Stepping Forward Mission Statement

Mission Statement
Stepping Forward ®

Our mission is to educate, advocate for, and implement accountability in the guidance of persons experiencing a traumatic event.

As a national model in the assistance of traumatized individuals, innovative programs have been designed to provide trauma counseling, education and interventions for survivors of traumatic events, and persons experiencing traumatic changes in their lives.

We believe that a significant percentage of persons who suffer trauma will have unforeseen difficulties. These subsequent reactions may take days, weeks, sometimes months to develop and may unknowingly compromise the individual's ability to execute their responsibilities at work, school, and home. All too often, there are emotional and physical obstacles blocking the path to recovery. Stepping Forward ® has developed several programs to enable their clients to overcome these hurdles and allow them to enjoy life again.

These programs have been designed to bridge the gap for continual care from the traumatic event, which may include hospitalization, through adjustment to the situation, and into a rehabilitative program when necessary. They have been developed in such a way to provide information and adaptability skills during this transitional period. The client and their family will gain an increased understanding of their coping mechanisms. These individuals will also be given support and encouragement to pursue adaptability skills through rehabilitation.

For the hospitalized individual, client and family anxiety, related to change in level of nursing care needed by the client, is evident by the client's lack of confidence in self-care, fear of leaving continual care and observation, repetitive questions regarding care, and unusual expectations that needs will be met more frequently than necessary. As the client's advocate, assistance will be provided in bridging the gap between discharge from the hospital and rehabilitation. Through the skills of empathy, observation, recognition, and identification, the struggles and success of these clients will be facilitated.

The primary objective...
Is to establish a plan of care that would anticipate, rather than merely react to, client and family transitional problems that will benefit both the health-care system and the client. There has been a dramatic change for this person. Stepping Forward ® was founded to help individuals and their families adapt to the transitional process necessary following traumatic events.

Historical Perspective

In 1995, Claudia J. Lentz and several associates formed Stepping Forward ®, P.C., a unique nursing practice specializing in trauma recovery. This corporation's central office is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The premise for starting this corporation was that trauma often results in dramatic changes, but beyond this, inner emotions and feelings are often in turmoil amidst pain and confusion. Without a helping hand, daily living can become a struggle when attempted alone. Months to years are often needed to adjust to such an event. Stepping Forward ® was founded to be that guiding hand while helping traumatized individuals adapt to this transitional state of change.

The founder, herself, experienced a variety of major traumas throughout her own life. She walked the path of these traumas from the "inside" and became insightful into the needs of such individuals and their families which had not been addressed previously. Resources to meet her needs, as well as, her family's, were not available. Stepping Forward ® was established following a near-fatal crash with a drunk driver that left her with multiple head and neck injuries, including a "broken neck". Her recovery time seemed long and adaptability to the changes were difficult. Because of her nursing background, she recognized her needs and did not allow herself to become a statistic by "falling through the cracks".

Consequently, Stepping Forward ®, has become the foundation for four unique programs which assist the individual and their family in this transitional phase of adaptation following a dramatic change in their life: H.A.T.S.S. Program ©, H.E.A.R.T. Program ©, CONNECT, and TRIAD Solutions ©.

Furthermore...
It has been recognized that traumatic events include a grieving process. Grieving is a normal and natural process - when it is allowed to occur and progress. Frequently, society, relationship factors, or life circumstances may interfere with the process of grieving and mourning is disrupted or prolonged. When time alone is not sufficient for a loss to be resolved, professional intervention becomes necessary. Stepping Forward ® assists in the time of crisis and facilitates the grieving process following loss situations. The services provided by this practice include:

On-site preparation in the event of anticipatory grief resulting from the loss of a loved one.
Crisis assistance at the time of a traumatic loss of a student in a school body, organization, or family unit.
Crisis assistance at the time of a traumatic loss of any type (i.e.: death, miscarriages, rape, divorced parents, MVAs, etc.).
Assistance and direction in the "letting go" process needed for adaptation to the loss.
A therapeutic and nonjudgmental environment for the grief process to occur.

As a result...
Stepping Forward ® devised methods to address this unmet need of persons surviving trauma. Traumatic events encompass significant changes that result in a variety of losses. These losses must be addressed in grief work. This program provides a pathway for survivors of trauma to gain strength and courage to achieve and succeed in redefining their life following traumatic losses. Stepping Forward ® incorporates this concept to prevent the fear of abandonment and isolation that often follows a traumatic event. This practice not only identifies the crisis of critical events but addresses the needs of the "silent" survivors in all areas of living productively (family, work, school, community). These programs provide a pathway for survivors of trauma to gain strength and courage to achieve and succeed.

Today...
Stepping Forward ® professionals work in consultation with many individuals in the health care field, as well as, school administrators, legal representatives, and parents, to help improve the quality of life for those recovering from trauma. They have combined nursing skills, education, and counseling experience, and are experts at establishing a plan of care to anticipate and lessen struggles during recovery at home, work, or school. Stepping Forward ® utilizes the protocol for Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) in emergency situations. This protocol is a comprehensive, organized approach for the reduction of harmful aspects of stress.

They are adept strategists and have the ability to educate and develop adaptability skills. Accountability in the management of persons recovering from trauma is paramount to the success of this individual. Stepping Forward ® advocates for the individual on medical or legal issues, incorporating the family, and achieving goals.

Specifically...
This practice does the following:

Establishes a therapeutic environment to enhance adaptability skills and foster progress in the recovery phase of trauma; bridging the gap in continual care.
Consults and educates the client, family, and/or employer or school, of the current situation.
Offers a therapeutic outlet for persons of trauma to explore the known and unknown of their traumatic event.
Specialized screening and support of MTBI (Mild/Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury).
Develops strategic plans for school/employment to maximize effectiveness of the work environment, by incorporating adaptability skills to enhance productivity.
Offers the program CONNECT as an intervention to address a child's reaction to any dramatic change.

Finally...
By earlier adaptability and productivity, there is less dependency upon the health care system. Responding to the client's needs decreases anxiety, and lessens hostility towards the health care profession. It is the highly skilled professional that is empowered to see beyond the immediate crisis. It is this professional that can facilitate the struggles and successes of these clients through the skills of empathy, observation, recognition and early identification. It is the professional, such as the critical care nurse, that is considered non-threatening to the individual's integrity.

Survival of traumatic events means that the individual resumes a functional and productive life following restoration of health. It is the vision of these programs that demonstrates the need for health care to reach "beyond the walls" of the hospital. Stepping Forward ® will represent and advocate for the individual and their family, from the time of the traumatic event until the new self is established.

227 W. Broad Street - Suite 202 - Bethlehem, PA 18018 - Phone: 610-865-2804