POMONA, Calif., June 26, 2009 — The deadline is approaching for military
personnel returning from service with moderate to severe traumatic brain
injury (TBI), and the families with whom they are reuniting, to register
for participation in a free “camp” designed to help them readjust
to home and community life in a relaxing and enjoyable setting. The registration
deadline is July 27, however, if spaces are available after that date,
additional applicants will be considered.
The Survive & Thrive Veterans and Families Project, launched by Casa
Colina Centers for Rehabilitation, will hold its first-ever session, Sept.
17-20, near Big Bear Lake in California’s San Bernardino Mountains.
Additional sessions for other families will be held in spring and fall 2010.
The camp is designed for Iraq/Afghanistan veterans and other service members
with traumatic brain injury and their families. Attendees will participate
in sports and outdoor activities, relax and enjoy nature in the peace
of beauty of the mountains, and talk with other TBI families to create
solutions to challenges. Casa Colina’s rehabilitation physicians
and licensed therapists will be available to assist participants as they
discover new ways to achieve a more successful and productive home life.
Casa Colina is currently accepting applications for the upcoming 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 prior to being accepted
for the program.
Casa Colina has received a grant from the McCormick Foundation’s
“Welcome Back Veterans” Initiative to pay for camp-related
costs, including housing, meals, activities and sports. Travel scholarships
are also available. All meals and amenities will be provided.
Of the estimated 75,000 service members of the current Iraq and Afghanistan
deployment who have survived with brain injuries, nearly 6,000 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. From this work, the staff at Casa Colina
understands that, for both the person with the brain injury and the entire
family, the process of reconnecting and re-integrating back into the home
and community can pose significant challenges.