SOAR Family Collaborative Program
Information About The Program
The SOAR Family Collaborative was formed in response to Night Stalker families needing more specialized care and support to thrive in a high-paced, chronically stressful lifestyle. Constant deployments, no-notices, and training cause families to engage in unhealthy and unsustainable coping mechanisms such as missing special dates, skipping vacations, and putting off important conversations. Since the program was created Night Stalker families are connecting more meaningfully and gaining the tools to better navigate the Night Stalker life.
The education and coordination of programs that promote resiliency and enhance performance while pulling from pre-existing DOD programs and creating new programs where gaps may exist.
These programs promote the physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual readiness of our Night Stalker families.
The program coordinator’s focus is to build relationships while synthesizing efforts between DOD programs, civilian resources, local community outreach, the Night Stalker Foundation, and the 160th SOAR.
Resources and Support we Provide:
Family Weekend retreats
1-Day Well-Being Seminars
Annual Children's Fairs
Spouse Virtual Workshops
Children-Focused Mentorship Events
To contact the SOAR Family Collaborative Program Director and learn more, please email Katie@nightstalkerfoundation.com.
“‘’Seeing other spouses with similar challenges helped us feel seen, heard, and know that we are not doing this alone.’’ ”
“‘’This was our first retreat as a Night Stalker Family and it was such an amazing event ... our family had so much fun. 100% recommend this retreat to every other family we know, Thank you NSF!’’ ”
Katie Palenzuela, SOAR Family Collaborative Program Director
Katie Palenzuela is a native of central Florida where she was born and raised. After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia, she married her husband Rob and attended graduate school at East Carolina University where she earned a Master of Science in Speech-Language and Auditory Pathology while Rob was stationed at Ft Bragg.
Over the next 16 years, Katie served military families and veterans as a speech therapist while her family was stationed at Ft Campbell, KY, Ft Rucker, AL, and Ft Riley, KS before returning to Ft Campbell in 2014 where Rob has since been assigned to 160th SOAR.
Katie’s accomplishments over the course of her career as a speech therapist include specialized training in feeding therapy, early intervention, and Autism diagnostics. In 2012, Katie helped develop and open the No Stone Unturned Therapeutic Learning Center in Manhattan, KS where she was Clinic Director. The No Stone Unturned TLC was the first private interdisciplinary pediatric therapy clinic in Manhattan and continues to have a tremendous impact on surrounding communities including Ft Riley.
Since her family arrived back at Ft Campbell and became part of the 160th SOAR community, Katie has served as FRG Leader under two commands for Bravo Company/1 BN. During that time, she also volunteered on the BN Steering Committee, Care Teams, and with the Spouse Mentorship group.
Katie has always had a desire for growth and challenges which led her to become an L1 CrossFit Trainer and competitive Olympic weightlifter. She competed at the state level and qualified at the national level for the Arnold Classic in 2020. These paths have naturally led the way to self-improvement and a desire to help others do the same. She maintains the blog space “Strong Anyway” which became well known following a viral article in January of 2020 titled “THAT is America” which reached more than 2.5 million viewers.
Today, Katie is a Certified Life Coach, Gallup Strengths Coach, and soon-to-be published author. She and her family live near Nashville where they stay busy with sports, concerts, family work outs, spoiled dogs, and good food.