WAVE ACADEMY

Healing Wave Aquatics' goal is to support the mental and emotional well-being of veterans, active-duty service members, and their caregivers with PTS in San Diego County by reducing PTS symptoms. Through the course of the 8-week program, the outcome goal is that at least 90% of clients will experience a statistically significant decline in PTS symptoms as measured by the VA-approved PCL-M pre-and post-assessment scale by 20-25%. We anticipate the following results of improved mental and behavioral health: depression, isolation, and sleeplessness will decrease; while feelings of peace, the release of physical and mental tension, stress management, coping skills, and relationships with loved ones will improve and increase as a result of our trauma-informed aquatic therapy.

Healing Wave Aquatics employs the following strategies to deliver best practices and an impactful program for active-duty military and veterans:

- Manage Healing Wave Aquatics operations utilizing non-profit sector best practices, including transparency of financials, updated policies, current protocols in behavior health for working with clients who have experienced trauma, highest standards for pool safety, liability insurance on all pools, practitioner audits to maintain the highest level of service, up-to-date contractor licenses, and client confidentiality.

- Conduct our warm water therapy program in conjunction with research-based protocols for an appropriate program length and employment of approved measurement and screening tools.

- Consistent follow-up with clients to help determine short-term, mid-term, and long-range outcomes from warm water therapy that begin with positive personal changes and extend to improved relationships with family members and children, as well as job prospects and contributing to their community.

- Prudent financial management that includes several layers of oversight of transactions and record keeping.

- Establishment of a financial strategy that provides at least 3 months of unrestricted liquid net assets (ULNA) in order to keep the organization solvent at all times.

- Fundraising strategies that include income from multiple sources, including grants, individual contributions, events, co-payments, and sponsorship.

- Diverse board leadership that draws from various sectors of the community, including psychology, finance, partnership building, fundraising, and military/veteran connections.

- Partnerships with community organizations, businesses, and research institutions to address the benefits of aquatic therapy as a modality for helping relieve trauma.

Healing Wave Aquatics is highly capable and qualified to provide aquatic therapy services to individuals who have suffered trauma, particularly the veteran and active-duty military community. Among the organization’s capabilities are:

- In-depth knowledge of aquatic bodywork therapy

- Long-term relationships with licensed aquatic bodywork practitioners

- Access to several pools throughout San Diego County

- Strong connections to the military family community

- Partnerships with numerous local organizations including:
- 2-1-1 San Diego
- Community Connections,
- San Diego Veterans Coalition
- Headstrong
- LIVE WELL
- San Diego County Health and Human Services
- Veteran Administration Centers.

Healing Wave Aquatics (formerly Wave Academy) was created based on research from Johns Hopkins University that showed warm water therapy could be beneficial for people suffering from the effects of Post Traumatic Stress (PTS). Over the past decade, our program has grown to serve over 700 low-to-moderate-income veterans in San Diego who have PTS. The organization is currently opening our new Healing Wave Aquatics facility in San Diego. The facility will allow for double the number of clients to be served and expand to other vulnerable populations. The organization also seeks to expand our program in the coming years to other vulnerable populations with PTS symptoms. We currently serve about 125 clients annually.