Organization: VETERANS MOVING FORWARD INC
Mission: TO BE A LEADING SOURCE OF SERVICE DOGS AND CANINE THERAPY SERVICES PROVIDED AT NO COST TO VETERANS WITH PHYSICAL AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR VETERANS AND INCREASE THEIR SAFETY AND INDEPENDENCE WITHIN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. AND, TO EDUCATE VETERANS, THE HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY SERVICING THEM, AND THE PUBLIC ON THE EFFICACY OF ASSISTANCE/SERVICE DOGS AND CANINE THERAPY.
Activities: VMF SERVICE DOGS, THE ORGANIZATION'S MOST VALUABLE ASSETS, ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO DISABLED VETERANS, WHETHER THE DISABILITIES WERE INCURRED DURING MILITARY SERVICE OR DURING PRIVATE LIFE FOLLOWING THAT SERVICE. IT COSTS VMF $40,000 TO RAISE, TRAIN AND PLACE A SERVICE DOG, DEPENDING UPON ITS ULTIMATE ROLE, THE COMPLEXITY OF THE VETERANS' NEEDS BEING SERVED, AND THE AMOUNT OF IN-KIND SERVICES AND SUPPLIES RECEIVED.EACH OF VMF'S HIGHLY TRAINED DOGS IS ASSESSED THROUGHOUT AN ONGOING 24 MONTHS TRAINING AND PLACEMENT CYCLE. THIS ENSURES THAT THE SERVICE DOG IS TRAINED TO MEET A DISABLED VETERAN'S SPECIFIC NEEDS. OUR SERVICE AND THERAPY DOGS LIVE IN THE HOMES OF OUR PUPPY RAISERS. TRAINING OCCURS IN OUR VMF CANINE TRAINING AND VETERAN SUPPORT CENTER NEAR DULLES AIRPORT. THIS CENTER CONTINUES TO SUPPORT VMF'S SERVICE DOG TRAINING PROGRAM AND TO PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO CONDUCT VETERAN APPLICANT INTERVIEWS AND TRAINING. THE CENTER PROVIDES A CONSISTENT TRAINING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR TRAINERS AND PUPPY RAISERS, WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF TRAINING AIDS AND DEVICES THAT WE ARE NOW ABLE TO INCORPORATE INTO SDIT TRAINING. OUR SDIT'S LOVE THE CLEAN, CONSISTENT ENVIRONMENT (THEIR HOME AWAY FROM HOME), AS WELL AS THE SPACIOUS AND SAFE AREA FOR PLAY DURING 'FREE TIME'. THE CENTER HAS PROVEN TO BE A QUIET, SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE INITIAL MEETING AND SUBSEQUENT TRAINING WITH THE VETERANS WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR AND BEEN MATCHED WITH A VMF SERVICE DOG. IT IS A TERRIFIC VENUE AND LOCATION FOR CONDUCTING VETERAN INTERVIEWS, VETERAN AND SDIT MEET AND GREETS, AND THE VETERAN TRAINING SO IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT OF OUR SERVICE DOGS WITH THEIR VETERAN PARTNERS.VMF STAYS INVOLVED AFTER A SERVICE DOG IS PLACED, EVALUATING THE CONTINUING EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RELATIONSHIP, AGAIN, AT NO COST TO THE VETERAN. VMF RELIES ON THE SUPPORT OF ITS GENEROUS DONORS AS WELL AS OUR VOLUNTEERS DURING 2019. VETERANS MOVING FORWARD CONTINUES RELY NUMEROUS VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST THE STAFF IN THE AREAS OF PROGRAM, ADMIN AND FUNDRAISING.FOLLOWING ARE SPECIFIC PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2019: 1.) TWO NEW PUPPIES WERE ACQUIRED BY VMF IN APRIL 2019. THEY LEARNED GENERAL OBEDIENCE SKILLS, AND STARTED WORKING ON 4 SPECIALIZED TASK TRAINING SKILLS TO INCLUDE: OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS, OPERATING LIGHT SWITCHES, HANDICAP BUTTONS, 911 BUTTONS 2.) SERVICE DOG GIL WAS IN HIS SECOND YEAR OF TRAINING AND WILL BE PLACED IN 2020. GIL PERFECTED THE FOLLOWING SKILLS: RETRIEVAL SKILLS, OPERATING LIGHT SWITCH, OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS AND HANDICAP DOOR BUTTONS. GIL ALSO LEARNED PTSD RESPONSE SKILLS.3.) THREE FULL TIME STAFF WERE HIRED IN APRIL. A CERTIFIED TRAINER, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR4.) PROVIDED SERVICE DOG TEAM ENGAGEMENTS FOR ANIMAL-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AND OUTREACH EVENTS. VMF SDIT'S ATTENDED 29 DIFFERENT EVENTS INCLUDING SCHOOL VISITS, FUNDRAISING, VETERAN FAIRS, CONVENTIONS, CORPORATE HOSTED INFORMATIONAL EVENTS5.) EDUCATED HUNDREDS OF VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES, HEALTH CARE TEAMS, AND GENERAL POPULATION ON THE VALUE OF THERAPY AND SERVICE DOGS AND THE PROCESSES INVOLVED IN OBTAINING A QUALIFIED SERVICE DOG.6.) NUMEROUS TRAINING DEMONSTRATIONS WERE HELD AT THE TRAINING CENTER, SHOWCASING THE SPECIALIZED SKILLS THE SDIT'S WERE LEARNING.7.) VMF HAD OVER 3,500 VOLUNTEER HOURS 2019 COVERING ALL PROGRAM AREAS.
NTEE category: Human Services
Secondary category: Community Improvement & Capacity Building