Where Military Families

Reconnect

The Situation

2.2 million brave men and women have been deployed to Iraq

and Afghanistan.

• 1 in 50 returns home with physical disabilities

• 1 in 5 returns home with invisible injuries of war such as, TBI,

PTSD, alcoholism, anxiety and depression.

• Child abuse and neglect triples when a parent is deployed.

• The divorce rate among military couples has increased by 42%

since 9-11.

• Veterans of Iraq/Afghanistan are 3x more likely to be unemployed

and a growing number are becoming homeless.

• 18 Veterans Commit Suicide EVERY DAY.

The Mission

Mission Statement:

Project Sanctuary’s mission is to provide therapeutic, curative,

supportive and recreational activities to Veterans, active Military

personnel, their spouses and children in a leisure environment.

Additionally, services are then provided to the families for two years

to continue to offer the support required

Project Sanctuary is a Colorado non-profit which believes that the

whole family serves, and the best way to “support the troops” is by

supporting the family!

Founded in September of 2007 and since then Project Sanctuary has

hosted 22 therapeutic retreats and is providing support and services for

164 military families.

• 95 are active duty, 69 are veterans

• 80% are “wounded warriors” with PTSD and/or TBI, physical

wounds and/or amputations.

Project Sanctuary offers a variety of workshops and recreational opportunities

for service personnel to reacquaint themselves with their loved ones, building

new and lasting connections, additional supports and skills through workshops

including:

• Healthy Marriage Project – An interactive workshop designed to help you

find new ways to have fun together as a couple!

• Licensed Counselors – Licensed Therapist and a Recreational therapist

help facilitate the retreat experience

• Youth Programs – Assisting kids with structured activities while the parents

attend workshops and Hero’s Night Out.

• Financial Peace – Providing real financial tips and tools. We don’t just hand

out money, we teach skills.

Recreational activities include skiing, fishing, hiking, swimming and horse-back

riding and all activities are appropriate for even the youngest of family members

The execution

The execution Retreat Layout

Time Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6

Morning Family

Activity

Healthy

Marriage

Family

Activity

Family

Activity

Check-

Out

Afternoon Check In Healthy

Marriage

Family

Activity

Financial

Peace

Family

Photos

Evening Retreat

Overview

Campfire Karaoke Game

Night

Hero’s

Night Out (Spouse date

night)

Additional Support Provided throughout the Retreat

- Massage, Acupuncture and Acupressure - Veteran Peer Support - Military Spouse Peer Support

- Child care (infant through adolescent) - One-on-one counseling - Free time

Follow-up

• Post retreat, follow up with families continues for 2 years

• Continuity of Care - Added layer of support to smooth transitions….. most often these look like referrals to work with other agencies. – Employment support – Counseling (veteran, family, teen) – Financial (crisis and long term goals) – Referrals to support programs – Education support (wives grants) – Caregiver support – Alternative therapies (acupuncture, massage) – Crisis management – Transition support (retirement from military) – Reintegration support

The execution - Cost

• Each retreat is provided to military families at no cost

– Average 70% from Colorado with 3 families 4 that drive in

from out of state for each retreat

• The average cost for a 5-day retreat is $22,000 – Includes all meals, lodging, transportation, all activities and all

services

– Three paid staff and average of 20 volunteers

– Professional course leadership paid for control purposes

– Community support with in-kind donations

The Results

Retreats are conducted at YMCA of the Rockies in Granby, Colorado.

Retreats last 6 days and are all expense paid for our Military families.

Families are followed for 2 years for continuing support and services

Statistics for our 164 families:

• 155 families remain intact.

• One arrest.

• NO SUICIDES

Project Sanctuary has 3 employees and more than 200 volunteers

The Need • Over 800 families are on the waiting list for future

Project Sanctuary retreats – 66 retreats at a minimum

• Given the success rate for families participating in the program, there is real need to expand the availability of retreats.

• This need will only grow as the military seeks to downsize causing additional stresses on military families.

• Goal is to expand frequency of retreats and replicate in more geographic regions.

Thank you

Heather Ehle Founder and Executive Director heather@projectsanctuary.us O: 720-561-9193 M:303-359-6122