Skys The Limit Fund

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EXTENSIVE SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR WILDERNESS THERAPY TO ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN CRISIS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN NEED.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR OUTDOOR THERAPEUTIC TREATMENTIN FISCAL YEAR 2023 (JULY 1, 2022 - JUNE 30, 2023) STLF PROVIDED $1,264,347 OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR OUTDOOR THERAPUETIC TREATMENT TO 207 YOUTH/YOUNG ADULTS IN CRISIS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL NEED. SINCE INCEPTION IN 2010, WE HAVE PROVIDED OVER $7M OF SUPPORT TO OVER 1240 YOUTH/YOUNG ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE TOTAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES INCLUDING OUR PROGRAM PARTNER'S REDUCTION IN FEES IS OVER $13M.AS A RESULT OF TRENDS IN THE INDUSTRY, LEVELS OF GIVING AND OVERALL DONOR PHILANTHROPY, STLF EXPERIENCED A DECREASE IN REVENUE IN CONTRAST TO AN INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORT IN FISCAL YEAR 2023. UNFORTUNATELY, AS A RESULT OF THE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY AND FLUCTUATIONS IN THE MARKET, DONORS ARE NOT GIVING AT THE LEVELS SEEN IN 2021 AND 2022. IN ADDITION, ENROLLMENT IN OUTDOOR THERAPY PROGRAMS WAS DOWN DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR REVENUE IS RECEIVED FROM OUTDOOR THERAPY FAMILIES AND ALUMNI. IF ENROLLMENT IS DOWN, THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES AND ALUMNI WE CAN SOLICIT FOR DONATIONS IS ALSO DOWN. ENROLLMENT IS NOW STARTING TO INCREASE, HOWEVER, PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDING MORE SCHOLARSHIPS AS THE FAMILIES ENROLLING HAVE MORE NEED AND FEWER RESOURCES. STLF'S DATA REFLECTS THE SAME INCREASED NEED. WE ARE RECEIVING MORE APPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORT THAN A YEAR AGO, THE NEED IS GREATER, AND THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OF THE YOUTH/YOUNG ADULTS ARE MORE ACUTE. THE PANDEMIC HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S OVERALL MENTAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY THOSE STRUGGLING PRE-PANDEMIC. THREE OF STLF'S PROGRAM PARTNERS CLOSED IN THE SPRING OF 2023, OUTBACK THERAPEUTIC EXPEDITIONS, ASPIRO ADVENTURES AND SUWS OF THE CAROLINAS. THE IMPACT ON STLF WILL BE A REDUCTION IN REVENUE AS THEY WILL NO LONGER BE SOLICITING DONATIONS FROM THEIR ALUMNI. WE CURRENTLY PARTNER WITH ELEVEN PROGRAMS. THIS YEAR, A FOCUS IS TO RESEARCH, COLLABORATE AND POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH PROGRAMS THAT OFFER A 50% OR MORE NATURE COMPONENT IN ADDITION TO CONTINUING OUR STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE OUTDOOR THERAPY PROGRAMS. OUR GOAL IS TO EXPAND IN STATES WHERE WE DO NOT HAVE A PARTNER, TO PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACCREDITED, AND TO PROGRAMS THAT OFFER UNIQUE TREATMENT OPTIONS AND/OR FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. WE HAVE A VERY THOROUGH VETTING AND INTERVIEW PROCESS TO ENSURE THE PROGRAMS MEET OUR CRITERIA STANDARDS SUCH AS MAINTAINING A HIGH LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND SAFETY, HAVING A FAMILY COMPONENT AND MEASURING OUTCOMES.WE MUST EXPAND OUR DONOR BASE AND GENERATE MORE REVENUE. WITH THE LOWER ENROLLMENT IN PROGRAMS, WE MUST EXPAND OUR REACH TO THOSE OUTSIDE OF OUTDOOR THERAPY, TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE AND TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING CARE FOR THOSE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.STLF PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH GUIDANCE, MENTORS, AND RESOURCES TO GIVE THEM THE EMOTIONAL AND PRACTICAL SUPPORT AND STRENGTH TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THE TREATMENT PROCESS. WE ALSO HOST EVENTS AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO EDUCATE AND BRING AWARENESS TO THE COMMUNITY ON THE EFFICACY AND BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE AND TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT.WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND DIVERSIFY OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO INCLUDE NEW INDIVIDUAL, CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION DONORS, GRANTS FROM FOUNDATIONS, MATCHING DONATIONS FROM CORPORATIONS, PEER TO PEER CAMPAIGNS, AND CAMPAIGNS USING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. AN INCREASED EMPHASIS ON ALUMNI, STLF BOARD MEMBER AND STAFF OUTREACH TO POTENTIAL DONORS HELPS TO DIVERSIFY THE REVENUE STREAMS.STLF HAS A HIGHLY ENGAGED BOARD OF DIRECTORS (14) MEMBERS, TWO FULL-TIME AND FIVE PART-TIME EMPLOYEES WHO PARTICIPATE AND/OR VOLUNTEER FOR STLF FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND DONATION CAMPAIGNS. IN ADDITION, STLF EMPLOYS FOUR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS WHO LEAD THE STLF COACHING SERVICE.STLF COLLABORATES AND IS A MEMBER OF LEADING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, SUCH AS OUTDOOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE (OBH) CENTER AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THERAPEUTIC SCHOOLS & PROGRAMS (NATSAP) TO COMMUNICATE AND PROVIDE DATA TO FAMILIES AND THE PUBLIC REGARDING NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF OUTDOOR THERAPY. THIS INCLUDES THE STATUS OF INSURANCE COVERAGE, DATA ON THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS, AND RESULTS FROM THE YOUTH OUTCOME QUESTIONNAIRE (YOQ) AS IT PERTAINS TO THE EFFICACY OF OUTDOOR THERAPY AND TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT. OUTDOOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE (OBH) AND NATSAP ARE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE PROGRAM STANDARDS, ETHICS AND RISK MANAGEMENT, AND FACILITATE OUTCOME RESEARCH ON THE EFFICACY OF TREATMENT. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ATTENDS INDUSTRY RELATED CONFERENCES, SUCH AS THE ANNUAL NATIONAL NATSAP CONFERENCE, THE ANNUAL NATIONAL WILDERNESS THERAPY SYMPOSIUM, ANNUAL IECA (INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS ASSOCIATION), AND AEE (ASSOCIATION FOR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION).

STLF COACHING SERVICEIN FY2023, STLF PROVIDED $155,151 OF COACHING SUPPORT TO 83 YOUNG ADULTS/FAMILIES, 52% MORE SUPPORT TO 30% MORE YOUNG ADULTS/FAMILIES THAN IN FY2022. OF THE 83 SERVED, 18 WERE YOUNG ADULTS AND 65 WERE PARENT(S) / GUARDIAN(S).STLF PROVIDES 12-15 HOURS OF COACHING SUPPORT OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS TO YOUNG ADULTS AND PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S) OF YOUTH/YOUNG ADULTS. THE SERVICE IS LED BY FOUR MASTER LEVEL THERAPISTS WHO HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN WILDERNESS THERAPY, TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT CARE AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL THERAPEUTIC CARE WITH PARENTS AND STUDENTS. STLF YOUNG ADULTS MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE SERVICE AND LIVE AT HOME OR IN AN INDEPENDENT LIVING ENVIRONMENT. THE SUPPORT TO THE YOUNG ADULT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE SUPPORT TO THE PARENT(S)/LEGAL GUARDIAN(S).THE SERVICE INCLUDES COLLABORATION WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, WEEKLY PHONE CALLS, HOMEWORK AND PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. A HOME CONTRACT IS ESTABLISHED, SETTING BOUNDARIES AND CONSEQUENCES, AND A SUPPORT SYSTEM, INCLUDING THERAPISTS, A PSYCHIATRIST AND MENTORS, IS PUT IN PLACE. A CURRICULUM LAYS OUT THE PLAN BY WEEK. THE HANDS-ON APPROACH HELPS GUIDE FAMILIES AND/OR YOUNG ADULT OUT OF THE PITFALLS OF RELAPSE AND INTO HEALTHY, BALANCED FAMILY DYNAMICS AND A LIFE OF SUCCESS AND INDEPENDENCE FOR THE YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE OUR FAMILIES AND YOUNG ADULTS TO UTILIZE THIS CRITICAL SUPPORT COMPONENT IF THE YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT IS UNABLE TO TRANSITION TO ANOTHER AFTERCARE PROGRAM. SINCE INCEPTION IN 2016, THE COACHING SERVICE HAS SUPPORTED OVER 284 FAMILIES AND YOUNG ADULTS.MORE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS ARE TRANSITIONING HOME FOLLOWING OUTDOOR THERAPY TREATMENT RATHER THAN GOING TO A LONG-TERM TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM, I.E., RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER OR THERAPEUTIC BOARDING SCHOOL. PER CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR PARTNERS, ON AVERAGE, 20% OF PARTICIPANTS TRANSITIONED HOME, IN COMPARISON TO THE CURRENT TREND OF 40% - 50% TRANSITIONING HOME. AS A RESULT, SUPPORT IN THE HOME COMMUNITY POST OUTDOOR THERAPY IS NEEDED MORE THAN BEFORE. STLF'S COACHING SERVICE SUPPORTS THE FAMILIES WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE TREATMENT PROCESS.STLF PROVIDES THE COACHING SERVICE FREE OF CHARGE TO STLF FAMILIES, AND FOR A NOMINAL FEE TO NON-STLF FAMILIES ($1800, WHICH IS THE OUT-OF-POCKET COST OF THE PROGRAM FOR STLF PER FAMILY).

LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE (LCC)TO FURTHER SUPPORT FAMILIES, STLF PROVIDED FAMILIES AND YOUNG ADULTS PARTICIPATING IN THE STLF COACHING SERVICE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE REIMBURSED FOR A PORTION OF THE COST OF TREATMENT FOR THE YOUTH OR YOUNG ADULT IN THEIR HOME COMMUNITY FOLLOWING OUTDOOR THERAPY. OUR LCC PROGRAM HELPED EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR OUR FAMILIES POST TREATMENT. EXAMPLES OF TREATMENT REIMBURSED BY THE LCC PROGRAM INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THERAPIST, COUNSELOR, MENTOR, IOP, AND WRAP SERVICES.STLF PROVIDED A TOTAL OF $89,072 IN LCC SUPPORT TO APPROXIMATELY 32 FAMILIES IN FY2023. THE MAXIMUM SUPPORT PER FAMILY WAS $5000. UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO FUNDING AND CHOOSING TO PRIORITIZE ACCESS TO TREATMENT, STLF DETERMINED IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUE THE LCC PROGRAM IN FY2024. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WHO ENTERED INTO THE LCC PROGRAM PRIOR TO JUNE 30, 2023, HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT SUPPORTING NEW FAMILIES IN THE PROGRAM AT THIS TIME. OUR FAMILIES ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE LCC PROGRAM AS IT FURTHER SUPPORTS THE GAINS MADE IN OUTDOOR THERAPY AND THE HEALTH AND ABILITY OF THE YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT TO FUNCTION AND BE A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER TO THEIR COMMUNITY.