Shea-Porter Announces $295K Grant for Northeast Passage

U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-NH, recently announced that the University of New Hampshire’s Northeast Passage (NEP) Program will receive a $295,393 grant to provide adaptive sports opportunities for veterans and service members with disabilities.

Adaptive sports are those sports that have been created or modified for persons with disabilities.

Shea-Porter said, “The University of New Hampshire’s Northeast Passage Program does an excellent job of helping the men and women who have served our country and now live with extra challenges to reintegrate.”

“Northeast Passage, a program of the University of New Hampshire, has worked extensively with Veterans over the last 12 years. This grant will allow us to expand our current services to encompass Veterans and members of the Armed Services with all types of disabilities, from all eras. This grant will allow us to meet a Veteran in their home to develop a strategy for community involvement or help them train for the Paralympics and everything in between. We are honored to receive this grant and thankful for the support from Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter,” said Jill Gravink, Director, Northeast Passage.

On August 15, 2014, Shea-Porter wrote a letter of support to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to express her support for the Adaptive Sports Program grant. Shea-Porter said, “The program empowers these individuals by engaging them in sport, recreation, and healthy living in an environment where they can enjoy the same level of independence as their peers.”

NEP specializes in therapeutic recreation and adapted sports for children, adults, and military personnel with disabilities. For ten years, NEP has worked to integrate both pre- and post-9/11 veterans and service members with disabilities into its recreational therapy programs. In a typical year, NEP provides direct services to over 200 veterans and service members, helping them make the difficult transition from non-disabled to disabled, and from military to civilian life.

Background:

The full text of the letter follows:

August 15, 2014

The Honorable Robert A. McDonald, Secretary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

810 Vermont Avenue

NW Washington DC 20420

Dear Secretary McDonald:

I write to express my support for the Adaptive Sports Program grant (VA-ASP-2015-01) proposal submitted by the University of New Hampshire’s Northeast Passage (NEP) Program.

NEP specializes in therapeutic recreation and adapted sports for children, adults, and military personnel with disabilities. The program empowers these individuals by engaging them in sport, recreation, and healthy living in an environment where they can enjoy the same level of independence as their peers.

By helping our veterans and military personnel lead healthier lives, NEP provides a much-needed service to New Hampshire. Our state has one of the highest veterans populations per capita in the nation, including 25,200 veterans with disabilities. For ten years, NEP has worked to integrate disabled pre and post-9/11 veterans and service members into its recreational therapy programs. In a typical year, NEP provides direct services to over 200 veterans and service members, helping them make the difficult transition from non-disabled to disabled, and from military to civilian life.

Over the last eight years, NEP has developed an outpatient therapeutic recreation program known as Promoting Access, Transition & Health (PATH). Through PATH, NEP, in partnership with the Manchester VA, engages with disabled veterans in their home communities to promote healthier living and prevent secondary disabilities. For three years, PATH has served as the Lead Adaptive Sports Program in New England.

This grant will allow NEP to continue providing top-quality programs and services to New Hampshire’s veteran community. With this funding, NEP can expand the PATH program to include veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress and Depression, provide VA staff with additional training, and increase veterans’ opportunities to participate in meaningful sport and recreational activities.

I appreciate your full and fair consideration of the University of New Hampshire’s application.

Sincerely,

Carol Shea-Porter

Member of Congress

Submitted text.