TRAUMA-FOCUSED-EQUINE-THERAPY.PDF

Created: 03/06/2018 • Last updated: 03/07/2018
General information
Organization Equine Spirit Programs
Contact First name Julie
Contact Last name Jimenez
Contact e-mail equinespiritprograms@gmail.com
Contact phone number 4802992506
Address
Street 17016 E. San Tan Blvd
City Queen Creek
State az
ZIP Code 85142
From what tribe is the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
organization requesting the
grant?
Total grant amount request 70000.00
1 / 1


Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
2018 Arizona Benefits Fund Grant Application
Applicant Information:
Local Government Entity :
Maricopa County Government Relations
301 W. Jefferson 10th floor Phoenix, AZ 85032
Denny Barney, Board of Supervisor Chairman
Zachary Wolfe, Authorized Municipality Representative
Primary Contact: Julie Jimenez, MSW, Program Manager
Equine Spirit Programs
17016 E. San Tan Blvd
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
equinespiritprograms@gmail.com
480 299 2506

Narrative: 1. Proposed Program: Trauma Focused Equine Therapy / Continuing
Project
The Equine Spirit Program (ESP) is a successful Equine Assisted Learning program
with a 8 year history of promoting resilience among at-risk youth and most recently the
addition of veterans and their families. ESP is an established non-profit since 2014.
Equine Assisted Learning is listed as a Best Practice in the First Nations Behavioral
Health Association Catalogue of Effective Behavioral Health Practices. The mission of
the program is to empower, enrich and educate its participants, by providing a safe,
research based, equine focused educational experience. Why do we do this work? We
truly believe that every person needs to feel healthy and happy to be able to reach their
individual goals and potential. ESP connects rehabilitated horses with youth, adults,
military veterans, and their families to promote self-discovery, target areas of personal
growth, and mental health.
We offer an activity focused life skill program that utilizes a research based equine
assisted learning model, EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Assn.). The
goal of the ESP program is to provide a safe experiential environment in order to reduce
the effects of traumatic experiences while promoting healing thru emotional self
regulation which improves mental and physical health. This goal is met by utilizing
equine assisted learning activities in which the personal interactions between humans
and horses strengthen connections that are generally affected in this population. The
targeted area of growth for this grant proposal will be to address the effects of trauma
and adverse childhood experiences and assist in the self directed healing process of the
participants and their family members.
2. Purpose of the program/Funding Priorities
The program purpose/goal is to provide health promotion education for children and their
family members suffering from adverse childhood experiences/trauma. Health education
includes improving life skills which are developed to meet the individual’s personal goals.
These skills increase their sense of purpose and connectedness to their peers, family
members, school and community. This increase in connectedness has a direct
correlation to reducing the of adverse childhood experiences/trauma which includes but
is not limited to growing up with physical or mental abuse, household dysfunction,
parental divorce or separation, domestic violence, substance use and incarceration of
family members.

Equine Assisted Learning ( EAL) is experiential in nature, allowing participants to learn
about themselves and others by participating in activities with the horses and then
processing their responses. The focus is on ground activities, there is no riding, which
requires the participant to develop and apply certain life skills that can be translated
from the arena to their personal life in order to improve their interactions with family,
school and community.
4 cycles of 8 (1hour) EAL sessions will be delivered at the Equine Spirit Ranch in
Queen Creek, a community which lies adjacent to Gila River Indian Community and
Gilbert. Participants are continually engaged in their own healing process. Each
behavioral health educational session builds upon each other and includes creative
thinking, communication, problem solving, work ethic, responsibility, teamwork, and
respect for the individuals’ personal and cultural differences, self confidence and
attitude, all cornerstones for a positive mental health standard of living.
The educational equine sessions will include 12 activities that develop and enhance
positive behavioral health resiliency characteristics. Our partners have agreed to refer
all youth through their referral system, transportation is provided by partners’ staff or the
family of the referred youth. Partners also agree to assist with the distribution and
collection of evaluation surveys as needed.
EAL is a research based strategy to health & education, two of Fort McDowell’s funding
priorities.
3. Need, Program Population Targeted, Estimated Number Served
There is a perceived need of this underserved rural community to have accessible youth
focused life skills programming to promote the individuals’ abilities to overcome the
barriers presented by childhood trauma. Increasing the ability of youth to participate in
community programs that promote positive behavioral health and self directed life
building strategies will contribute to the overall health of a growing community. This is
supported by the 3 community partners involved in this proposal. There will be 144
sessions/hours of programming available for participants. Each session can
accommodate up to 12 participants per session.
4. Partners of the Program/ other applications
ESP is a non –profit working in partnership with the students from area schools, i.e., American
Leadership Academy, Kyrene Middle School, Casteel High School and Residential Respite
Care Facilities, i.e, New Horizon Community Care, Achieve Youth Services, Against All Odds
group home. Families who home school their children have been requesting our equine
services for the past year as we apply for funding through various grant avenues.

Parents state that as their child benefits from an alternative form of education they would also
benefit from an alternative type of therapeutic behavioral intervention. There are numerous
youth facilities in the Chandler, Gilbert area which provides residential and respite care for youth
in need of social rehabilitation, behavior modification, improved wellness and living skills. ESP
has conducted services for New Horizons girl’s residential home during 2016 and the agency
reported the services were much needed and the girls greatly benefitted We have provided
special event services for those attending Achieve youth services and the young mothers and
their babies who live at Against All Odds group home in 2017 and 2018..ESP provides services
to Casteel High School for students who faced expulsion for disruptive behavior.
ESP will be submitting like applications to Gila River Indian Community.
5. Timetable for implementation
Grant year 2018-2019 (Oct 2018-May2019) timeline is flexible and services are
conducted in accordance with Arizona weather considerations.
Signatures:
Zachery Wolfe, Authorized Municipality Representative
Julie Jimenez, MSW
Julie Jimenez, MSW, Equine Spirit Programs Program Manager
Trauma Focused Equine Therapy

Program Budget
Total Funds Requested $70000
Line Item Amount Requested
Horse lease $29376
Supplies/equipment $3095
Facility $4320
Insurance $4837
Contracted Fees
Mental Health Professional $11088
Equine Specialist $7200
Equine Assistant $2095
Equine Helper $2160
Evaluation $3494
Bookkeeper $1050
Grants Manager $1285
Total $70000
Trauma Focused Equine Therapy
Program Budget Detail

Total Funds Requested $70000
1. 10 horses are part of the program team and are rotated to
accommodate the need for equine for various sessions.
Horses are leased at $204 per hour x 144 program hours.
$29376.00
2. Supplies/Equipment includes the items used to interact with
the horses in the actual activities, i.e. buckets, cones,
brushes, curry combs, lead ropes, halters, incentives for
participants.$3095
3. Facility - Arena time will be required to conduct all program
sessions $30 x 144 program hours.$4320.
4. Insurance is required for those at possible risk of being sued
by third parties for negligence, Among the most usual classes
of mandatory policy are those that cover businesses who
suffer professional services to the public, Public policy
therefore requires that such businesses should carry
insurance so that if their activities do cause loss or damage
to another, money will be available to pay for compensation.
$4837.
5. Contracted professional fees/Equine Mental Health
Professional
Contracted professional fees allows the program to contract
with the certified mental health professional $77 x 144
program hours $11088.
6. Contracted professional fees/ Equine Specialist Contracted
professional fees allows the program to contract with the
certified equine specialist $50 x 144 program hours $7200.

7. Contracted semi-professional fees/ Equine Assistant
Contracted semi-professional fees allow the program to
contract with the equine assistant $15 x 144 program hours
$2095.
8. Contracted semi-professional fees/ Equine Helper allows the
program to contract with an equine helper $15 x 144 program
helpers $2160.
9. Contracted Professional Fees/Evaluation allows the program
to contract to process all evaluation data collected for each
program session and submit required program information
for quarterly / end of year requirements of the funding
agency. $3494
10. Contracted semi-professional fees/ Bookkeeper allows the
program to contract with the support of a bookkeeper to track
all expenditures $15 x 70 hours $1050.
11. Contracted Professional fees/ Grant Manager allows the
program to contract with grants manager to handle
schedules, recruitment of participants, hiring and
supervising staff, purchasing all supplies and overall program
operation. $143 x 9 months of program operation $1285


New Horizon Community Care
“Share the values you grew up with”
February 9, 2017
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is AMee Vermeire and I am writing in support of the Equine Spirit Program. I am a Licensed
Clinical Social Worker and have been the director of the clinical department for New Horizon Community
Care for approximately five years. New Horizon Community Care has become familiar with the Equine
Spirit Program over the past several years and would like to encourage funding of this application for the
benefit of our clients. They have had exposure to similar equine programs in the past and they have
benefitted our kids in many ways, including health & wellness, learning to take care of animals, and well as
being therapeutic for everyone involved. More recently, several of our female clients were able to
participate in a six week program in which they were able to build skills necessary to handle difficult life
situations through the use of equine therapy and its teachings. This program was extremely successful
and left lasting memories with the young women who had the opportunity to participate.
Organization’s Mission Statement:
New Horizon Community Care is a place of purpose, commitment and integrity. Our mission is to create a
structured, therapeutic environment which will empower individuals to build healthy relationships and
develop life skills that will promote personal growth. We aim to meet the diverse needs of our population
by being goal orientated, family focused and culturally sensitive. Our goal is to be the premier provider of
behavioral health services.
New Horizon Community Care is a non-profit agency created in 2001. New Horizon Community Care built
a programming structure that challenges, encourages and counsels children and young adults to enhance
self- esteem and to modify their behaviors in order to become positive community members. Programming
is provided in Residential, Outside Support Service and Respite formats. Regardless of the format selected,
each program is formatted to the individual based on circumstances, challenges and personal goals.
Clients will participate in activities, groups and life lessons that help them assess their internal strengths,
capabilities and improve decision making skills. The multiple formats allow ample opportunities for clients
to "step down" or transition to less restrictive programming as the individual improves. In Residential
NHYH provides Level II Therapeutic and Level III Behavioral Health Residential Services, which include Life
Skills Client Wellness education and activities that are geared toward personal growth and goals. Primary
therapeutic services in the Level II program is General Mental Health and Substance Abuse provided by
Behavioral Health Professionals. Level III clients can grow in a less restrictive environment that offers
behavior modifications and good-decision making guidance. Residential homes are located in Chandler and
Peoria. NHYH has also created an Outpatient Program that provides therapeutic and life skills activities
that are developed to meet client’s goals by staff working with client's CFT/Case Manager to determine
appropriate services. Services include mentoring, health and wellness services, cultural awareness
activities, school break programming, life skills/GED day program, and substance abuse program. Content
of programming includes Psycho/ Social Rehabilitation, Behavior Modification, Client Wellness and
Independent Living Skills objectives.
Our hope is that the Equine Spirit Program will acquire funding necessary to continue providing much
needed services as it is evident that the youth we serve greatly benefit from programs such as this one.
Thank you in advance for your support.
AMee Vermeire, LCSW
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2754 – Chandler, Arizona 85244-2754

Clinical Supervisor
(480)722-2730
ameevermeire@nhyh.org
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2754 – Chandler, Arizona 85244-2754