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Current Research
ENGELHARD FOUNDATION AND MISHKA FUND SUPPORT SURVEY
The Engelhard Foundation and the Mishka Fund have teamed up to sponsor
research on canine-assisted reading programs (CAR). The Mishka Fund was
established in 1998 to support work that reflects the way Mishka’s
presence and spirit touched those who knew him. He represented the best
of what the human animal bond can accomplish, and we hope that the work
that we do in his memory will move this effort forward. A survey has been
developed which utilizes information accessed from the Intermountain Therapy
Dogs website, and input from others in the field.
We are requesting all Pet Partner teams who are participating
in reading programs to complete the survey. You can complete it electronically
by downloading the survey and email it to maureen@animalsystems.org.
If you know of other handlers participating in reading programs ask them
to complete the survey as well. This information will enable researchers
to compare programs nationally, help us to develop model programs and
create opportunities for funding. For more information contact Maureen
MacNamara at 716 672 6234 or through the email address above.
Click here to
download the survey
Services
ANIMAL SYSTEMS develops professionals who recognize the
essential role animals and nature play in human learning, health and well-being.
Delivery of AATE takes study, practice and supervision. Like any other
specialty, it takes time and effort to learn the nuances and specific
considerations of effective techniques and methods. The process may be
shortened depending on the willingness of the individual for critical
self-evaluation. Animals can be incorporated into your present career
with some study and workshop experience or you can create a new career
focus with more in-depth work.
Maureen uses a unique combination of humor, research data
and personal experience to engage audiences her presentations. She is
comfortable providing lectures as well as interactive presentations. She
is most noted for presentations that challenge audiences to consider new
ways of thinking about their work and relationships to clients and animals.
Maureen is both inspirational and heartfelt in her presentations and her
passion for our work with animals and people is contagious. She frequently
provides day-long and multiple day workshops.
Maureen’s workshops on equine behavior and training
have received high marks from NARHA national and regional conference attendees.
As a founding member of EFMHA, she also teaches about the crucial elements
of equine-facilitated mental health programs and the ‘art’
of working with horses in these settings. Maureen’s knowledge and
perspective also includes leadership and organizational development and
team building.
Workshop Topics
| Weathered Champions
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A rejuvenating workshop
for caregivers and human service providers. Let the age-old restorative
and healing power of nature help you reconnect to balanced living.
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| Working with Violent Families:
Nature-based Techniques to Teach Empathy |
Families living in violent neighborhoods
have difficulty in developing cooperation, empathy and trust in
children and often lack the skills to make positive changes. This
seminar will present techniques that foster positive parenting principles.
The workshop will help you teach parents reward systems, the difference
between punishment and discipline, how performance based attention
reduces good behavior and ways to reduce parent frustration and
anger. Learn techniques that foster the development of cooperation,
empathy and trust in children and families living in violent neighborhoods.
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| Horse Handling Protocols for
Mental Health Programs |
Learn methods of handling horses
that enhance therapeutic impact for clients. This workshop will
present methods of working around horses (and other animals) that
promotes respect, clear communication skills and positive reward
systems, and demonstrate the difference between correction and punishment
for parenting clients.
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| Assessing Canine Potential |
This workshop trains animal assessors
methods to determine placement for varying levels of animal and
handler skills and comfort while balancing environmental issues.
Attendees will learn how to evaluate animals for work in crisis
and trauma settings as well as more traditional settings such as
nursing homes and hospitals.
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| Integrating Prevention Services
into Animal-Assisted Activities |
Achieve animal-assisted goal directed
outcomes for client personal growth and learning. Learn how-to design
animal focused activities that help clients integrate therapeutic
change. Learn to employ active social learning techniques, foster
pro-social norms, promote resiliency and empower youth to cope with
peer, family, and school problems.
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| Creating Equine Assisted Activities
that Benefit Horses and Mental Health Participants |
Equine assisted activities focusing
on people with mental health needs must consider how these activities
will effect the horse's performance overall. Many activities recommended
for mental health participants often have negative impacts on the
therapy horse's behavior. What may seem to be positive interactions
for at-risk or emotionally challenged people may have negative consequences
from a horse training perspective. This five day institute helps
practitioners design equine assisted activities that are mutually
beneficial, where people learn positive relationship skills and
horses experience a positive or relaxing session with the person.
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| Case Studies: Mental Health
Practice Incorporating Animals and Nature |
This two-day seminar provides an opportunity
for experienced mental health providers involved in animal facilitated
psychotherapy programs to participate in a peer supervision process.
Bring your own CASE STUDIES to present to the group. We will meet
in the comfort of a small, quiet farm to share what we have learned,
barriers we are facing and techniques that are working. The hands-on
format of this workshop will allow you to demonstrate concepts with
the help of the animals at the farm. Whether you work with dogs, horses,
chickens or sheep, this seminar will provide you with an opportunity
to gain clinical insights by working with like-minded mental health
providers.
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Animal Systems Consulting Services -
Organizations and facilities seeking to incorporate animals in their
services have many needs associated with planning, developing, implementing
and maintaining animal-assisted therapy or educational programs.
Initial and ongoing consulting
Whether you are just starting a new program or want
to enhance or expand existing services, Animal Systems is here to
help. Organizations seeking to implement AAT/E often seek consultation
regarding program development, outcomes-based evaluation, infection
control concerns, animal selection, meeting quality assurance surveys,
in-servicing staff, and more. Animal Systems provides expert assistance
to meet your needs for both people and animals.
Policies and practices
Animal Systems helps mental health, educational or
health care facilities develop complete, standards based policies
and practices before animals are introduced.
Animal care plans
Residential animals require care plans just as to
human residents. Animal Systems develops realistic, humane, and
thorough animal care plans for all animal species. The individualized
animal care system then can be easily administered and maintained
by the facility.
Staff education
Your staff have had years of education in how to
assist people with their needs, and at the same time are often ill
prepared to deal with animal needs. Staff prepared by Animal Systems
knows how to troubleshoot potential problems with animals, manage
day to day interactions with the animals, and write animal interactions
into residents’ care plan.
Animal selection, evaluation and training
Selecting the right animal is difficult without expertise
in animal behavior and human development, wellness and learning.
Animal Systems provides recommendations for specific species to
best meet program outcomes. We train and screen visiting animal
handler teams using standards based national criteria. Animal Systems,
likewise, selects residential animals after consultation with faculty
staff, then trains the animal to meet the facilities needs. Follow-up
training for new needs or problems is also available.
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