SBDC @ Northern New Mexico College
2016 Star Client
Many veterans who have been wounded, not only physically, but also mentally, find themselves struggling to return to civilian life after service to our country. Healing America’s Heroes is founded and dedicated to helping veterans and their immediate family members improve and enrich their lives, ensure that successful treatment options are available to those veterans in need, and to raise awareness in helping veterans who have served our country.
The purpose of Healing America’s Heroes (HAH) is “Helping veterans help themselves.” Healing America’s Heroes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping veterans through recreational therapeutic support services and vocational training programs. All US veterans are eligible to participate in the programs, with an initial focus on NM veterans. There is no cost for veterans or their families to participate in the programs. HAH is the only Therapy Program in the state of New Mexico that includes the whole family.
HAH initially offered a successful pilot program that included horse and fly fishing recreational therapeutic supportive services. These services are one to two week sessions with program development and management provided by a licensed behavioral health professional. Clients will be provided room and board at local motels or campsites and in the future, housed onsite with full facilities. HAH programs will be year round and provide their services to Northern New Mexico communities of the Chama Valley and southern New Mexico and West Texas areas adjacent to White Sands Missile Range, NM and Ft. Bliss.
HAH business plan envisions a phased approach to development of offering effective horse and fly fishing therapeutic support services for veterans, incorporating the veteran’s family unit into these support services, providing an expanding variety of educational and vocational experiences for veterans and their families, and finally expanding recreational therapeutic support services to other public service occupations such as first responders, police officers, and firefighters, and develop additional recreational therapeutic support services such as skiing, camping trips, and other outdoor activities.
“When Healing America’s Heroes was first started, 6 years ago, The Espanola Small Business Development Center helped create the Business Plan, Incorporation Documentation Plan, How to Incorporate Promotional Information, How to Develop our Organization, Operations and Programs., and How to Create a Marketing Plan.“ says, Eddie Crain, President/CEO. “The Espanola, SBDC continues to assist our developing business, they offer continuing information and advise so contact your local Small Development Center and follow their advise.”