The ultimate vision for GI Josie is to create an expansive transitional ranch community which will provide a safe and sober environment in which women veterans (and their children, if applicable) can live, heal and conquer their PTSD and military sexual traumas through the use of non-clinical therapies that will be available 24 hours a day. Our vision for the ranch includes up to 5 residential buildings which will house 12 women each, a main barn, which will house the art room, music room and library, an administration building, an operations building, a pantry and a dedicated play area for children.
The meditation gazebo will be strategically placed away from the hustle and bustle to ensure a peaceful, relaxing and rejuvenating experience. Additionally, we will have stables to house a small herd of horses, an aviary, and a large chicken coop. Dogs that are trained to protect the residents will roam freely ensuring added protection and safety. Residents will be able to keep their service or emotional therapy animals – each will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We are continuing to search and evaluate properties to find the right fit for our vision and will update the website when that acquisition is made.
Development of the GI Josie ranch will serve as a blueprint for additional ranches across the United States over time, the locations of which will be determined by the COO. While the first three ranch communities are dedicated to women veterans and their children, the fourth development will be dedicated to male veterans.
Given that the land acquisition and development is a long-term goal, it is imperative that women veterans in need of support be able to participate in ongoing programs and projects in the meantime. To that end, we have developed programs in which they can participate to help facilitate healing right now, not at some time in the future. Our goal is to incorporate additional programs as we move forward to pique as many varied interests as possible thus spreading the healing to as many women veterans as possible.
