BridgeYear's
COVID-19 Response

Taking Care of Yourself and Others

Continue keeping our BridgeYear and Greater Houston community healthy.

As youth in the communities we serve continue to be disproportionately affected by the global pandemic, we at BridgeYear are practicing healthy behaviors to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Our COVID-19 Response

In alignment with the CDC’s Guidance on COVID-19, as well as consultation with other nonprofits and public health experts, BridgeYear has decided to implement the following updated COVID-19 protocol.

  1. Mandated Vaccine: BridgeYear has mandated vaccines to protect our staff and the students we serve in person.
  2. Mask Policy: BridgeYear employees remain masked in schools as it continues to offer one of the strongest tools to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in schools.

To learn more about precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, view the COVID-19 Community Level based on your area.

Career Test Drive® Fairs Return to School

Learn more about the Career Test Drive® Program

After pausing our Career Test Drive® Fairs in March 2020, BridgeYear made a return to schools in the Spring of 2022!

Our staff continues to remain masked to protect those who are high-risk in school and public settings. Through our safety measures, students have been able to explore careers through our immersive, hands-on career simulations, allowing them to build career identities as they learn which careers fit their interests and skills. Students have engaged in real-life career tasks in fields such as Phlebotomy, Medical Lab Technician, Web Developer, Electrician, Plumber, and Auto Technician! 

4.85 Average Overall Experience Rating
4.85/5
Phlebotomist Simulation
Medical Lab Technician Simulation
Web Developer Simulation
Electrician Simulation
Plumber Simulation
Automotive Technician Simulation
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At the end of the 2021-2022 School Year, BridgeYear collected student surveys based on the Career Test Drive® experience, and the results were interesting. Out of our 7,009 participants:

0 %
of students stated they have a better understanding of their career interests after participating in a Career Test Drive® experience.
0 %
of students improved their understanding of one or more careers and what these professionals do for work.
0 %
of the students who participated in a Career Test Drive® Fair rated their overall experience as good.
0 %
of the students increased their confidence that they would do well in a career with training.
"I am interested in being an EMT so I chose this station because it deals with medical needs that I would need to be aware of. This experience is proving to me that I am not grossed out by bodily fluids and I could really help a patient in need.”
Jennifer, Medical Lab Technician Simulation
Northside High School, May 2022

We Need Your Support

The pandemic has disproportionately affected low-income communities. Support BridgeYear in our continued efforts to help underserved youth build a more resilient and successful postsecondary future.
Donate