Family Camp Targets Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury
May 26 2009
In one of the more innovative efforts to specifically assist military personnel returning from service with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), and the families with whom they are reuniting, Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation announced this week that it is launching the Survive & Thrive Veterans and Families Project.
This unique project consists of three different sessions. Each will bring together 12 different families – Iraq/Afghanistan Deployment (IAD) and other veterans with traumatic brain injury and their spouses, family caregivers, and/or parents. The first session will take place at a woodsy but very comfortable site near Big Bear Lake in California’s San Bernardino Mountains, where the soldiers and their families will participate in educational and therapeutic sessions, learn new coping and family support skills, solve problems, and develop new ways to communicate and thrive at home.
As they enjoy the outdoors and camaraderie, participants will gain new insight and life skills under the guidance of Casa Colina’s physicians, neuropsychologists and therapists, who will lead exercises and discussions designed to help learning, adapting and looking at the future with a new view. Casa Colina’s nationally renowned Outdoor Adventures recreational therapy team will guide activities and the family strengthening process. Camp staff will provide all meals and amenities.
Session one is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 17 to Sunday, Sept. 20. Additional sessions are planned for spring and fall 2010. To ensure there will only be a nominal charge of $35 per person to participating families, Casa Colina has received a generous grant from the McCormick Foundation’s “Welcome Back Veterans” Initiative to operate the sessions.
Casa Colina is currently accepting applications for the initial session, and interested families should contact the Survive & Thrive office at (909) 596-7733, extension 5577 or toll-free (800)926-5462, ext. 5577 or via e-mail at surviveandthrive@casacolina.org. All applicants must meet Casa Colina’s eligibility requirements.
Of the estimated 75,000 service members of the current Iraq and Afghanistan deployment who have survived with brain injuries, about 5,000 to 6,000 are more seriously affected and are classified as having ‘moderate’ to ‘severe’ brain injury.
People with traumatic brain injury have been the special focus of Casa Colina’s continuum of care, which has been developed for the general public for more than 30 years.
