[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 163 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF APRIL MARIE KEMP, FOUNDER AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF 
                            MARLEY'S MISSION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2016

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor April Marie Kemp, 
who will receive WVIA's first ever Youth & Family Award. Ms. Kemp is 
the founder and program director of Marley's Mission. Marley's Mission 
is a nonprofit organization that provides equine-based therapy free of 
charge to children, and their families, who have experienced trauma.
  Ms. Kemp was born in San Leandro, California and is a 1996 graduate 
of Ridgeview High School in Paradise, California. In 2003, she moved to 
Pennsylvania. She has pursued a degree in Criminal Justice at Colorado 
Technical University.
  On July 5, 2009, Ms. Kemp's five-year-old daughter was attacked in 
their home in Taylor, Pennsylvania. After limited success with 
traditional therapy, Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy was added to her 
daughter's regimen. Research has shown Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy 
yields a variety of benefits such as confidence, self-efficacy, self-
concept, communication, anxiety reduction, and trust.
  Inspired by her daughter's progress with Equine-Assisted 
Psychotherapy, Ms. Kemp established Marley's Mission. Marley's Mission 
is housed on a 32-acre campus in Newton Township, Pennsylvania and 
utilizes twelve therapy horses in its program. Marley's Mission employs 
a team approach to healing children who have experienced trauma. The 
treatment team includes a specially trained Trauma Therapist and an 
Equine Specialist. The treatment team has been educated in the 
internationally recognized Equine-Assisted Therapy Model developed by 
the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association.
  It is an honor to recognize April Marie Kemp for her work helping 
children who have experienced trauma. I congratulate her for being the 
inaugural recipient of WVIA's Youth & Family Award. I wish her all the 
best as she continues the work of Marley's Mission.

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