American Humane Association Launches Innovative 'Therapy Animals Supporting Kids...

American Humane Association Launches Innovative 'Therapy Animals Supporting
Kids (TASK)(TM)' Program

DENVER, Aug. 17, /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Humane Association
today officially launched an innovative new program that encourages and guides
child welfare professionals on how to incorporate therapy animals into
sessions with children who have been abused or neglected or who have witnessed
violence. When children have suffered trauma, it is often difficult for them
to speak of their experiences. Incorporating a therapy animal into the process
can help a child open up and promote the healing process.

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The new program is called "Therapy Animals Supporting Kids (TASK)(TM)." It
was created by Allie Phillips, J.D., vice president of American Humane's
Public Policy Office and a former prosecuting attorney, and Diana McQuarrie,
director of animal-assisted interventions for American Humane and a certified
therapy-animal handler. They worked in cooperation with Delta Society(R) and
top child protection professionals to produce the program. TASK was unveiled
at the 21st Annual Crimes Against Children Conference in Dallas, which is
considered the largest child abuse conference in the United States.

"As a former prosecutor, I understand the importance of helping children feel
comfortable when disclosing and testifying about abuse or trauma," said
co-author Phillips. "Therapy animals provide that comfort and security. The
TASK manual was written to help professionals understand this important
dynamic that can help a child through the daunting court process."

American Humane has long acknowledged the power of the human-animal bond, and
currently trains and provides registered therapy animals to help people in
need, especially children who have been abused or neglected or have witnessed
trauma to others. To further support and advance this work, American Humane
developed the new TASK national initiative.

It is widely accepted that therapy animals can help individuals who have
suffered physical or emotional trauma, but TASK takes this concept one step
further. The TASK Program provides guidance to child welfare professionals,
attorneys and prosecutors, child protection workers, social workers, police
officers, and any other professionals who work with children who have been
maltreated and could benefit from involvement with therapy animals.

The centerpiece of the new program is the new TASK Program Manual, a
publication that merges two important areas of expertise: first, the practical
issues involved with setting up an animal-assisted therapy program and safely
working with therapy animals; and second, the legal implications of
effectively incorporating therapy animals into work with children, which often
entails a difficult court process. The manual identifies six situations for
incorporating therapy animals into work helping traumatized children, and
thoroughly details the benefits, drawbacks and potential legal ramifications
involved with each type of situation. These situations are:

-- Greeting children (at a children's advocacy center or other agency
location)
-- Forensic interview or evaluation
-- Medical examination
-- Individual or group therapy
-- Court preparation

-- Courtroom testimony

The manual features children's advocacy centers and prosecutors' offices that
currently incorporate therapy animals to assist children.

More about the program and a downloadable copy of the TASK Manual are
available online at www.americanhumane.org/task .

The TASK Manual was peer-reviewed by nationally recognized leaders in child
protection and animal-assisted therapy, as well as agencies that have
effectively incorporated therapy animals into programs to benefit child
victims and witnesses.

About American Humane
Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national
organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals.

SOURCE American Humane Association

Randy Blauvelt of American Humane Association, +1-303-925-9442,
randyb@americanhumane.org