PIVOTPoint WNC

Students in therapeutic wilderness settings show significant movement towards readiness for change; more realistic self-perceptions, and more positive social attitudes and adjustments, as well as leading to an increased sense of belonging. Through leveraging the therapeutic relationship and cultivating transformation on an individual and community level, PIVOTPoint WNC aims for all participants include an increase in positive interpersonal skills; reduction in known substance use; reduction in recidivism; reduction in school/residential behavior problems; an increase in positive relationships with peers; an increase goal-oriented decision making and action-taking; and an increase in overall access to experiential therapeutic support services and other social determinants of health.

PIVOTPoint WNC expects the following participant outcomes: First, clients will generally increase in self-awareness, leading to an increased recognition of behavioral consequences and available choices; second, clients will have a higher level of accountability both to self and others; third, clients will learn healthier coping strategies leading to increased environmental control; fourth, through therapeutic adventure, clients are provided tangible evidence of success, thereby correcting negative self-conceptions and leading to a more positive self-concept; fifth, clients will learn creative problem-solving, communication, and cooperation skills; and sixth, therapeutic adventure facilitates realistic appraisal of individual strengths, weaknesses, and self-imposed limitations. Ultimately, this increased awareness leads to better decision-making abilities. (Newes & Bandoroff, What is Adventure Therapy?). Through achievement of these outcomes, PIVOTPoint WNC anticipates stabilization/cessation of current substance use, avoidance of future or expanded substance use, and increased pro-social interaction, resulting in increased positive outcomes and reduced return to substance use.
PIVOTPoint WNC proposes implementation of the Adventure Therapy Experience Scale (ATES) for purposes of reporting to the grantor. ATES was developed in order to assess outcomes that are specific to therapeutic adventure experiences.

Through the leverage of community partnerships and stakeholders as well as personal contacts, the organization is positioned to continue to support the at-risk and early recovery from SUD community in our county. Through intentional collaboration projects, the organization is creating scalable and replicable service models and infrastructure to expand its reach and have impact on a regional level.

We have already expanded our support with the Juvenile Justice programming in our county into county-wide diversion programming. Through infrastructure evolution, we are creating a system of stability for our direct care staff in order to amplify impact in the direct-care world of mental and behavioral health service providers. We are currently creating a formalized recovery/community hub that will provide non-medical, wrap around services and community building services to the population we serve.