Effective Therapeutic Recreation Programs : Veterans with TBI , PTSD, and Polytrauma

1. Effective Therapeutic Recreation Programs: Veterans with TBI , PTSD, and Polytrauma

2. Objectives • Define Recreation vs. Therapeutic Recreation • Outline concepts of participant selection • Communicate program goals • Outline factors in effective groups • Highlight the importance of supporter inclusion • Achievement of program goals through therapeutic initiatives • Facilitation of long term benefits • Prove program efficacy

3. Recreation vs. Therapeutic Recreation Recreation:activity that refreshes and rejuvenates, activity that renews your health and spirits by enjoyment and relaxation Therapeutic Recreation: treatment service designed to restore, remediate and rehabilitate a person’s level of functioning and independence in life activities, to promote health and wellness as well as reduce or eliminate the activity limitations and restrictions to participation in life situations caused by an illness or disabling condition

4. Program Goals • Learning or re-learning sports and recreational activities • Raising self-confidence and independence • Strengthening relationships with peers and supporters • Enhancing stress management and coping skills • Connecting veterans to recreation and other needed services in their home community • Encouraging veterans to apply the skills learned at the camp to other areas of their lives: work, school, family, health, and community • Providing long term benefits through follow-up, reintegration programs, and peer support system

5. Considerations in Selecting Participants • Qualifying Criteria: • Purple Heart, 100% rating, etc… • Physical injury vs. TBI PTSD • Challenges with Claims/Awards: • Lack of Homogeny • TBI/PTSD and qualifying for awards • Struggles between entities • Serving the highest need • The Importance of Assessment: • Qualified Staff • Thorough vetting process

6. Application and Rating • The personal touch • Assessing your clients • Waiting until they’re Ready • Finding Commonalities • Catering to client needs • Relationship Status • Injury Type • Gender • Deployment • Group Dynamics • Small group (6-10) • Leadership • Varying Stages of Recovery Creating A New Unit

7. Creating A New Unit • Initiating a sense of unity • Focusing on the Value of Peer Support • Ceremony in Joining the Unit • Accountability • Including Military • Tradition • Speaking the language • Structure in the daily routine • Officer vs. Enlisted • Symbolism in the Uniform • Unit Jacket • Unique Patch • Flag

8. Caring for the Caregiver Including the Supporter • Spouse • Family member or friend Education • Disability awareness • Communication • Self Care New Role as Caregiver PTSD Correlation

9. Daily Themes Bonds Win Battles: Recognize the value of peer support Live Your Passion: Identify the benefit of recreation in daily life I AM Valued: Affirm values in yourself and what others value about you Healing Tools : Learning what triggers stress and the tools available to alleviate it Taking it Home: Reflect on the accomplishments of the week, and develop a plan for using the lessons from camp to go forward in recovery Therapeutic Focus

10. Therapeutic Initiatives • Driving Home the Daily Theme • Morning Theme Introduction • Instructor and volunteer support • Dinner questions • Journaling • Separate daily debrief • Other Therapeutic Initiatives • Split day and night • Team building • Stretching and breathing • Token economy • Letters from loved ones • On your own night

11. Creating a Conducive Atmosphere Intimacy • Avoid the revolving door – instructors and volunteers • Keep staff to a minimum • Separate time Social Functions • Avoid the BIG crowds • Provide an escape • Progressive social oportunities Media • Participation by choice • Program promotion vs. Exploitation

12. Carrying the Momentum Home • Three year follow-up • Creating a social network • Scheduled calls • Pay it forward • Resources at home and beyond • Recreation resources • Other resources • Collaborating • Setting up for success • Reintegration • Recreation Interview • Setting Goals • Allocating a budget

13. Proving Efficacy Collaboration with Universities • Goals • Responsibilities and expectations • Contract • Publications Participant Compliance • Instilling a sense of duty • Pairing with follow-up Report • Therapist summaries • Program evaluations

14. Higher Ground Results

15. Contact Information For Information About Higher Ground www.hgvets.org Or Contact Bert Gillette, CTRS PH: (208)726-9298x6 Email: bert@svasp.org Higher Ground is a Program of Sun Valley Adaptive Sports