessions weekly and we have a family session bi-weekly. If there is a crisis in the classroom, his psychologist is called to de-escalate. Each student also has a backup therapist whom they have a relationship with in case the primary therapist is unavailable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would add that RICA has a psychologist assigned to each student and family. My son has scheduled therapy sessions weekly and we have a family session bi-weekly. If there is a crisis in the classroom, his psychologist is called to de-escalate. Each student also has a backup therapist whom they have a relationship with in case the primary therapist is unavailable.

Is RICA only for kids with disruptive or aggressive behaviors? This sounds like what my DC needs but their behavior is withdrawal and suicidal ideation. Is your son happy at RICA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would add that RICA has a psychologist assigned to each student and family. My son has scheduled therapy sessions weekly and we have a family session bi-weekly. If there is a crisis in the classroom, his psychologist is called to de-escalate. Each student also has a backup therapist whom they have a relationship with in case the primary therapist is unavailable.

Is RICA only for kids with disruptive or aggressive behaviors? This sounds like what my DC needs but their behavior is withdrawal and suicidal ideation. Is your son happy at RICA?

RICA is pretty much last resort. It’s highly coveted though because of the medical management. Likely they would look at ESESES for your DC if they are in HS. They may even try SESES. that’s the direction they wanted to go with mine but they tried to kill themselves in school a few times and kept eloping so the school didn’t think they could keep my DC safe and went with ESESES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't fully understand it all, but this is what I have gathered from this board regarding middle school programs.

Asperger's- almost fully mainstream, but with a separate resource class to help. There are also trained paraeducators in the classes to help the children meet their IEP goals. This program is run by the Autism unit. This program seems very similar to the amount of support for students in the GTLD program, though that program is run by the GT/LD unit.

SESES: Mostly mainstreamed with the possibility of a couple of self-contained classes dedicated to coping skills. For kids with behaviors but who can be mainstreamed with paras in the room to assist. From what I can gather, students often have ADHD, anxiety, and ODD in this program. The program has a dedicated social worker to help with behaviors that pop up.

Bridge: Much more restrictive than the first two. It is a separate wing of the school where the kids can stay all day if needed. Classes are small and taught by special educators. When kids are ready, they can be mainstreamed for a class or two, but spend most of the day in the separate wing. The program is for kids who have behaviors, but not aggressive behaviors. The most common diagnosis for Bridge seems to be HFA, though that is not required.

RICA: Even. more restrictive than Bridge. It is for kids who need self-contained classes but also might be aggressive. Has therapy incorporated into the program. There is no possibility of mainstreaming, but when kids are ready they can do part day at RICA and part-day at a local high school. To be placed in this program, students need to be recommended by the central IEP unit and also be admitted through an application and interview. Some parents have stated that it is hard to get admitted.

There is also something called ESESES that keeps coming up on the board as another option for high schoolers only, but I am not really sure where it fits with BRIDGE, SESES and RICA.

** I am just a parent who has tried to gather information over years of reading these boards. I am very sorry if I am misrepresenting any programs- please chime in if I am!

I'm a parent of a kid with autism, ADHD, anxiety and depression and our advocate has mentioned Bridge as a possibility for middle school so this is really helpful, PP! I've also wondered about SESES. Do you or anyone else know how lunch works in these programs? My kid has been in a small SN private and I think the big school cafeteria would be a real shock after so long in a school with small, quiet classroom lunches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't fully understand it all, but this is what I have gathered from this board regarding middle school programs.

Asperger's- almost fully mainstream, but with a separate resource class to help. There are also trained paraeducators in the classes to help the children meet their IEP goals. This program is run by the Autism unit. This program seems very similar to the amount of support for students in the GTLD program, though that program is run by the GT/LD unit.

SESES: Mostly mainstreamed with the possibility of a couple of self-contained classes dedicated to coping skills. For kids with behaviors but who can be mainstreamed with paras in the room to assist. From what I can gather, students often have ADHD, anxiety, and ODD in this program. The program has a dedicated social worker to help with behaviors that pop up.

Bridge: Much more restrictive than the first two. It is a separate wing of the school where the kids can stay all day if needed. Classes are small and taught by special educators. When kids are ready, they can be mainstreamed for a class or two, but spend most of the day in the separate wing. The program is for kids who have behaviors, but not aggressive behaviors. The most common diagnosis for Bridge seems to be HFA, though that is not required.

RICA: Even. more restrictive than Bridge. It is for kids who need self-contained classes but also might be aggressive. Has therapy incorporated into the program. There is no possibility of mainstreaming, but when kids are ready they can do part day at RICA and part-day at a local high school. To be placed in this program, students need to be recommended by the central IEP unit and also be admitted through an application and interview. Some parents have stated that it is hard to get admitted.

There is also something called ESESES that keeps coming up on the board as another option for high schoolers only, but I am not really sure where it fits with BRIDGE, SESES and RICA.

** I am just a parent who has tried to gather information over years of reading these boards. I am very sorry if I am misrepresenting any programs- please chime in if I am!

I'm a parent of a kid with autism, ADHD, anxiety and depression and our advocate has mentioned Bridge as a possibility for middle school so this is really helpful, PP! I've also wondered about SESES. Do you or anyone else know how lunch works in these programs? My kid has been in a small SN private and I think the big school cafeteria would be a real shock after so long in a school with small, quiet classroom lunches.

The SESES I toured had a quiet area and could be used for lunch if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would add that RICA has a psychologist assigned to each student and family. My son has scheduled therapy sessions weekly and we have a family session bi-weekly. If there is a crisis in the classroom, his psychologist is called to de-escalate. Each student also has a backup therapist whom they have a relationship with in case the primary therapist is unavailable.

Is RICA only for kids with disruptive or aggressive behaviors? This sounds like what my DC needs but their behavior is withdrawal and suicidal ideation. Is your son happy at RICA?

I don't know if it's only for kids with disruptive or aggressive behaviors. One of the downsides is that there really isn't a lot of community/parent involvement---there's no room parent in elem, there is no school orchestra or play where you see the other kids, no cross country track meets. Other than the kids names, I know nothing about my kids classmates.

My son loves RICA. It's quiet and very structured. He is thriving academically. Socially, it's a hard place to make friends.