Alisa Ann Ruch California Burn Foundation

TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BURN INJURIES THROUGH PREVENTION EDUCATION, AND TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THOSE AFFECTED BY BURN INJURIES IN CALIFORNIA.

SURVIVOR SERVICESSCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS: THE ALISA ANN RUCH BURN FOUNDATION PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR BURN SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AARBF OFFERS FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS, THE WOODY AND LOUISE BRIDGE TO LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, THE AIMING HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP, THE PHOENIX WORLD BURN CONGRESS SCHOLARSHIP AND THERAPY GRANTS. IN ADDITION, AARBF OFFERS EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DURING HOSPITALIZATION, INCLUDING FINANCIAL, HOUSING AND FOOD ASSISTANCE; AS WELL AS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES, INCLUDING PRESSURE GARMENTS AND IMAGE ENHANCEMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING COSMETICS, WIGS, AND MAKE-UP.CAMPS AND RECREATION: OUR CAMPS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS ARE COMPRISED OF A SUITE OF CAMPS, RETREATS, OUTINGS, AND GATHERINGS THAT PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF ALL AGES BY ENGAGING THEM AND THEIR LOVED ONES IN THERAPEUTIC AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. DUE TO COVID-19, IN-PERSON CAMPS DID NOT RETURN UNTIL JUNE OF 2021. CHAMP CAMP IS THE LARGEST AS WELL AS ONE OF THE LONGEST RUNNING SUMMER BURN CAMPS IN THE WORLD, CELEBRATING ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2021. CHAMP CAMP IS HELD EACH YEAR DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE AT WONDER VALLEY RANCH IN SANGER, CA. IN 2021, DUE TO COVID-19, THE NUMBER OF IN-PERSON CAMPERS WAS LIMITED RESULTING IN THE CREATION OF A HYBRID CAMP PROGRAM WITH BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL OPTIONS OVER THE WEEK OF JUNE 12-18, 2021. THIS YEARS CHAMP CAMP EXPERIENCE ALSO INCLUDED VIRTUAL TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS, VIRTUAL TOWN HALLS TO ADDRESS PARENTS/GUARDIANS QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, AS WELL AS A VIRTUAL VIP TOUR FOR OUR CHAMP CAMP SUPPORTERS. HOSPITAL VISITS AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: THE ALISA ANN RUCH BURN FOUNDATION PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR BURN SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING HOSPITAL VISITS, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE INITIAL INFORMATION ABOUT AND RESOURCES FOR BURN INJURIES; PEER SUPPORT THROUGH MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUPS, PEER MENTORING, AND VOLUNTEER EFFORTS; SUPPORT GROUPS TO PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR BURN SURVIVORS, CARE GIVERS, LOVED ONES AND BURN CARE PROFESSIONALS TO SHARE EXPERIENCES AND GIVE BACK TO OTHERS; FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THERAPY SUPPORT FOR BURN SURVIVORS, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE WITH CO-PAYS AND PRIVATE PAY RATES FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY SUPPORT; AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT INCLUDES GAS CARDS, FOOD CARDS, AND HOTEL STAYS. IN 2021, TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGED DURING THE CONTINUED PANDEMIC, AARBF HOSTED VIRTUAL YOGA CLASSES AND LAUNCHED A NEW MONTHLY VIRTUAL PROGRAM, THE EXPRESSION SERIES. THE EXPRESSION SERIES IS DESIGNED TO HELP TEACH WAYS TO POSITIVELY EXPRESS THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS BY IMPROVING THE ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH ONESELF AND OTHERS LEADING TO HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER RELATIONSHIPS. THE EXPRESSION SERIES OFFERS SESSIONS ON WRITING, ART AND MUSIC. THE GUEST SPEAKERS IN 2021 INCLUDED PUBLISHED AUTHORS, SINGERS, MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS, SHARING THEIR TALENTS AND THEIR STORIES WITH BURN SURVIVORS, FAMILY/CAREGIVERS AND SUPPORTERS. IN 2021, THE ALISA ANN RUCH BURN FOUNDATION VISTED 149 BURN SURVIVORS AND 97 FAMILY MEMBERS FOR HOSPITAL VISITS.IN 2021, AARBF CO-HOSTED A SPANISH PEER SUPPORT CHAT ON FACEBOOK WITH THE PHOENIX SOCIETY FOR BURN SURVIVORS. MEMBERS JOINED THE FACEBOOK GROUP ALLOWING THEM TO CONTACT ONE ANOTHER DIRECTLY BETWEEN SCHEDULED LIVE CHAT SESSIONS. IN THE FALL OF 2021, AARBF HOSTED A VIRTUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL TOWN HALL DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SURROUNDING SENDING A CHILD BURN SURVIVOR BACK TO SCHOOL. FACILITATORS INCLUDED AARBF STAFF, A CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST WITH THE FRESNO COMMUNITY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER BURN UNIT, AND A LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST AND BURN SURVIVOR, WHO WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS PARENTS QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ON HOW TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILD RETURNING TO SCHOOL AFTER A BURN INJURY OR TRANSFERRING TO A NEW SCHOOL. THERE WERE 8 FAMILIES PARTICIPATED.

BURN PREVENTION:BURN PREVENTION EDUCATION: THE ALISA ANN RUCH BURN FOUNDATION WORKS WITH LOCAL HOSPITALS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, SAFETY COALITIONS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. BURN PREVENTION IS THE KEY TO AVOIDING AGONIZING BURN INJURIES. THE FIREFIGHTERS IN SAFETY EDUCATION (FISE) BURN PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM TEACHES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES WITH STOP, DROP, AND ROLL, COOL-A-BURN, HIGH 5 A FIREFIGHTER, GET LOW AND GO AND TOYS VS. TOOLS. IN 2020, AARBF PIVOTED THIS PROGRAM TO A VIRTUAL PROGRAM. A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TITLED FISE FRIDAY WAS CREATED TO INTRODUCE THIS VIRTUAL PLATFORM OVER A SERIES OF WEEKLY POSTS MAY AUGUST. MEET THE JOHNSONS IS A BOOK SERIES WRITTEN BY JENNIFER RADICS-JOHNSON AND ILLUSTRATED BY ALEXANDRA HALL-PINNER. THIS 4-BOOK SERIES WAS EXPANDED IN 2020 TO INCLUDE AUDIO BOOKS AND DOWNLOADABLE COLORING BOOKS. LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER OF 2020, AARBF BRINGS ORGANIZATION TO PREPARING FOR WILDFIRES THROUGH WILDFIRE P.R.E.P.A.R.E. AARBF GATHERED ALL OF THE VALUABLE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS AND CREATED A HUB ON THE AARBF WEBSITE TO MAKE FINDING INFORMATION QUICK AND EASY.DURING THE 2021 NATIONAL BURN AWARENESS WEEK, AARBF INTRODUCED A SPANISH TRANSLATION FOR THE FIRST BOOK OF THE SERIES, CONOCE A LOS JOHNSONS: UNA FAMILIA SEGURA CONTRA EL FUEGO Y QUEMADURAS AND PLANS TO TRANSLATE THE REMAINING FOUR BOOKS. IN EARLY 2021, THE HABITOT CHILDRENS MUSEUM HOSTED A VIRTUAL EARLY CHILDHOOD SAFETY CAMPAIGN THROUGHOUT JANUARY. AARBFS MEET THE JOHNSONS BOOK AND LUCKY THE FIRE BURPING DRAGON PUPPET SHOW WERE FEATURED IN THE CAMPAIGN. IN ADDITION, AARBF ASSISTED WITH THE CREATION OF A VIDEO WITH PATRICK REYES, SAN FRANCISCO FIREFIGHTER AND AARBF VOLUNTEER, WHO SHARED A MESSAGE OF KITCHEN SAFETY AND SCALD PREVENTION.IN 2021, AARBF COLLABORATED WITH AARP TO PRESENT OUR SENIOR PREVENTION AND RISK CONVERSATIONS (SPARC) PROGRAM WITH AARPS HOMEFIT PROGRAM. SPARC IS A BURN PREVENTION PROGRAM FOCUSING ON BURN SAFETY FOR THE AGING POPULATION.DURING NATIONAL BURN AWARENESS WEEK, THE ALISA ANN RUCH BURN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MIDNIGHT MISSION OF LOS ANGELES AND THE LAUNCH OF THE SAFE AND WARM CAMPAIGN, DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BURN INJURIES AND FIRES AMONG THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. THE SAFE AND WARM CAMPAIGN PROVIDES PREVENTION EDUCATION TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY WHERE THE MOST COMMON INJURIES ARE CAUSED BY CANDLES IN TENTS OR FLAME BY BUTANE OR PROPANE FROM COOKING. THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDES THE DISTRIBUTION OF MYLAR BLANKETS WITH THE PREVENTION INFORMATION PRINTED DIRECTLY ONTO THE MATERIAL. ALSO IN 2021, THE SAFE AND WARM CAMPAIGN BENEFITTED AS THE SUBJECT OF AN EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT, RECEIVING BOTH BLANKETS AND CASH DONATIONS. AARBF, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PYRAMID EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS, DEVELOPED THE N.I.C.K. (NEUROTYPICAL/DIVERSE INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATION KIT) FOR FIRE AND BURN SAFETY, TO BRING FIRE AND BURN SAFETY EDUCATION TO INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, AND COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES. THE GOAL OF THE N.I.C.K. FOR FIRE AND BURN SAFETY PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING LESSONS AND BURN PREVENTION EDUCATION TO LEARNERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, WHO ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO PREVENTABLE EXPOSURE TO DANGER AND ARE AT HIGHER RISK FOR BURN INJURIES. UTILIZING THE SAFETY MESSAGES FROM AARBFS FIREFIGHTERS IN SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM, THE N.I.C.K. FIRE AND BURN SAFETY PROGRAM INCORPORATES A FIRE AND BURN PREVENTION PICTURE SET FROM PYRAMIDS PICS FOR PECS IMAGES THAT CAN BE USED FOR EXPRESSIVE COMMUNICATION VIA THE PICTURE EXCHANGE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (PECS) PROTOCOL, RECEPTIVE COMMUNICATION AS WELL AS WITHIN VISUAL STORIES AND LIFE LESSONS TO HELP LEARNERS UNDERSTAND FIRE AND BURN SAFETY. THIS NEW PREVENTION PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED DURING NATIONAL BURN AWARENESS WEEK AND HAS ALREADY BEEN TRANSLATED INTO MANDARIN CHINESE AND JAPANESE. THE NICK PROGRAM WAS ALSO USED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENTS SIRENS OF SILENCE PROGRAM. PROMOTING AUTISM AND SPECIAL NEEDS AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND INCLUSION, THE LACFDS SIRENS OF SILENCE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THREE PARTS: 1) TRAINING, INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND MATERIALS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS; 2) SENSORY-SENSITIVE COMMUNITY EVENTS; AND 3) SAFETY-RELATED AND SENSORY-SENSITIVE ITEMS FOR PATIENTS. BOTH AARBF AND LACFD HAVE INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITES OF BOTH PROGRAMS AND A LINK-BACK LINK TO EACH OTHERS FULL CONTENT.