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Current Programs

Current PAWS Programs
      
Our PAWS for People teams go wherever they are needed. Here are the services PAWS for People currently offers.
 

 
One-on-One Visiting

Our mission statement calls us to work toward providing “individualized therapeutic visits,” and we are developing a one-on-one visit program to support that effort.
Our facility contact targets individuals who can benefit greatly from longer, more personalized visits. The facility also defines an objective for our visit – perhaps encouraging an Alzheimer’s elder to come out of her room or helping a disabled person to move more frequently by having them pet the animal more continuously. These are simple objectives, attainable through a visit that may last 15 to 30 minutes.
 
 
PAWS by Special Request
 
PAWS receives many requests from folks in the community who know the value of pet therapy and would like to schedule a special visit for a friend or loved one.  Our teams are now doing individual, special visits for these people or working on long-term assignments.  If you are interested in having a PAWS team visit someone you care about, please contact our office.  Most of the time, we can work with you in order to provide the special visits that you are hoping for. 
 
 
Hospital Visiting
 
Presently, PAWS teams visit eleven units in Christiana Care (Newark), four units in Christiana Care (Wilmington), four units in Union Hospital, Physical Therapy at St. Francis Hospital, and several chemotherapy labs at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center.  Working with children, our teams visit Exceptional Care for Children and the radiation unit at Helen Graham.  (For a complete listing, see our "Where We Visit" page.)
 


 
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN
 
PAWS for Reading & PAWS for Reading PLUS
Click here for more information on the PAWS for Reading programs.
 
Autism Initiative
 
A grant from the Delaware Foundation for Reaching Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities has funded a pet therapy program geared towards working with children who have autism.  This program began as a pilot at the Darley Road Elementary School, and we are branching out this summer to include children at the Brennan School in Newark, Delaware. 
(To volunteer in this Autism Initiative, teams need to have achieved Advanced Level STEX and completed a 6-hour specialized training.)
 
Early Learning Center Mobility Project
 
PAWS teams have been working with the preschoolers at the Early Learning Center in Newark, Delaware since the fall of 2008.  In the spring of 2009, however, we have added work with Cole Galloway's Mobility Project, which utilizes our therapy companions' skills in working with children who are not independently mobile.  Working one-on-one with Physical Therapist Tracy Stoner and a child, our teams provide motivation for extended movement, distraction from difficult exercises, and fun for the children who are working so hard to learn to walk or use their motorized devices.
(Required: Advanced Level STEX and a PAWS recommendation)
 
 
 
 
 
PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY FOR ELDERS
 
PAWS teams visit with folks throughout the entire spectrum of elder care: adult day care, assisted living, Alzheimer's units, rehabilitation, skilled care, and hospice.  Each of these different areas offers a different type of visit, which in turn dictates the skills needed from both the PAWS pet and handler. 
(Required: PAWS Basic Training, Basic Level STEX)
 
Hospice
 
Working in partnership with both Willow Tree Hospice and Compassionate Care Hospice, PAWS provides the pet therapy training and coordination, while the hospices provide interested volunteers and the scheduling of visits.  Our agreement with Heartland Hospice, however, is more typical of PAWS arrangements: our trained teams decide that they want to visit at Heartland, and they then complete Heartland's own orientation and training.
 
 
 
PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
 
Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs
 
Centered at Bowling Green in Toughkenamon, PA, our pet therapy program offers addicts and alcoholics in recovery three different types of visits: 1) free-time visits; 2) visits in group discussion sessions; and 3) Sunday family visit time.  Our therapy companions offer folks love, comfort, and the stability that many Bowling Green residents need.
(Required: Basic Level STEX, interview with Bowling Green staff)
 
PT/OT/Speech Therapy
 
PAWS teams work directly with therapists at a number of different sites to assist in their clients' progress.  Besides the love and comfort that our pets give freely, they also provide the motivation for trying some new movements, working longer, and enjoying the activities.  This in turn allows the clients to relax while exercising, which helps their muscles work with less strain and tension.
(Required: Basic Level STEX)
 
Easter Seals
 
PAWS does two types of visiting at our Easter Seals sites: "Class" visits and one-on-one work in conjunction with the physical therapist's and instructor's goals for the client.
(Required: Basic Level STEX)
 
Bancroft NeuroHealth - New Jersey
 
Bancroft NeuroHealth provides a spectrum of individualized services for children and adults with neurological and related disabilities in order to help them achieve greater independence and fulfillment in their lives, while also striving to improve their function, activity, and participation in society.  PAWS teams visit in a group setting in the group houses or central activity center. 
(Required: Basic Level STEX, interview with Bancroft staff)
 
 
                                           
Interested?
Can the people in your facility or program benefit from PAWS for People visits?
 Are you interested in becoming partners with PAWS?

Call us at (302) 351-5622 
or
Would you like to request PAWS for your facility?