Assessing Handlers for Competence in Animal-Assisted Interventions (New Directions in the Human-Animal Bond)
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Through practical, real-life examples, Assessing Handlers for Competence in Animal-Assisted Interventions provides guidance to any person working with animals in any setting. Facilities that have volunteers who work independently are in the greatest need of competent handlers, yet many of those facilities accept handlers with only proof of animal vaccinations. Other facilities accept an evaluation of the animal-handler team without knowing whether that evaluation relates to their facility or client dynamics. Both of these problems easily can be remedied with basic guidance.
Howie brings more than thirty years of experience as an AAI provider, coordinator, and mental health therapist to bear on the topic of competence for animal handlers. In a friendly, easy-to-read style, she clearly explains the need for competencies while identifying broad categories currently in use. She then outlines training that addresses those competencies based on individual facility and client dynamics. She further describes one model for easily integrating competency assessment into an interview and provides a form for documenting the competency assessment. Additionally, Howie addresses how to deal with problems that can arise in program management.
Anyone who reads this book will come away with the knowledge and confidence to assess handlers’ competence.
Publisher : Purdue University Press
Publication date : September 15, 2021
Language : English
Print length : 154 pages
ISBN-10 : 1612496768
ISBN-13 : 978-1612496764
Item Weight : 6.4 ounces
Dimensions : 7 x 0.25 x 10 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #1,444,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #338 in Medical Psychology Reference #1,074 in Animal Husbandry (Books) #1,650 in Dog Training (Books)
Customer Reviews: 5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 8 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
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Amazon Customer –
Excellent
Highly recommend this book to all therapy teams that are committed to enhancing the human animal bond
Kathleen D. Klotz –
Essential for All of Us Who Evaluate Teams in AAI
I concur heartily with what previous reviewers have already said. As someone who has directed the training, testing and placement of some 3,000+ volunteer teams over the last quarter century, I am beyond overjoyed at the rationale and wisdom presented in this book. No matter how we tried to reframe the test that was pretty standard among most AAI organizations for so long, it was still mostly a test of dog obedience, and had little to do with the skills that are really essential for visiting teams. If we assess a prospective therapy dogâs temperament at the outset, and are confident that s/he is appropriate for AAI work before ever beginning AAI education, then Annâs total reconceptualization of the ultimate team assessment process is much more grounded, realistic and pertinentâwith the emphasis where it needs to be, on the handlerâs skills and sensitivities. It can literally be the base on which to build an AAI education for the handlers. And they love it, tooâexpressing consistently how much more relevant it is to the real experience of visiting. In shortâhurrah! And thank you, Ann, for lifting us all to a whole new level of understanding and performance.
R Harris –
A Must Read if you lead AAI teams
Every volunteer manager/coordinator who supervises therapy animal teams needs to read this book. I have been teaching dogs and humans about AAI for years and Iâm often asked how to make AAI programs safe(r) for organizations. This book provides those answers. Volunteer leaders, especially those who donât have dogs themselves, will become more confident in assessing how their teams are functioning. Volunteer leaders who share their homes with dogs will learn about the differences needed between a pet dog and a therapy dog. (Not every dog is a good fit for therapy animal work even if they love humans.) Iâve purchased a few of these to give to hospital volunteer managers and they have been thrilled to have what one person said felt like, âsecret information,â at their fingertips. AAI should never cause harm to the clients or the animals and the information in this book, when put into practice, will be foundational to keeping everyone safe.