ServingTogether, a program of
EveryMind
, is here to make it easier for all of those who have served in the Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves, and their families, to access the local services they have earned.
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Fairfax County Veterans Collaborative
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Thanks to all that attended our February 4th Meeting!
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Meeting Notes from Feb 4:
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John Mory, Virginia Regional Manager, with Veterans Yoga Project provided us an overview of Veterans Yoga Project including a briefing on stress, trauma, mindfulness, and resiliency.
Veterans Yoga Project has three main initiatives:
- Bring Yoga Classes to Veterans through VA clinics, non-profits, universities, and more.
- Teacher Training in mindful resilience to to yoga teachers and healthcare professionals.
- Healing Retreats for veterans and caregivers.
These initiatives are designed to bring self‐regulation tools and social and professional support to our veterans, f
amilies, and communities.
The
Mindful Resilience
program consists of five tools for self‐regulation:
• Breath
• Meditation
• Mindful Movement
• Guided Rest
• Gratitude
These evidence‐based tools help veterans breathe easy, focus clearly, move freely, rest deeply, and remember to be thankful for what is working well in their lives.
Veterans Yoga Project has over 1,000 teachers across the country, including 100 in Northern Virginia.
They provide scholarships to 30 veterans per year for the Teacher Training classes.
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Julia Furgurson, Program Manager with Project Healing Waters joined us to provide an overview of the work they provide nationwide.
Project Healing Waters is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings.
They began in 2005 serving wounded military service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, PHWFF has expanded nationwide, establishing its highly successful program in Department of Defense hospitals, Warrior Transition Units, and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and clinics. They are located in nearly every state providing cost-free fly-fishing education to disabled veterans (any rating 0 to 100% or those in the process of awaiting their claim).
Their services are often connected with a Fly Fishing Club in the area who provides the expertise and helps veterans learn how to tie a fly, rod building, and practicing casting. They chapters are volunteer-led and can provide veterans with a sense of peace, community of peers, and mindfulness. They have access to adaptive equipment, and try to be inclusive as possible, helping disabled veterans set long-term goals to help them develop find motor skills, mobility and even balance.
They also provide National outings in Montana, Alaska and Colorado. As well as compete in National Competitions including ties, rods, and casting.
There are numerous programs in the National Capital Region, including close by at Fort Belvoir.
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Our Co-Chair Michele Khol, Director of Operations with MK9s Service Dogs joined us to share more about the work she does to train service dogs for veterans.
MK9s received their 501(c)3 status in June 2019, a newer organization here in Northern Virginia helping to provide
highly trained service dogs to maximize the independence and quality of life of veterans with physical and/or mental health disabilities at no cost to the veteran.
Three things set MK9s Service Dogs apart:
- Incorporation of the veteran into the puppy’s training process at the start which provides immediate hope for the veteran and critical canine-veteran bonding nearly 18 months earlier than other programs
- Positive human / canine relationships
- All Volunteer force of professional dog trainers, puppy raisers, and staff who are motivated by the mission-not-pay-allowing MK9s Service Dogs to acquire, care for, and train a service dog for approximately $7,500 vice the $28,000 or more other organizations require.
They temperament test the puppies with the Veteran, and the veteran gets to have 2x monthly relationship sessions with the puppy as it goes through the 18-24 month training. This allows them to learn language that needs to be used, how to care for the dog, as well as ability to bond with them from early on. This provides both an emotional connection and working relationship. The dogs are trained in the community helping them to learn skills they will need in every day life, such as Shopping Cart Training.
All the puppies are named after fallen service members and they almost exclusively use Labs and German Shepherds.
How you can help:
- Sponsorships: Help to defray the $7500 cost per Service Dog in Training
- Become a Canine Mentor and raise one of our amazing Service Dogs
- Become a Service Dog in Training Sitter
- Volunteer your professional skills to help with marketing, sponsorships, communications, etc.
- Donate supplies needed to raise and train our puppies
- Host a fundraising event
- Share our information with a veteran in need
- Have another idea? Contact us
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Collaborative Member Updates
Upcoming Events:
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We look forward to seeing you soon!
Thank you from your Fairfax County Veterans Collaborative Co-Chairs,
Christy Kenady
Northern Virginia Program Manager
703-288-5355
Michele Khol
Director of Operations
MK9s Service Dogs
703-336-3618
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Apr 7; Jun 2; Aug 4; Oct 6; Dec 1
1 – 3 pm, Location: TBD
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Please continue to share information, services & events with the Veterans Collaborative through this email. We appreciate your partnership and continued support of the Collaborative.
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