Help Combat Veterans Rehabilitate
Donation protected
OUR PROGRAM
Our non-profit is a certified 501(c)3 through GoFundMe (click here). From The Ground On Up is currently working on developing a program using Equine Guided Learning (EGL) geared towards the rehabilitation of combat veterans in conjunction with local and surrounding Veterans Court systems. Our program is designed to:
*Provide participants with an opportunity to identify belief systems and re-examine their purpose.
*Provides a peaceful environment to try out new behaviors and receive instant feedback.
*Assists participants in developing an approach to life that enables them to live fully and awaken to their life’s purpose.
*Provides a more visceral (feelings) and tactile (touch) understanding of personal growth opportunities beyond intellectual awareness.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP
We must raise $4,000 by March 15th for completion of PHASE 1.
The first priority is to raise awareness in order to generate funding. It is very difficult for a therapeutic horse/veteran program to execute our mission and raise money for our cause simultaneously. We want to be able to cover our minimum operating expenses of our therapeutic program so funds raised locally can go directly towards enhancing the lives of our veterans.
The VA estimates that 22 veterans commit suicide daily. As shocking as the number is, it may actually be higher. In 2012 over 5 million veterans called in to the VA Crisis Line while over 30 per day still attempted suicide. This means that over 52 veterans per day are reaching a point where they feel they have no other options but to take their own lives. "Nearly one in five suicides nationally is a veteran, even though veterans make up about 10% of the U.S. population," (article here). Common reasons for this include: depression, manic depression and alcohol abuse. These are all problems that are fundamentally treatable at some level as long as there is a program with resources available and can be provided in a timely manner. VA Report
PLAN OF ACTION
Our staff has already begun the treatment on many individuals using EGL (horses) and is looking to expand by beginning with a model off of an already successful program running in CA.
In order to develop this program we have several steps that we must follow in order quickly respond to the needs of the veterans in our community.
1. A trip to Wild Horse Warriors in order to experience the program as well as interview current operators. This is part of our due diligence and fact finding. Their program houses veterans on site and we would like clarification on the residential aspect, the wild horse aspect and the actual horse activities in order to clearly develop our specific program. Our expected expenses would be $1200 per person tuition plus airfare. Accommodations, ground transport from airport to ranch and all meals are covered in the tuition. We anticipate sending up to 3 staff for this discovery. We must raise $4,000 by March 15th for completion of PHASE 1.
2. The second part we need to raise funds for development of our 'proof of concept'. This is where details of the exact design of our veterans program from start to finish will be launched alongside of a consultant who is familiar with the work. Based on observations, outcomes, and input we will then improve the process and immediately put participants (our referred clients from the Court system) through the program to validate it. This will include all travel and accommodations and meal expenses for our consultant who has offered his time at no cost because of his belief in our program.
3. Lastly, we will launch our complete program to begin accepting veterans.
EQUINE GUIDED LEARNING
Equine Guided Learning activities pair the participant with the horse in a number of exercises designed to promote self-awareness, non-verbal communication, leadership, problem-solving skills, and more. The horses
are excellent teachers because they are hard-wired to perceive and respond to incongruence or dissonance in the environment. Each exercise provides the opportunity for personal insight. The exercises are sequenced to build upon the prior lesson, so that the participant has a continuous reinforcement of earlier insights and shifts. Experiential learning has been shown to have significantly higher retention and recall than passive learning because all the senses are involved, creating multiple avenues for perceiving and learning.
A PURPOSE AFTER HEALING
One of the focuses that our program has in assisting people with healing includes finding a purpose in order to serve humanity with their unique gifts and abilities. Our organization partners with other local outreaches in order to help accomplish this. Once veterans receive treatment, they will also have the opportunity to participate and have exposure to different activities that may bring out their inner talents or help to hone them in. Many of these activities are designed to inspire the creative mind and are geared towards spending time in nature in order to accomplish this. Sustainability is a key point that we are trying to achieve and so we are also partnering with local farms to provide partnership opportunities in organic farming. This will also help provide the community with more access to food and the farmers access to help.
Click here for more information on our organization and to visit our website: FROM THE GROUND ON UP
Click here for an article with the Livingston County Press & Argus: Press Release
Our non-profit is a certified 501(c)3 through GoFundMe (click here). From The Ground On Up is currently working on developing a program using Equine Guided Learning (EGL) geared towards the rehabilitation of combat veterans in conjunction with local and surrounding Veterans Court systems. Our program is designed to:
*Provide participants with an opportunity to identify belief systems and re-examine their purpose.
*Provides a peaceful environment to try out new behaviors and receive instant feedback.
*Assists participants in developing an approach to life that enables them to live fully and awaken to their life’s purpose.
*Provides a more visceral (feelings) and tactile (touch) understanding of personal growth opportunities beyond intellectual awareness.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP
We must raise $4,000 by March 15th for completion of PHASE 1.
The first priority is to raise awareness in order to generate funding. It is very difficult for a therapeutic horse/veteran program to execute our mission and raise money for our cause simultaneously. We want to be able to cover our minimum operating expenses of our therapeutic program so funds raised locally can go directly towards enhancing the lives of our veterans.
The VA estimates that 22 veterans commit suicide daily. As shocking as the number is, it may actually be higher. In 2012 over 5 million veterans called in to the VA Crisis Line while over 30 per day still attempted suicide. This means that over 52 veterans per day are reaching a point where they feel they have no other options but to take their own lives. "Nearly one in five suicides nationally is a veteran, even though veterans make up about 10% of the U.S. population," (article here). Common reasons for this include: depression, manic depression and alcohol abuse. These are all problems that are fundamentally treatable at some level as long as there is a program with resources available and can be provided in a timely manner. VA Report
PLAN OF ACTION
Our staff has already begun the treatment on many individuals using EGL (horses) and is looking to expand by beginning with a model off of an already successful program running in CA.
In order to develop this program we have several steps that we must follow in order quickly respond to the needs of the veterans in our community.
1. A trip to Wild Horse Warriors in order to experience the program as well as interview current operators. This is part of our due diligence and fact finding. Their program houses veterans on site and we would like clarification on the residential aspect, the wild horse aspect and the actual horse activities in order to clearly develop our specific program. Our expected expenses would be $1200 per person tuition plus airfare. Accommodations, ground transport from airport to ranch and all meals are covered in the tuition. We anticipate sending up to 3 staff for this discovery. We must raise $4,000 by March 15th for completion of PHASE 1.
2. The second part we need to raise funds for development of our 'proof of concept'. This is where details of the exact design of our veterans program from start to finish will be launched alongside of a consultant who is familiar with the work. Based on observations, outcomes, and input we will then improve the process and immediately put participants (our referred clients from the Court system) through the program to validate it. This will include all travel and accommodations and meal expenses for our consultant who has offered his time at no cost because of his belief in our program.
3. Lastly, we will launch our complete program to begin accepting veterans.
EQUINE GUIDED LEARNING
Equine Guided Learning activities pair the participant with the horse in a number of exercises designed to promote self-awareness, non-verbal communication, leadership, problem-solving skills, and more. The horses
are excellent teachers because they are hard-wired to perceive and respond to incongruence or dissonance in the environment. Each exercise provides the opportunity for personal insight. The exercises are sequenced to build upon the prior lesson, so that the participant has a continuous reinforcement of earlier insights and shifts. Experiential learning has been shown to have significantly higher retention and recall than passive learning because all the senses are involved, creating multiple avenues for perceiving and learning.
A PURPOSE AFTER HEALING
One of the focuses that our program has in assisting people with healing includes finding a purpose in order to serve humanity with their unique gifts and abilities. Our organization partners with other local outreaches in order to help accomplish this. Once veterans receive treatment, they will also have the opportunity to participate and have exposure to different activities that may bring out their inner talents or help to hone them in. Many of these activities are designed to inspire the creative mind and are geared towards spending time in nature in order to accomplish this. Sustainability is a key point that we are trying to achieve and so we are also partnering with local farms to provide partnership opportunities in organic farming. This will also help provide the community with more access to food and the farmers access to help.
Click here for more information on our organization and to visit our website: FROM THE GROUND ON UP
Click here for an article with the Livingston County Press & Argus: Press Release
Organizer
Brigette Patton
Organizer
Genoa Township, MI
