Bridgette Exum
Employment Consultant
This year, Bridgette Exum has continued to show up for an individual navigating homelessness. When he first came to Continuum, Bridgette had to think creatively just to help him get through each day — finding places for him to go when libraries were closed, all while he carried his luggage and had to return to shelters by specific times to secure a bed for the night.
The challenges only grew from there. When his DVR-funded services shrank under cost containment at the end of 2025, Bridgette got creative again, stretching every authorized hour to help him get connected with Developmental Pathways and onto a waiver — balancing leading the process with empowering him to take ownership of it. When he secured long-term shelter placement in late 2025, his disengagement from services caused his case to close, forcing them to start the time-sensitive process over. Bridgette stayed with him through it, and he has just been approved for the CMHS waiver.
Bridgette’s steady, adaptable support through housing instability and repeated setbacks reflects what person-centered care looks like in practice. As one individual she supports put it, Bridgette is the “greatest, sweetest person who is always in my corner,” making her a highly deserving nominee for Direct Service Professional of the Year.