Two of our Trainers,  Hugo Patrocinio USMC (Ret.) and Christiane O’Hara PhD, presented the ArtReach Model for Military Mental Health at the Third Annual Deployment Health symposium in Jacksonville Florida in December 2011.

Dr. Christi O'Hara, Co-Chair ArtReach:Project America

Christiane O’Hara, our Co-Chair for ArtReach Project America heads to Boston later this week to present at A Better Welcome Home: Transformative Models to Support Veterans and their Families Conference on November 2nd. This conference will be hosted by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. The ArtReach Foundation is thrilled to have two back to back opportunities to spread the word about how we are helping our military personnel and their families.

Go here to find more information: http://www.ash.harvard.edu/Home/News-Events/Events/A-Better-Welcome-Home-Transformative-Models-to-Support-Veterans-and-Their-Families

A keynote presenter Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, along with other prominent speakers described the evidence base for the efficacy of arts programs in promoting recovery from illness and injury, with special emphasis on resilience, psychological healing, family strengthening, reintegration, and other topics of interest to the military. Current and prospective arts programs in the Military Health System were discussed. Warrior artists told their stories through arts performances, displays, and descriptions.

The conference was held at the Georgia Tech Research Institute Center, in Atlanta. Speakers included Major General Maria Britt and Colonel Dan Zachman of the GA National Guard, Holly Pavliscsak, BS, MHSA, from TATRC, Ron Capp from Veterans Writing Project, Melissa Walker, MA, ATR, Healing Arts Program Coordinator, National Intrepid Center, Scott Mooney, Ph.D, Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, and numerous other creative arts and technology experts.

The creative arts and technological advances are bridges that offer significant contributions to the mental health and resiliency of our military personnel, veterans, and their families. These advances include the capacity to reach huge numbers in need of mental health interventions. Additionally, they provide opportunities to heal the divide within, and between, military and civilian populations. This conference touched upon many of these applications, and addressed ethical issues central to best practices in the use of the creative arts and technology with these populations. Conference participants also participated in workshops led by ArtReach Trainers on the second day of the conference.

Part of the success of this conference was the sponsorship and donations that were provided by several local Atlanta-based businesses. Donations were received from Georgia Tech Research Institute, Bold American, Tucker Chick-fil-A’s, Trader Joes, Costco, the USO, PrestoMusicStore.com, Coca-Cola, and several ArtReach Board Members. Information booths and vendors included Capstone Corporation, the USO, Careforthetroops.org, VISN 7, Sleep Disorders of Georgia, and Real Warriors Campaign. For more information on the conference, please contact the office.

Founder, Susan Anderson and Advisor, Jim Stapleton, COL US Army (RET) recently met with Congressman Lewis to discuss ArtReach:Project America and its GA Pilot Program for GA Military and their Families.

ArtReach is most appreciative for his endorsement and getting others to do the same for us.

John Lewis Letter
National Guard Letter

On March 25, 2011, US Army Public Health Command and the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center hosted the Joint Forces Health Protection Conference in Hampton Roads, VA. Susan Anderson, Founder & CEO, Dr. Christiane O’Hara, Project America Co-Chair, Hugo Patrocinio (USMC, Ret.), ArtReach Trainer, and Melissa Walker, MA, ATR, ArtReach Trainer conducted a dynamic panel presentation on Project America and our Train-the-Trainers Model.

Left to Right: Melissa Walker, Hugo Patrocinio, Christiane O’Hara, and Susan Anderson Joint Forces Health Protection Conference, March 25, 2011

April 2, 2011, Public Issues Leadership Development Conference Washington, DC: Christiane O’Hara, Ph.D., Project America Co-Chair co-presented with Barbara Brown, South Carolina Operation Military Kids on Military Family Retreats which have been hosted by Ft. Gordon’s Warrior Transition Battalion, in partnership with South Carolina Operation Military Kids and The ArtReach Foundation.

Lori Heinsman, ArtReach Board of Directors Chairman at March 5, 2011 Yellow Ribbon event, Atlanta, GA

ArtReach has a new partner: the Georgia National Guard. We have attended several Yellow Ribbon and Georgia Operation Military Kids events in Conyers, Rock Eagle, and Atlanta. ArtReach will be holding workshops for Guard members and families this year.

Project America workshops and family retreats are back in full swing!

ArtReach: Project America Trainers co-led our program at 3 spring Fort Gordon Warrior Transition Battalion Retreats for over 25 Military Families to reconnect, relax, and rejuvenate at Camp Bishop Gravatt, Aiken, SC.

March 24, 2011, eleven clinicians attended an ArtReach presentation and mini-workshop at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) in Bethesda, MD. NICoE is a state of the art center that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of military personnel and veterans suffering from mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Psychological Health (PH) issues.

Project America hasn’t stopped with the Family Retreats and Clinician workshops. We have conducted two Art Reach Introductory workshops (Feb. 19th and April 2nd) for those interested in learning about The ArtReach Model. ArtReach would like to extend our deepest gratitude to St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Hampton Inn Northlake-Atlanta, and Georgia Shakespeare for donating space and food for these workshops.

The ArtReach Foundation’s Project America Co-Chairs, Dr. Christi O’Hara and Lt. Col George Wieder (USAF, Retired), experience firsthand what Project America is all about during their recent trip on December 9, 2010 to Ft. Benning, Georgia. With over 130,000 soldiers and civilians, Ft. Benning is one of the Army’s busiest bases. Joining with the USO, Project America’s co-chairs traveled in 3 large vans to visit the 144 Reserves in the WTB at Ft. Benning.

Christi and George had the opportunity to describe Project America workshops and hand out information, at the briefing for the injured Reserves. “It was a wonderful experience”, co-chair Christi O’Hara stated.

ArtReach: Project America Co-Chairs at Ft. Benning. (Left to right: Lt. Col. George Wieder, USAF ret. and Dr. Christi O’Hara)