Connecting Youth. Strengthening Relationships. Building Community.

The Bridge and Anchor Youth Initiative is Linked Family Services' youth-focused initiative supporting children and young adults ages 4–21 through education, wellness, meaningful engagement, and systems advocacy.

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What makes Bridge and Anchor unique is our commitment to supporting not only young people but also the relationships that help them thrive. We believe every young person needs a bridge to opportunities, resources, and supportive experiences and an anchor of stability, encouragement, and connection. That anchor does not have to be a biological parent. It can be a grandparent, foster parent, relative, coach, teacher, mentor, or another trusted adult who plays a meaningful role in a young person's life.

Rather than focusing solely on youth, we intentionally create opportunities for young people and their trusted adults to learn, connect, communicate, and grow together. Our approach recognizes that strengthening these relationships is an important part of supporting healthy youth development and preventing challenges from escalating into crises.

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Our Programs and Activities

Youth and Family Engagement Activities

Our youth and family engagement activities bring young people and the adults who support them together through interactive learning, wellness education, recreation, and shared community experiences.

These activities promote confidence, healthy communication, emotional well-being, positive relationships, and meaningful connections across generations.

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MIRRORS 

A Girls and Mother Figures Interactive Series

Helping Girls See Their Own Worth Through the Women Who Love Them.

MIRRORS is a developing series designed to strengthen connections between girls and the mothers, mother figures, and trusted women who support them.

Through age-appropriate interactive experiences, MIRRORS will explore confidence, self-worth, positive self-image, identity, emotional expression, and communication. The series also encourages adult participants to reflect on how their words, attitudes, and behaviors can influence the way girls learn to see themselves.

MIRRORS will be shaped by the voices and experiences of girls and their caregivers, with programming anticipated to begin in 2027.

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Pads & Pencils -

Pads & Pencils is our annual youth health and wellness event focused on menstrual education, period poverty, body awareness, confidence, and access to essential products.

Through educational activities, community engagement, and resource distribution, Pads & Pencils creates opportunities for girls, caregivers, healthcare professionals, educators, and community leaders to address issues affecting young people's health, dignity, and educational experiences.

Our goal is to reduce stigma, promote education, and ensure that young people have the information and resources they need to navigate their development with confidence.

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Systems Advocacy and Education

We recognize that young people and their families often navigate systems that influence their education, health, safety, and overall well-being.

Through community education, awareness-building, partnerships, and advocacy, we work to elevate the experiences of children, youth, and caregivers while encouraging more responsive and supportive practices across schools, healthcare, child welfare, and other youth-serving systems.

Our advocacy emphasizes prevention, caregiver empowerment, equitable access to resources, and the importance of addressing family needs before challenges escalate into crises.

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Our Commitment

At Linked Family Services, we believe supporting young people means strengthening the relationships and environments surrounding them.

Through Bridge and Anchor, we are creating opportunities for youth to develop confidence, build meaningful connections, and access supportive experiences alongside the people who help guide their lives.

Because when we strengthen the relationships surrounding young people, we strengthen the foundation on which they grow.