Tuesday, May 20, 2014

RIVER HOSPITAL & ANTIQUE BOAT MUSEUM Launch River Community Wellness Program Partnership



ABM continues to be one of more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer.


CLAYTON, New York (May 20, 2014) – The Antique Boat Museum (ABM), North America’s premier freshwater nautical museum based in Clayton, NY, along with River Hospital of Alexandria Bay, NY, have joined together to form a partnership that will span the 2014 summer calendar and be done in support of our armed forces.

Beginning May 20, the Antique Boat Museum will feature a new exhibition located in the Haxall Building, which will run through the early fall, relating to the River Community Wellness Program (RCWP) based at River Hospital.

The River Community Wellness Program (RCWP) at River Hospital provides intensive outpatient behavioral health services for active duty military personnel stationed at Fort Drum. RCWP provides continuity of care for soldiers transitioning from an inpatient stay. It also serves as an intensive intervention option for mental health services locally to reduce potential admissions of service members to an inpatient level of care, focusing instead on building coping skills and supports in the community. It is the only program of its kind in the United States. The program keeps military members close to home while they are healing and learning to cope, using multiple forms of therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, Group and Individual Therapy, Movement Therapy, Peer to Peer Therapy, Imaginal and In Vivo Exposure Therapy, as well as Psychiatry and Medication Management.

Through this new partnership, the artwork and creative writing that has been done in recent years as part of Creative Arts Therapy will go on display to the public at the ABM.

“Having the ability to extend our assets to River Hospital will allow for more people to be touched, taught, and further understand the hardships that our military personnel go through to defend our freedom. It is truly an honor that the Museum will house the work of our soldiers and provide a new avenue for the general public to get a better understanding of the effects our soldiers endure,” Frederick H. Hager, Executive Director. “We look forward to working closely with Ben Moore and his staff throughout the summer and into the future in an effort to bring awareness to this essential program.”

In addition to the exhibition, participants in the RCWP will also be given the opportunity to explore the region’s beauty by climbing aboard one of the Museum’s in-water fleet boats to cruise the islands for relaxation and meditation time, as required by the program.

“We are very pleased to partner with the Antique Boat Museum to promote awareness of the vital PTSD treatment program at River Hospital for the active duty service members of our community,” stated Ben Moore III, River Hospital CEO. “More importantly, this partnership will also significantly expand the opportunities for the soldiers in our program to experience the beauty and serenity of the North Country through the activities that the Antique Boat Museum will be providing as part of their experience with us.”

“We are most appreciative for the generosity and support of the Antique Boat Museum Board of Directors, contributors, management and staff that has made this opportunity a reality for those who have served us so well.”

Along with the RCWP partnership, the ABM announced today that it will again serve as one of more than 2,000 Blue Star Museums across the country, providing complimentary admission to active military and their immediate families.

Also, River Hospital will now serve as the Official Sponsor of the Armed Forces at the Museum throughout the 2014 season, underwriting those admission fees, as well as the admission fees of all active and retired military members during the upcoming 50th annual Antique Boat Show to be held August 1-3.


About Antique Boat Museum

The ABM, now open daily 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., is home to North America’s largest antique boat collection with more than 300 boats and over 1,000 boating artifacts. In addition, the Museum is also host of the longest running antique boat show, which will celebrate its 50th year this August 1-3, and is known as the birthplace of the antique raceboat regatta, which will run August 8-10. For more information, please visit the Museum’s website at abm.org.

About River Hospital

River Hospital was designated as a Critical Access Hospital in 2003. Holding 15 acute care and 9 swing beds, River Hospital also operates an active Emergency Room. Primary Medical Care, Behavioral Health, Laboratory, Physical Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Ambulatory Surgery and Radiology services are available.  For additional information, visit our website at www.riverhospital.org or call 315-482-2511.


About Blue Star Museums

BlueStar Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families. The program will run at the ABM throughout the entire 2014 season. Nationally, the program is run Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173‐1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. military ‐ Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps ‐ and up to five family members.

Some special or limited‐time museum exhibits or events may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly. To find participating museums and plan your trip, visit http://arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums .