In 2026, the Bridge Center launched CA Bridge Connect, a new free and confidential text and phone line funded by the California Department of Healthcare Services. The helpline connects anyone struggling with drugs or alcohol to addiction treatment, overdose prevention, and other resources the same day they need it. For this rapid-response service to succeed, CA Bridge Connect must build effective partnerships with referring organizations across the state and earn the trust of the people it aims to serve. Doing so requires a clear understanding of how stakeholders and potential participants perceive the service, what barriers might keep people from using it, and how to accurately and compellingly promote it.
Facente Consulting is interviewing stakeholders throughout California and conducting focus groups with people who use drugs to gather comprehensive insights into how CA Bridge Connect is perceived and experienced. These insights will inform a brief report of actionable recommendations to strengthen program messaging and implementation. Facente Consulting is also developing a graphic theory of change that the Bridge Center can use to communicate its approach and anticipated impact to external audiences, including funders, partners, and the public. Together, these deliverables will help CA Bridge Connect build the trust and partnerships it needs to reach people who use drugs quickly and effectively, ultimately connecting more Californians to life-saving treatment and resources when they need them most.