Overview of Project Sanctuary which helps military families reconnect following deployment.

1. Where Military Families
Reconnect

2. 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.

3. The Mission
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.
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

4. The execution
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

5. The execution
Retreat Layout
Time Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6
Morning Family Healthy Family Family Check-
Activity Marriage Activity Activity Out
Afternoon Check In Healthy Family Financial Family
Marriage Activity Peace Photos
Evening Retreat Campfire Karaoke Game Hero’s
Overview Night Night Out
(Spouse date
night)
Additional Support Provided throughout the Retreat
- Massage, Acupuncture and Acupressure - Child care (infant through adolescent)
- Veteran Peer Support - One-on-one counseling
- Military Spouse Peer Support - Free time

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

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