STAT Inc® Veteran Application

STAT® Welcomes you!

STAT® is excited to be awarded the 2022 VA Adaptive Sports grant to serve Veterans with Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and Riding programs at no cost.

STAT® provides a broad range of equine assisted services! We have equine specialists, mental health professionals, physical therapists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists. Veterans are at the HEART of STAT®. And we too are Veterans. Some of the STAT®️'s staff members are Veterans ourselves and most have family members who are Veterans and Service Members.

We are honored to help Veterans and their families heal, learn, and grow alongside horses through Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) individual and group programs that are mostly ground based.

STAT®️ is a Trauma Informed Care (TIC) Organization and we understand how past physical and/or emotional trauma can impact learning and connection, and want to give you options that best fit your needs and respect your privacy. Your responses are kept confidential with the STAT® Staff Team.

STAT® 's Safety Policy

Welcome Veterans and Loved Ones!

About You

Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Programs:

STAT® 's Team Approach: a Mental Health facilitator and Equine Specialist. Mounted exercises on horses are optional.

Teams are certified in two EAL Protocols: Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) with an Individual Military Designation and the OK Corral Crisis Series.

• We offer either group classes or individual classes for two EAL Programs: STAT®'s EQuine Affect(SM) and Stable Thinking for Stable Living. After completion in one of the EAL programs, you will have the opportunity to advance to Hippotherapy or Adaptive Riding. Acceptance into the Trail Riding experience will be done on an individual basis as determined by our therapists, equine professionals and instructors.
• You will have the opportunity to participate in both EAL classes offered. After you participate in one of STAT® 's EAL programs: EQuine Affect(SM) or Stable Thinking for Stable Living, you can ask to be placed on a waitlist to start the other EAL program. Why? So that other Veterans waiting can begin their first EAL program. Once the waitlist opens, you will then have an opportunity to sign up for the other EAL program classes.

Program Selection:

St. Joseph Institute for Addiction: Residential Program: Veteran Program: STAT® EQuine Affect(SM) in Port Matilda, PA

*This program is offered once a month on a Saturday

Ft. Ligonier Event with: STAT®'s EQuine Affect(SM):

Veteran Program: STAT EQuine Affect(SM):

Veteran Program: Stable Thinking for Stable Living

Veteran & Spouse Together Small Group Programs

Gold Star Families of Veterans Small Group Programs

Caregivers of Veterans Small Group Programs

Spouses of Veterans Small Group Programs

Children and Teens of Veterans Program: STAT® Inc EQuine Affect(SM):

Adolescent Small Group Programs

Location(s)

Class Schedule Start Dates: Group Classes: EQuine Affect(SM) & Stable Thinking for Stable Living are scheduled monthly.

Group class days and times vary throughout the year.

Late Fall/Winter: Individual programs are scheduled on an individual basis with 10am morning to 5pm evening times. Spring, Summer, and Early Fall we have classes until 7pm.

Riding Programs

After completion of one of STAT®'s EAL ground based programs (listed above), you can apply to participate in a riding program that fits your needs (Hippotherapy or Adaptive Riding).

Riding classes are individualized for beginners up to experienced equestrians. No matter your level of skill, the classes are designed to assist you in gaining confidence and connection.

Medical & Behavioral Health History

Help us understand your needs:

A Trauma Informed Approach to Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), Hippotherapy, and Certified Therapeutic Horseback Riding Instruction

The Five Guiding Principles of Trauma Informed Care (TIC)

STAT® Inc uses Fallot & Harris, PhDs (2015) Five Guiding Principles of TIC: safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment.

• Safety: Ensuring physical and emotional safety of clients. Every client is briefly screening for trauma, as it influences responses to horses, self, staff and services.
• Trustworthiness: Staff are consistent, predictable, and set healthy physical and emotional boundaries.
• Choice: Participants have choices about horse selection, physical spaces, and permission to touch if there is a safety (e.g., a foot is out of a stirrup and can’t find footing) and discuss emergency protocols that involve necessary physical support for safety
• Collaboration: Staff and participants discuss goals that focus on resilience, pace, personal growth, and what clients want to accomplish.
• Empowerment: Staff encourage and empower participants to build on strengths (i.e., growth mindset) while developing coping skills, which fosters a growth mindset.

Our EAL programs have a Mental Health Facilitator working alongside a Certified Equine Specialist who will support you though trauma informed programming outlined above. We get it. We see you. We understand. The horses also provide immediate reassurance with their presence.

Is Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Psychotherapy?

No. Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) teaches about a growth mindset to build confidence, motivation, problem solving, and communication without discussing trauma or mental health conditions. While EAL is not mental health treatment, it is often described as therapeutic, educational, and enjoyable.

EAL is not to be confused with Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), which is mental health treatment (e.g., PTSD, Anxiety, Depression). If you are already receiving mental health care, let your mental health treatment provider know about your interest in participating the EAL program.

What do you want to get from Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)?

Horseback Riding Experience

Applicant Information

Emergency Contact Information

Guardian Information

This confidential application for VA Adaptive Sports-22 Grant is received by the STAT®️'s CEO and a designated staff member only. A staff member will be in touch within a week to schedule a brief phone call to ensure fit for recreational programming and answer questions. Submitting this form does not indicate immediate acceptance into any programming. Please feel free to contact STAT® at 833-328-STAT (7828), or via email at stat_veteran_program_inquiry@nym.hush.com

By submitting this form you give STAT®'s staff permission to call or email you to briefly discuss the information on the form and programming.