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                       The Science

The Scientific Foundation for
the Family Bridges Program

The principles, syllabus, and procedures of Family Bridges are firmly grounded in well-accepted peer-reviewed scientific research in cognitive, social, and developmental psychology, sociology, and social neuroscience. In essence, the program offers an intensive course on concepts taught in formal classrooms, adapting and tailoring the syllabus, selection of materials, and procedures to the developmental level and circumstances of the children. The design of the lessons and learning environment is consistent with scientific evidence-based instruction principles.

This scientific basis for Family Bridges was noted by Dr. Joan Kelly, a leading authority on divorce, who wrote:

“In the overall development of Family Bridges, its goals and principles, and particularly the varied and relevant materials selected for use with parents and children, the incorporation of relevant social science research was evident. Further, the daily structure and manner of presentation of the Family Bridges Workshop were guided by well-established evidence-based instruction principles and incorporated multi-media learning, a positive learning environment, focused lessons addressing relevant concepts, and learning materials providing assistance with integration of materials.

The most striking feature of the Family Bridges Workshop was the empirical research foundation underlying the specific content of the four day educational program. The lessons and materials were drawn from universally accepted research in social, cognitive, and child developmental psychology, sociology, and social neuroscience.”

The Family Bridges is based upon:
  • well-accepted peer-reviewed scientific research in cognitive, social, and developmental psychology, sociology, and social neuroscience
  • a curriculum grounded in scientific evidence-based instruction principles
What Judges, Parents, and Children Say About Building Family Bridges™
“If it were not for the Family Bridges workshop we would never be where we are now. Now things are going really
well with the kids. My son has been talking so much about all his thoughts and feelings about what has happened
these last few years . . . Things are relaxed, with nothing more than the normal ups and downs of daily life.”
a 19-year-old who previously participated in the workshop
What Judges, Parents, and Children Say About Building Family Bridges™
“It has been one year since we were awarded custody of the children. It has been a phenomenal year… so full of
blessings. The children have adjusted so well, have made terrific friends, and have excelled in school. We are a
family.”
a grateful mother
What Judges, Parents, and Children Say About Building Family Bridges™
“The kids are doing amazing. I am so happy!! People keep remarking that they are completely different kids. My
daughter is enjoying being a teenager and it is amazing to be able to text her and laugh with her (when she’s not
being a typical crazy teenage girl) and get to be her Mom again.”
formerly alienated mother of two teens
What Judges, Parents, and Children Say About Building Family Bridges™
“It was an educational program consisting of no apparent purpose other than the delivery of information and the
children could do with it what they pleased. By Day Two both sons asked if their dad could participate in the
intervention. The intervention gave us a method of communicating that enabled us to move beyond the effects of
the divorce. For the first time in years, I felt I could have a normal conversation with my sons.”
a formerly alienated mother of two teen sons
The Family Bridges Workshop is a structured, four-day education experience to help alienated children and a rejected parent begin restoring a positive relationship in a relaxed setting.
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