Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation

SURVIVOR SERVICESScholarship Programs: The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation provides Scholarships and Financial Support for Burn Survivors and their families. AARBF offers four scholarships, The Woody and Louise Bridge to Life Scholarship, the Aiming Higher Educational Scholarship, the Phoenix World Burn Congress Scholarship and Therapy Grants. In addition, AARBF offers Emergency Financial Assistance during hospitalization, including financial, housing and food assistance; as well as Financial Assistance for medical supplies, including pressure garments and image enhancement services, including cosmetics, wigs, and make-up.Camps and Recreation: Champ Camp - is the largest as well as one of the longest running summer burn camps in the world, celebrating its 36th Anniversary in 2022. Champ Camp is held each year during the month of June at Wonder Valley Ranch in Sanger, CA. Due to COVID-19, in-person camp attendance was limited in 2021 resulting in the creation of a hybrid camp program with both in-person and virtual options. In 2022, Champ Camp in-person attendance numbers were restored to pre-pandemic programming and a virtual option was no longer available. However, children unable to attend due to health, hospitalization, or parental concerns received a camp in the box containing camp-themed activities. Other camp programs - Young Adult Summit (YAS) is a weekend retreat for burn survivors ages 16-21 that teaches life management skills, promotes educational and career development and focuses on relationship building. In 2022, YAS returned to an in-person program held February 18-21 at Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria, CA. The Young Adult Summit Advisors (counselors) crafted a program designed to prepare our young adults for the job force from writing resumes to personality test to help them determine where they may thrive. The Adult Retreat is a survivor-driven program that offers a unique opportunity for adult burn survivors, ages 21 and over, to learn from other burn survivors in attendance. The Adult Retreat, which also returned as an in-person program in 2022 is held at the same location and weekend as the Young Adult Summit, February 18-21. The group participated in several workshops which included topics such as body image, meditation, yoga, writing and support groups. Our adult survivors were able to grow together as a community, heal and strengthen each other, and embrace the journey they are on.The Getaway Family Camp is a weekend camp for burn survivors and their families/supporters held in Coarsegold, CA. The camp is designed to be a place where adult burn survivors can connect with peers who understand their situations and receive emotional support in a fun and safe environment. In 2022, we were able to return normal attendance levels (we had attendance restrictions in 2021). Held over Labor Day weekend, September 3-5, camp included workshop/support group, campfire, bingo night, and smores at campfire. In addition, they enjoyed many camp activities such as archery tag, archery, climbing wall, high ropes, swimming, and the giant water slide. New program - In 2022, AARBF launched a new in-person weekend retreat specifically designed for adult women burn survivors called the Womens Empowerment Weekend. On March 19-20, 2022 eleven survivors were in attendance from all walks of life, at all different stages of healing, and from all throughout the state of California. The weekend included workshops on various topics ranging from self-love to relationships, to work environment tips and tricks. Addition Survivor Services:All AARBF burn survivor programs returned to in-person activities in 2022. In 2022 visited 206 burn survivors and 119 family members for hospital visits. In 2022, AARBF launched a new monthly email message for burn survivors and their families. Included in the email is information about upcoming events and activities specific to their region as well as those available statewide. Members of our mailing list get early access to burn survivor events information and have the opportunity to register first.In the fall of 2022, AARBF hosted a virtual Back-to-School Town Hall designed to address the concerns surrounding sending a child burn survivor back to school. It was designed to address parents questions and concerns on how to support their child returning to school after a burn injury or transferring to a new school.

BURN PREVENTION:Burn Prevention Education: The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation works with local hospitals, fire departments, safety coalitions, and other organizations across California to develop innovative programs and services. Burn Prevention is the key to avoiding agonizing burn injuries. On September 20, 2022, AARBF conducted the first live presentation of SPARC at the Santa Clara Senior Center. SPARC is an acronym for Senior Prevention and Risk Conversations and is a burn prevention program geared towards older adults. Attendees learned ways they can prevent burn injuries as well as how they can share their knowledge with others. During Fire Prevention Week in October 2022, Pyramid Educational Consultants (PECs) and AARBF released and instructional video for the N.I.C.K. Program (Neurotypical/diverse Independent Communication Kit) for Fire and Burn Safety). The new 15-minute video, introduces the N.I.C.K. for Fire & Burn Safety materials and shows parents and professionals how to use them. The video is available on both the AARBF and PECs websites. For many years fire departments and burn organizations have been using many different fire safety messages for their public outreach efforts. However, the question has arisen as to whether these messages have been evaluated for both accuracy and effectiveness. It is now more critical than ever to ensure that when we do reach out to the public, that we are maximizing our ability to affect behavioral change with these messages. AARBF has assembled a team of Subject Matter Experts who are working together to develop a methodology for evaluating any fire safety message that can be scaled and distributed throughout the fire and burn safety community and departments. This will allow anyone to do the same evaluative process on their own messaging for accuracy and effectiveness. Funding for this project has been awarded by FEMA through a two-year grant. On August 16-18, 2022 this team held an in-person meeting in Los Angeles, CA.