Two local Horses Healing Hearts (HHH) representatives traveled to Washington, D.C., recently to fight for expanded funding for substance abuse prevention.
HHH founder Lizabeth Olszewski and 14-year-old participant Dylan Armus participated in the 2016 CARA Family Day on Capitol Hill on May 18 to tell their stories to legislators supporting expanded coverage for prevention and addiction.
HHH is a one-of-a-kind equine prevention program for children of alcoholics and addicts. It gives children of addicts a safe place where they learn valuable coping skills and heal emotionally.
Armus was invited by the Addiction Policy Forum to speak during a House Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic hearing held at the Rayburn House Office Building. He shared his personal experience surviving his mother’s addiction and supported the efforts of other leaders to prevent drug and alcohol abuse, speaking before Congress.
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) recently passed both the Senate and the House. HHH saves Palm Beach County more than $2 million a year by working with children through their preventative education program and also helps adults in recovery through its certified Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) program.
Olszewski also met with members of Congress to give input on a prevention strategy that will reduce the necessity for reactionary measures.
ABOVE: Dylan Armus and Lizabeth Olszewski
