Outward Bound looks to the future as it relocates in Charlestown

The Evening News and The Tribune - 4/15/2024

Apr. 15—CHARLESTOWN — To help support people, families and caregivers who are living with intellectual and developmental issues, traumatic brain injury and autism, Outward Bound Support Services opened a new location in Charlestown.

Community members, city representatives and members of Outward Bound celebrated Monday the opening of Outward Bound's new location at 359 Market Street.

Before moving to the new location, they were on the Square in Charlestown.

Jennifer David and Brooke Love, two behavior consultants, opened Outward Bound in 2018, and the agency has grown to serve nearly 300 persons in over 70 counties in Indiana. David is the CEO of Outward Bound.

Through Outward Bound, they want to help those living with disabilities make connections, engage in meaningful relationships and activities and empower them to be their best and advocate for themselves.

Their services include behavior support, recreational therapy, participant assistance and care as well as music therapy.

"We work with individuals on the Indiana Medicaid waiver, the developmental disabilities waivers," David said. "Our primary service is behavior supports. That is master's level clinicians that help individuals and families address behaviors or the lack of behaviors that might prevent them from really having a good life."

Having a new location will better equip Outward Bound to help families. David wanted a place where she could get established with the community and help people who live with disabilities be a part of the community, have a good life and explore their community.

The new location represents an expansion of opportunity for Outward Bound and the city, said Treva Hodges, Charlestown's mayor.

"We have a major goal in the City of Charlestown to make sure that our community is accessible and available to everyone," Hodges added. "Outward Bound Support Services certainly helps us work toward that goal."

Having this service in Charlestown means a lot to Andrea Frazier, a parent advocate for Outward Bound.

Frazier is a special needs parent and having Outward Bound in Charlestown gives her daughter and other members of the community more opportunities.

"For many years I have gone out of the city and gone to Louisville for services. We still do, but it's nice to know that I can get some of the things that I need right here," Fraizer said.

Not only is Outward Bound investing in Charlestown, but it is investing in the special needs population in the city, Frazier said.

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