Programs

  • Wilderness Therapy Support Program

    DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021, STLF TRANSFORMED THE LIVES OF 179 YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING $761,334 OF SUPPORT FOR WILDERNESS THERAPY. SINCE INCEPTION IN 2010, STLF HAS PROVIDED OVER $3,989,521 OF SUPPORT TO OVER 820 YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. INCLUDING THE MATCHING FROM OUR PARTNER PROGRAMS, THIS IS OVER $7.9M SUPPORTING YOUTH IN CRISIS. EVERY YEAR STLF SERVES MORE YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES, INDICATING THE INCREASED NEED FOR ACCESS TO WILDERNESS THERAPY. THE PANDEMIC IS UNCHARTERED TERRITORY AND THE IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH IS SIGNIFICANT. THIS IS EVIDENT IN THE INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORT. STLF EXPERIENCED AN 80% INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS FROM APRIL THROUGH AUGUST 2020. THERE WAS A 54% INCREASE IN FUNDING AND 69% INCREASE IN NUMBER OF FAMILIES SERVED OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 2019. THE MAJORITY OF THE FAMILIES SERVED THIS PAST YEAR WERE IMPACTED FINANCIALLY AND/OR THEIR YOUTH WERE IMPACTED MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. WE DID NOT WANT TO TURN AWAY DESERVING APPLICANTS, SO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BOARD SWIFTLY APPROVED THE COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND. THIS FUND SUPPORTED THOSE WHO WERE FINANCIALLY IMPACTED BY COVID-19 AND, AS A RESULT, UNABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR YOUTH TO COMPLETE WILDERNESS THERAPY TREATMENT. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDED SIX ADDITIONAL WEEKS OF FAMILY COACHING TO THOSE FAMILIES WANTING THE EXTRA SUPPORT (STANDARD CURRICULUM IS 12 WEEKS).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 WILDERNESS THERAPY AND TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT.STLF PARTNERS WITH 12 WILDERNESS THERAPY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CONTINUES TO GROW OUR ASSOCIATION WITH WILDERNESS THERAPY PROGRAMS. IN FY2022 WE HOPE TO ADD TWO MORE WILDERNESS THERAPY PROGRAMS TO OUR PARTNER PROGRAM. OUR GOAL IS TO EXPAND IN STATES WHERE WE DO NOT HAVE A PARTNER, TO PROGRAMS THAT ARE OBH ACCREDITED, AND TO PROGRAMS THAT OFFER UNIQUE TREATMENT OPTIONS AND/OR FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. WE HAVE A VERY THOROUGH AND EXTENSIVE 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.TO BRING AWARENESS AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY TO THE BENEFITS AND EFFICACY OF WILDERNESS THERAPY, STLF WILL HOST OUTREACH AND WILDERNESS THERAPY ALUMNI ACTIVITIES IN THE BAY AREA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. COVID-19 IMPACTED THE FUNDRAISING CLIMATE AND TYPES OF EVENTS WE COULD HOST IN FY2021. OUR EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES WERE VIRTUAL AND INCLUDED OUR ANNUAL REACHING FOR THE STARS BREAKFAST AND A SPEAKER SERIES INVOLVING WILDERNESS THERAPY ALUMNI AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. 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 (15) MEMBERS, ADVISORY BOARD AND ONE FULL-TIME AND SIX PART-TIME EMPLOYEES WHO PARTICIPATE AND/OR VOLUNTEER FOR STLF FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND DONATION CAMPAIGNS. IN ADDITION, STLF EMPLOYS FIVE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS; ONE ADMINISTRATOR AND FOUR COACHES WHO LEAD THE STLF COACHING SERVICE.STLF COLLABORATES WITH LEADING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, SUCH AS OUTDOOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE (OBH) CENTER, AND ITS DIRECTOR DR. MICHAEL GASS, TO COMMUNICATE AND PROVIDE DATA TO FAMILIES AND THE PUBLIC REGARDING NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF WILDERNESS 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 WILDERNESS THERAPY AND TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT. OUTDOOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE (OBH) IS A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES PROGRAM STANDARDS, ETHICS AND RISK MANAGEMENT, AND FACILITATES OUTCOME RESEARCH ON THE EFFICACY OF WILDERNESS THERAPY TREATMENT. WE ARE AN AFFILIATED GRANTING ORGANIZATION WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THERAPEUTIC SCHOOLS & PROGRAMS (NATSAP), AND WE ATTEND THE ANNUAL NATIONAL WILDERNESS THERAPY SYMPOSIUM.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $969.9K

  • Family Coaching Service

    STLF'S 12-15-WEEK COACHING SERVICE INVOLVES THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND IS LED BY ONE YOUNG ADULT COACH AND THREE FAMILY COACHES WHO HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS THERAPISTS IN WILDERNESS THERAPY, TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT CARE, AND TRADITIONAL THERAPEUTIC CARE. 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 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 165 FAMILIES. STLF OFFERS ITS COACHING SERVICE TO NON-STLF FAMILIES FOR A FEE OF $1500, WHICH IS THE OUT-OF-POCKET COST OF THE PROGRAM FOR STLF PER FAMILY (COACHES BILL STLF A REDUCED RATE OF $100 PER HOUR AND AN AVERAGE OF 15 HOURS IS SPENT WITH EACH FAMILY).
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $58.7K

  • Program 1 [2024]

    FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR WILDERNESS THERAPY AND THERAPEUTIC NATURE-BASED PROGRAMS.IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 (JULY 1, 2023 - JUNE 30, 2024), SKY'S THE LIMIT FUND PROVIDED $988,541 OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR WILDERNESS THERAPY AND NATURE-BASED THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS TO 116 ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN CRISIS. SINCE SKY'S THE LIMIT FUND WAS FOUNDED IN 2010, WE HAVE PROVIDED MORE THAN $8.5 MILLION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO 1,600 ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS STRUGGLING WITH ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. STLF PARTNERS WITH 13 PROGRAMS THAT OFFER A REDUCTION IN FEES IN ADDITION TO THE FUNDING WE PROVIDE, FURTHER REDUCING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR THE FAMILY. THE COMBINED SUPPORT PROVIDED TO FAMILIES SINCE 2010 TOTALS $15M. STLF PROVIDES LIFE-SAVING AND LIFE-TRANSFORMING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO ENROLL THEIR CHILD IN A WILDERNESS THERAPY OR THERAPEUTIC NATURE-BASED PROGRAM. THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF INDIVIDUAL DONORS, FOUNDATION GRANTS, AND CORPORATE DONORS, STLF PROVIDES VITAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES OF YOUTH AGES 11 AND OLDER TO ASSIST THEM IN ACCESSING THE PROGRAM THEY NEED TO OVERCOME MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND THRIVE, SUPPORTED BY A STRONG COMMUNITY AND THE HEALING POWER OF NATURE.WITH THE AVERAGE COST OF A WILDERNESS THERAPY PROGRAM REACHING $60,000 OR MORE, WE RELY ON OUR GENEROUS COMMUNITY TO HELP SKY'S THE LIMIT FUND PROVIDE CRUCIAL ASSISTANCE AND BRIDGE THE FINANCIAL GAP BETWEEN THE HIGH COST OF WILDERNESS THERAPY AND THERAPEUTIC NATURE-BASED PROGRAMS AND THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY OF THE FAMILIES WE SERVE.ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS ARE IN CRITICAL NEED OF OUR SUPPORT, YET TRADITIONAL THERAPEUTIC METHODS OFTEN FAIL TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES THEY FACE. BUT, WILDERNESS THERAPY AND THERAPEUTIC NATURE-BASED PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO CALM THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, REDUCE OUTSIDE DISTRACTIONS, PROMOTE SELF-REFLECTION AND HELP REGULATE EMOTIONS IN A WAY THAT OTHER TYPES OF TRADITIONAL THERAPIES CANNOT. WILDERNESS THERAPY AND THERAPEUTIC NATURE-BASED PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS BUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND GREATLY IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. MANY FAMILIES SHARE THAT WILDERNESS THERAPY HAS SAVED THEIR CHILD'S LIFE.IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, STLF RECEIVED A RECORD NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORT, REFLECTING A RAPIDLY GROWING NEED. THIS YEAR, SKY'S THE LIMIT FUND INCREASED THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT PROVIDED TO EACH FAMILY TO BETTER MEET THESE RISING DEMANDS. ADDITIONALLY, STLF ENCOURAGED OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS TO INCREASE THEIR FEE REDUCTIONS WHERE POSSIBLE, FURTHER EASING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON FAMILIES AND ENABLING THEM TO ACCESS THE CRITICAL PROGRAMS THEIR CHILDREN NEED TO HEAL. THROUGH THE VITAL COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNER PROGRAMS AND THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, SKY'S THE LIMIT FUND PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN HELPING TO SAVE AND TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS STRUGGLING WITH LIFE-THREATENING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1.3M