In 2001, the Tennessee legislature passed T.C.A. §36-6-408 requiring divorcing parents to attend a four hour parenting class.  In response to this legislation, Kelly G. Cline founded LifeBridge with the approval and support of the Sumner County Courts.  Kelly's mission was to educate, motivate and encourage parents during this transition in their lives.  She understood that a healthy community of children begins with a healthy community of parents.  Kelly believed that education is a key to this health, and her work supported this goal.After a year of success, Emily Leonard and Sherry Crane, fellow professionals who shared the LifeBridge mission, joined the management team. Six additional instructors were added, and seminars were offered in seven counties throughout middle Tennessee.In 2006, LifeBridge was awarded first place in the Nashville business plan competition.  The group was honored not only for exceptional business practices, but for the value added benefit LifeBridge brings to the community.

In 2008, LifeBridge restructured to become a not-for-profit organization. The original partners are now members of the LifeBridge advisory board, and operations are being led by Mitzi L. Dorris.  Mitzi is passionate about helping children through educating parents.  With Mitzi's leadership, LifeBridge now has a new, state-of-the-art website. This platform will offer an online community where interested people can continue to develop their parenting skills as well as interact among other like-minded parents.  The site will provide resources to help answer a multitude of questions and concerns many parents often have. Another helpful function of the site is the ability for clients to register and pay for classes electronically.

In addition to the website, another recent accomplishment is the development of curriculum which carries the LifeBridge brand name.  Remaining true to the original LifeBridge mission, the first publication is entitled, "Building Bridges for Families of Divorce" developed by founder, Kelly G. Cline.  Under this new curriculum, LifeBridge now has a team of 12 independently certified instructors offering seminars in English and Spanish.  The seminars are currently held in 10 counties covering Middle Tennessee. The LifeBridge administrative office is located on historic Second Avenue in Nashville.  A new LifeBridge Center is scheduled to be licensed in Knoxville in Spring 2009.

LifeBridge is unique in several ways.Research shows that it is best for children when parents can learn to cooperate with one another.  The LifeBridge philosophy is that there is no time better than the present!  Therefore, unlike other providers, LifeBridge allows (even encourages) parents to attend the seminar together if they both choose to do so.  Learning conflict resolution skills is imperative to helping children adjust.  In addition, the advanced administrative abilities of LifeBridge will allow for a certificate of attendance to be filed directly with each court for divorcing parents in an expedient manner.  This reduces work load on attorneys, saving clients time and money.  Most importantly, LifeBridge is unique in that parents actually enjoy the classes.  Stories and role-plays make the information come to life.  LifeBridge instructors are experts in their fields, but they are also humble.  They understand that we are all human beings doing the best we can, with what we have, at the time.  Parents leave a LifeBridge seminar feeling refreshed, motivated and encouraged with a plan for the future.  That's what LifeBridge is all about…..Building Bridges for Better Tomorrows!

Thank you for considering LifeBridge to meet your parenting class needs.  We hope that you will find our seminar to be very worthwhile and informative and that the bonds of your family will be strengthened by the knowledge you gain!