Washington State Elks Association

We live in a society where government, life insurance companies and group health plans play a huge part in the health status of the American people. There are, however, areas of human suffering where these entities fail the people, and when they fail, it is usually the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children of poorer families. For them the dream of health and happiness is circumscribed by poverty, accidents, or circumstances over which they have no control; there is no dollar to meet the dream of health and happiness for which we all long.

To bring the dollar and the dream together for these children, the Washington State Elks in 1954 adopted as their Major Project, the Washington Elks Therapy Program for Children. The Elks incorporated it and have supported it with generous contributions, bringing desperately needed therapy services to hundreds of children throughout the State. Seventy-five to eighty percent of the patients receiving this free therapy could not afford the treatment on the open medical-care market if the Elks Program did not exist.

From a modest beginning when the first mobile therapy unit was displayed at the 1954 Yakima Elks Convention, the Program has had a substantial growth each year.

The Washington Elks Therapy Program for Children, Inc., a non-profit corporation of the Washington State Elks Association, employs licensed physical and occupational therapists who are dedicated to their profession and especially adapted to child therapy.

The most appealing feature of this Program that led to its support by the Elks were that

. . . the afflicted child could be treated in his own home or community clinic.

. . . the parents could be trained to assist in the therapy.

. . . large hospital and medical expenses are eliminated for the family.

. . . no permanent or costly facilities are required.

Successful treatment demands the attention of persons possessing many different kinds of training. The Elks Therapist, working alone in the field, must rely on prescriptions of the physician and must observe and report the actions of the afflicted child back to the physician so that further treatment, if necessary, may be prescribed. The uniqueness of this Program is that the therapist interprets the physician's prescription for therapy, treats the patient on scheduled visits, and teaches the parents to carry out the prescribed treatment on a daily basis between the therapist's visits.

Physical and Occupational Therapy does improve the physical condition of a disabled child and, in many instances, assists them in becoming wholly independent of aid from others to feed, clothe, ambulate and help themselves. Were it not for the Washington Elks Therapy Program, many hundreds of young people who are walking today would not be doing so. In every playground where children gather, there are several young people who would not be there if it were not for the Elks Therapy Program for Children. "Miracles are wrought by God . . who sometimes guides the hand of man to make wondrous things come true.."

The only requirement established by the Program is that it is restricted to disable children under twenty-one (21) years of age. Each patient must have a prescription from his or her physician. Treatment is not restricted to children of Elks, nor is any treatment denied to a patient because of race, color, creed, or national origin. There is no charge made to the families of the children receiving the services of the Program. In fact, the parents of those children referred for treatment are never asked if they can afford to pay for the service, however, the therapists are extremely careful to avoid the duplication of available services.