Families sometimes need support.
Children always need stability.

Bridges works to strengthen families so children, parents, and communities can thrive.
In 2020, during the early months of the COVID pandemic, the Zolty Family took in a 15-year-old boy who suddenly had nowhere safe to go.
Through that experience, Rechy noticed a troubling gap: Lakewood had no structured system to support children whose homes were under significant strain.
Rechy spent months studying the long-term outcomes of children raised in difficult environments.
What she found was alarming.
Without the right support and guidance, many of these children struggle to build healthy, independent adult lives.
Yet she also noticed something hopeful. Children who ultimately thrived often had one thing in common—at some point, someone had offered them a nurturing atmosphere and a glimpse of a healthy home.
In 2021, Rechy founded Bridges to make that stability possible.
Bridges provides tailored, structured support to offer children safety and consistency during periods of family crisis.
At the same time, parents receive guidance and resources to help them regain their footing.
As Lakewood families began to experience real change, other communities wanted their own Bridges branches. Bridges subsequently opened in Brooklyn and Toronto, and it continues to expand.
By intervening early, Bridges prevents family instability from becoming a child's future.

Our guiding principles

A clear set of values guides how we care for families.

Protecting the parent–child bond

A child's relationship with their parents is their most foundational connection. Whenever feasible, Bridges works to preserve that bond while helping families regain their balance.

Professional care, not improvisation

Every Bridges case is guided by trained mental health professionals and clinical leadership, with decisions grounded in experience, evidence, and the principles of child attachment.

Empowerment over enablement

Our role is not to take over a family's responsibilities. It is to help parents regain the capacity, confidence, and support they need to lead their families again.

Kindness, transparency, and integrity

Families come to Bridges during vulnerable moments. We treat every interaction with compassion, professionalism, and deep respect for privacy and dignity.

Responsible collaboration

With a family's consent, Bridges works closely with schools, therapists, and community partners, while navigating systems such as PerformCare and CSOC to ensure care is coordinated and sustainable.
"As our city has grown, the needs have become more complex and more multifaceted. Bridges has stepped into the breach to formalize and standardize what was previously done on a very ad hoc basis and give it a process, legal backing, and a clinical standard."
Rabbi Uri Deutsch — community leader and Bridges Rabbinic Advisor
How it works

The framework behind Bridges

Learn More ABout our Programs
The difference this work makes

Careful, early support can change a family's trajectory.

89%
experienced reduced symptoms of depression or anxiety
83%
improved emotional regulation
53%
improved medication adherence
34%
increased school attendance
75%
demonstrated increased parental capacity
75%
achieved greater family stability or reunification
Source: Bridges 2025 Client Impact Report. Percentages reflect the proportion of family, child, and young adult clients demonstrating clinically documented progress across key life domains.
"We've seen a dramatic change in Adina.* For the first time, she's functioning well in school. She's happy in her classes and with her friends. She's not having outbursts, creating drama, or constantly needing attention. Now that she's receiving love and attention, she's just so much more settled."
The school of a Bridges child

*Name has been changed for privacy

Our Team

Leadership
Founder & Executive Director
Rechy Zolty
Clinical Director
Leah Nadler
Clinical Director
Bracha Steinberg
Director of Operations
Ahuva Sandler
Rabbinical Board
Rav Elya Brudny
Rav Uri Deutch
Rav Noam Rosenzweig
Advisory Board
Mrs. Chani Jakobowitz
Dr. Yossi Shafer, Ph.D.
Mr. Chaim Gross
Mr. Dovy Zolty
Mr. and Mrs. Simcha Applegrad
Mr. and Mrs. Sruli Werdiger
Mr. and Mrs. Zevi Kohn
Regional Teams

New Jersey (Lakewood)

NJ Legal Advisor
Miriam Zakarin, Esq.
Director of IIC Services
Miriam Semah
Care Managers
Aliza Greenwood
Esti Weinberger
Devorah Gejerman

Brooklyn

Executive Director
Rikki Janklowicz
Clinical Supervisor
Zahava Hurwitz
NY Legal Advisor
Blimi Zweigenhaft, Esq.
Care Managers
Rachelli Leshkowitz
Gabriella Edell

Toronto

Branch Director
Amiel Diamond
Care Manager
Raizy Stern
Our Team

Keystone

Bridges is part of Keystone, an ecosystem of organizations working to strengthen families and communities.

Bridges

Provides structured support for children facing challenging home environments.

Arches

Offers guidance and resources for couples navigating divorce.

Foundations

Provides clinical mental health services and therapeutic support.
While each program operates independently, they share a common philosophy.
Intervening early — before instability becomes entrenched
Strengthening families wherever possible, rather than replacing them
Preventing instability from becoming generational
Supporting families facing instability so children get the care they need to thrive .Bridges is part of The Keystone, a system of organizations working to strengthen families and communities.
Quick Links
DonateGet HelpRefer a FamilyContact UsPrograms & SupportHow Bridges WorksIIC & Therapy ServicesGet Involved
Our Locations
Bridges NJ
818 Green Valley Road
Jackson, NJ 08527info@bridgesforfamilies.org(732) 473-8496
Bridges Brooklyn
1238 East 29th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11210info@bridgesforfamilies.org(718) 490-5625
Bridges Toronto
3845 Bathurst Street, Suite 401
Toronto, Ontario M3H 3N2Toronto@bridgesforfamilies.org(647) 691 3860
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