THE EQUUS EFFECT INC

IN JUNE 2019, THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION (VA) WAS AWARDED A $200,000 RESEARCH GRANT TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF OUR FOUR-SESSION, 16-HOUR CURRICULUM ON A TRANS DIAGNOSTIC SAMPLE OF VETERANS WHERE PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCE FOR THEMSELVES, WHAT IT TAKES TO WORK WITH HORSES IN A WAY THAT CULTIVATES NERVOUS SYSTEM REGULATION AS WELL AS HOW TO MANAGE TRIGGERS THAT HAPPEN AT WORK AND AT HOME. WE BUILD CLIENTS' CAPACITY TO HANDLE LIFE'S CHALLENGES AND TO BUILD HEALTHY, AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THOSE WITH WHOM THEY LIVE AND WORK. TO THIS END, RESEARCHERS AND CLINICIANS AT THE VA AND YALE UNIVERSITY CONDUCTED THIS 12-WEEK PILOT PROJECT IN FALL 2022 THROUGH SPRING 2023. THE DESIGN INCLUDED A CONTROL SAMPLE AS WELL AS A TRIAL SAMPLE OF VETERANS WHO STRUGGLE WITH EMOTION REGULATION AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT. WE ARE VERY PLEASED THAT THE INITIAL FINDINGS FROM THIS STUDY ARE EXTREMELY POSITIVE AND THAT OUR CURRICULUM IS VIEWED AS A VALUABLE COMPLEMENT TO TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING. WE HOPE THAT THIS STUDY MAY LEAD US TO BECOME ONE OF TWO EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS IN THE US. THIS YEAR, WE ALSO TRAINED SIX NEW FACILITATORS TO DELIVER OUR PROGRAM IN NORTH CAROLINA, NEW YORK STATE AND TEXAS. TO DATE, WE HAVE SERVED OVER 2900 PEOPLE IN UNIFORM - VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, MILITARY FAMILIES, PEOPLE IN RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS. THE EQUUS EFFECT ALSO SERVES MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS AND PEOPLE IN RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE. WE UNDERSTAND THE ADDITIONAL BURDEN AND COMPASSION FATIGUE EXPERIENCED BY MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS DUE TO THE END OF THE 20-YEAR WAR IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AS WELL AS THE CONTINUED FALLOUT FROM THE PANDEMIC. WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT TO DATE, WE HAVE SERVED OVER 2,500 VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, MILITARY FAMILIES, MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS AND PEOPLE IN RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE. IN 2023, WE EXPANDED OUR CAPACITY TO OFFER WEEKEND RETREATS TO VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS AND PLAN TO CONTINUE THIS INTO FY 2024 AND BEYOND.IN 2024, WE INCLUDED MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDER SPOUSES AND FAMILY MEMBERS IN OUR PROGRAMS AS WE UNDERSTAND THE BURDENS BORNE BY THOSE WHO MANAGE THE HOME FRONT WHILE THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY. THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND COMMUNITIES NEED THE SUPPORT OF FAMILY MEMBERS IN ORDER TO FUNCTION WHILE AWAY FROM HOME. IN TURN, FAMILY MEMBERS SAY THEY HAVE DERIVED A GREAT DEAL OF SUPPORT AND PRACTICAL TOOLS FROM OUR CURRICULUM THAT HELP THEM SETTLE DOWN AND DEAL WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIVING WITH SOMEONE WHOSE JOB IS DANGEROUS.WE ARE GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH THESE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN AS IT PROVIDES US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THOSE WHO SERVE US. IN ADDITION, IT EXPANDS THE IMPACT OF OUR PROGRAM TO REACH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY, AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH OUR HORSES.