OUR MISSION
To Engage, Assist, and Empower our nation’s heroes through our Get Off The Couch™ programming, which creates a Continuum of Care to transform trauma through posttraumatic growth and help them live their best lives.
What We Do
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) engages military members, veterans, first responders, and their families in Outdoor Adventures, Warrior PATHH, and Continued Service opportunities, such as Disaster Response missions, to promote post-traumatic growth, foster camaraderie, and inspire continued service in our communities and country.
Why We Do It
SDIA exists to combat the devastating effects of isolation, depression, and suicide among military members, veterans, first responders, and their families by reconnecting them with their sense of purpose and community. Since 2010, SDIA has helped almost 24,000 Sheep Dogs through programs that foster posttraumatic growth (PTG).
With 17+ veterans lost to suicide daily and first responders experiencing PTS at rates five times higher than civilians, SDIA’s mission to inspire continued service and connection is crucial in transforming struggle into strength and promoting lifelong well-being.
How We Do It
SDIA empowers military members, veterans, first responders, and their families through three core programs: Outdoor Adventures that challenge and reconnect Sheep Dogs through physical activities; Warrior PATHH training that teaches the principles of PTG to transform struggle into strength; and Continued Service opportunities like Disaster Response missions, allowing participants to serve others while reinforcing purpose and camaraderie.
One of the most notable symptoms for a majority of those affected by PTS is self-isolation. Social isolation is a major risk factor for suicide. The feeling of not belonging or not feeling connected to other people can be detrimentally powerful. SDIA programs aim to combat these issues.
The Journey
The transformative journey offered by SDIA’s Get Off The Couch™ programming can commence at any point but ideally starts with our Outdoor Adventures program, emphasizing physical activities to promote an active lifestyle. Here, participants are introduced to the concept of PTG while benefiting from vital peer support, healing, and camaraderie.
Participants are then encouraged to enroll in SDIA’s Warrior PATHH, a non-clinical, peer-to-peer mental wellness training program. This program teaches practices to transform struggles into strength and fosters PTG by guiding individuals to make peace with their past, live in the present, and plan for a great future.
As part of the cycle, participants are then invited to contribute through SDIA’s Continued Service/Disaster Response Missions, emphasizing volunteerism. Engaging in these missions empowers our Sheep Dogs to continue serving their communities and country.
Our programs revolve around the belief that “Helping is Healing,” and we encourage you to adopt “Helping Others is a Way of Life” as you navigate your transformative journey.
SDIA'S CONTINUUM OF CARE
