Frontenac Youth Services Letter to Jane- May 2011 In the past we have found it difficult to come up with different types of programming that would entice all our of cliental at the same time. These struggles come from having such a wide variety of clients with an even wider range of needs. This all changed two weekends ago. I took a group of 5 of our clients up to the bbq the H.E.A.L. program was putting on to get the word out on their up and coming programs. I had both male and female clients, ranging in ages from 12 to 18. The entire two hours that we were at the "Ranch" (as the clients called it) there were not concerns, issues, or negative behaviours from any of the clients. Upon arriving to the farm, each client was greeted with warm and friendly smiles and "how are you doings?" They immediately went straight to several horses and began feeding them any hay they could find on the ground. One of the older clients, who has difficulty expressing himself positively, appeared confident and happy when near the horses. He stated several times that he couldn't believe how trustworthy the horses were of him (even only after being there for 5minuters) he was able to pet the horses and was amazed when he was allowed to sit on a horse. Their were some nervous moments in the beginning but shortly he was sitting up taller and taking control of such a large animal. His confidence was remarkably high at this point, and remained that way for the rest of the day. A younger, more hyperactive female client immediately was able to calm down and be gentle with the horses, which is not a normal behaviour for her. Each client was able the interact with the horses on their own terms and at their own speed. This was unbelievable for the clients. They come from difficult home lives, that otherwise don't allow them to have any control. Our clients may look like they are your typical teenagers, but they are young at mind. They love nothing more then to be able to express themselves and not be judged when doing so. You could tell by the looks on their faces that H.E..A.L. was one of those "safe places" they could identify with. They were able to have their face painted and be with people that didn't laugh or judge them for looking like kitty cats. They were in their element.. The calming atmosphere didn't just last at the Ranch, for the rest of the day and weekend there were no negative behaviours from the clients. They were calm, talkative, and appeared more confident in their day to day routines. Each one of them made a phone call home boasting about their exciting adventure down on the Ranch. This simple two hour experience meant so much to each of these clients that they will be talking about it for weeks. They have asked several times if they can go back to see the horses and be able to feed them again. Unfortunately due to the funding we are allotted, this type of program is out of our budget. This is frustrating not only for our clients but for the workers as we get to reap the benefits of such a therapeutic atmosphere along with the clients. This experience helped our day to run smoother and be able to connect with the clients and build better rapports (as they were calmer, happier, and more eager to communicate). We are looking for any support that we could have in making this experience more accessible to our clients. It is a wonderful place, that would mean a lot to our clients to be apart of. Thank you so much for your time in getting to know more about our clients. Thank you again, |
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