Animal Assisted Interventions

Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI)

Animal-assisted interventions are goal oriented and structured interventions that intentionally incorporate animals in health, education and human service for the purpose of therapeutic gains and improved health and wellness. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT), animal-assisted education (AAE) and animal-assisted activities (AAA) are all forms of animal-assisted interventions. In all these interventions, the animal may be part of a volunteer therapy animal team working under the direction of a professional or an animal that belongs to the professional him/herself.

Pet Partners

If you have questions, contact Stephanie Crawford-Goetz (sacrawford@dcsdk12.org) or Ellen Kerkhoff (ekkerkhoff@dcsdk12.org).

If you have questions about Animal Assisted Interventions and/or how to implement a program with a Certified Therapy Dog, please contact Laura Wilson (lwilson2@dcsdk12.org).

If you are ready to implement a new Animal Assisted Intervention program with a Certified Therapy Dog in your school, please fill out the Therapy Animal Request Form (Initial - New Program).

If you wish to continue an existing Animal Assisted Intervention program, please use the Therapy Animal Renewal Request form.

If you are having a Certified Therapy Dog volunteer team visit your school, please use the Volunteer Therapy Animal Request form.

DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT THERAPY ANIMAL PROCEDURES MANUAL .pdf

DCSD AAI Guide-Updated 12_8_2023.pdf

Therapy Dogs Help Reduce Students’ Anxiety and Stress and Bring Smiles to DCSD Students and StaffFriendly dogs who calmly travel alongside their handlers are becoming more common throughout the Douglas County School District (DCSD) as Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI) programs are on the rise. DCSD currently has eight teams of therapy dogs and their handlers assisting students including School Resource Officers (SROs) and school staff (counselors, teachers, and specialists).

*All photos shared with permission.