New building aside, Brave Warrior Project needs more support to serve local needs
Most of us have no idea how overwhelming life can be on a daily basis for families in our community with children who have cancer, chronic illnesses and developmental disabilities.
Caring for a family member who is significantly impaired can be profoundly isolating, particularly when we live in an area with so few available resources to help these families cope and sustain themselves financially and emotionally.
There are some excellent programs in the community, but tragically, the more severe the disability the less help is available.
The Brave Warrior Project, a local nonprofit started several years by Erica and Phil Moshe, is trying to fill that crucial human gap to provide enrichment programs for the youngsters and respite care as well as information sharing to help families meet the challenges they face
BWP made headlines recently by getting a $1 million state grant and purchasing a building in Olds Station to provide programs and services, but Erica, BWP’s executive director, pointed out that the funds will only provide for the purchase of the building and much of the needed remodeling. That funding can’t and won’t be used for programming, so the overwhelming needs of families they serve will take additional community resources.
The Moshe’s have first-hand experience with these challenges. Their son Drew, 17, has significant impairment and is receiving private behavior therapy three hours a week at BWP’s facility to address his occasional outbursts. The organization allows private therapists to work with clients when space is available, which is an invaluable service for local families.
BWP creates a welcoming and supportive environment even though its programs and services are limited by financial constraints. The support they provide addresses just a portion of the need in the community.
“As I think about Drew,” said Moshe, “at least he can go to Brave Warrior Project and be around other people and have a sense of belonging where he’s celebrated three days a week.”
While it’s a blessing that Drew and others like him are able to access a modicum of high quality services, “three days a week is not enough,” she acknowledges. And that conundrum is exactly what numerous families face in this valley and region with limited access to specialized services for these individuals.
For kids with serious behavioral issues, schools have a difficult time providing adequate support.. Sending individuals out of state to a specialized program would require an investment in excess of $100,000 a year — not exactly achievable for all but the very wealthy here.
So all of the burden falls back on parents. That’s why having BWP as a resource in the community is so critical.
Currently, the nonprofit is leasing space in a building owned by Dovex on N. Miller St. It is a joyful, busy and sometimes loud place. There are staff members and volunteers working with kids. They do some really engaging programs, including art therapy sessions, rock climbing opportunities with volunteers from the Riverfront Rock Gym, to name just a few. Every human being deserves to feel a sense of belonging.
As Drew is getting older, his behaviors are becoming more challenging to manage, Erica acknowledged. But BWP’s programs are the only place other than home that he can go.
While Drew is an “awesome dude,” certain situations that might involve loud noises or someone invading his personal space can set him off. Sometimes, Erica can take him to the grocery store and do some shopping, but other times that’s not possible. She has to get back in the car and drive home.
“There are more and more people in our shoes,” said Erica. As a parent trying to cope with these challenges, “you go into survival mode,” she said. The 24/7 nature of the situation affects the physical, emotional and mental health of the primary caregivers.
Erica counts herself lucky that she and Phil have the Brave Warrior Project programs to help them cope. Other parents aren’t so fortunate and those are the families Erica is fighting to serve.
The new building, on Easy St. just south of a Cashmere Valley Bank branch, gives Erica and the staff a place that could help them expand services to meet more of the need. They hope to convert the garage into a really cool art space, but that will take additional funding. They hope to create opportunities for participants to work and become a greater part of the community.
Perhaps, one day, a separate building could be created for local therapists to provide services to those with chronic conditions.
The Brave Warrior Project has taken one bold step by purchasing a facility. But it will require the community to support it to address the gap in services that keeps so many families overwhelmed and isolated in our midst.
To learn more about The Brave Warrior Project, check out https://www.thebravewarriorproject.com/ If you would like more information contact [email protected]
