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What is
Animal Assisted Crisis Response?
The terms Animal Assisted Activities, Animal Assisted Education, Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal Assisted Crisis Response are often confused. They are frequently lumped under the term "Pet Therapy".
Animal
Assisted Crisis Response:
Animal Assisted Crisis Response
(AACR) is the use of trained animals and handlers in recovery sites and centers
in response to traumatic events and critical incidents. They assist
crisis counselors, clergy, peer counselors and mental health
professionals with the psychological needs and physiological stress
factors of the first responders, victims, victim's families and disaster
workers.
Elizabeth Teal of Giving Paws offers the following definitions:
USES OF VISITING PETS
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ACTIVITIES
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THERAPY
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DEFINITION: “Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) provides opportunities for motivational, educational, recreational, and/or therapeutic benefits to enhance quality of life. AAA is delivered in a variety of environments by specially trained professionals, para-professionals, and/or volunteers, in association with animals that meet specific criteria.” [1]
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DEFINITION: Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is an umbrella term for any goal-directed intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process. AAT is directed and /or delivered by a health/human service professional with specialized expertise, and within the scope of practice of his/her profession.
“AAT is designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning... AAT is provided in a variety of settings and may be group or individual in nature. This process is documented and evaluated.”[2]
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EDUCATION
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CRISIS/TRAUMATIC RESPONSE
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DEFINITION: Animal Assisted Education (AAE) is the process of learning, and training, specifically developing skills and knowledge that is being assisted and enhanced by the presence and use of an animal
.The Visiting
Animal in educational settings is either the subject of the lesson
plan, to facilitate the learning plan or to enhance the environment
for learning to take place.
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DEFINITION: Animal Assisted Crisis Response ( AACR) is the utilization of trained evaluated animals and handlers in crisis and traumatic recovery sites and centers to assist with the psychological needs and physiological stress factors of those persons present.
The Visiting Animal is utilized as a transitional object to provide those in crisis and traumatic situations with a reality orienting relationship providing for solace, deep comfort and reduction of physiological stress signs. The utilization of animals in trauma and crisis response may provide critical grounding experiences for the beginnings of future psychological recovery and healing from aforementioned event.
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[1] Delta Society. 1992 Handbook for animal assisted Activities and Animal Assisted Therapy. Renton WA: Delta Society
[2] Delta Society. 1992 Handbook for animal assisted Activities and Animal Assisted Therapy. Renton WA: Delta Society