IMPLEMENTING COMPREHENSIVE THERAPEUTIC HEALTHCARE VISITATION
& CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAMS SINCE 2003
a Community Partner of Pet Partners® (formerly Delta Society), Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (R.E.A.D.®) affiliate & 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
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Pet Partners, Angel Paws' national affiliate, is the only national therapy animal program aligned with the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organization (IAHAIO) recommendations for therapy animals and the only nationally recognized therapy animal registry that meets all “Guidelines for animal-assisted interventions in health care facilities” published by the Association of Professionals in Infection Control (see below comparison chart and full copy of the AJIC Guidelines).
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New Facility Program Implementation
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Angel Paws offers comprehensively trained registered & insured animal-handler team referral as well as comprehensive program planning and implementation. Our comprehensive program planning provides your administration with the quality and structure of carefully planned and implemented in-house programs without the in-house burdens on limited resources. We are also happy to work with your facility staff representative at whatever level of support you feel would best fit your own individual program goals including animal-handler team referral to your established program, with consideration of Pet Partners/Angel Paws minimum standards of practice and volunteer availability.
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Services to Facilities Include:
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HEALTH CARE VISITATION
"This organization highly values the mutually beneficial relationship between volunteer, patient and pet, with a keen attention to safety, sensitivity and effective interaction." - Richard R. Donnard, D.O., Chief of Staff, Medical Center of Newark; Medical Director, Hospice of Central Ohio & Autumn Health Care Center "I have managed over 125 different health care facilities in 14 states and Angel Paws is different than any other pet therapy program I have experienced in that your volunteers are highly professional, start to finish. I believe that Angel Paws is a role model for anyone seeking true animal assisted therapy in a health care setting." - John Hughes, Former Owner/Administrator, Flint Ridge Nursing & Rehabilitation |
READING EDUCATION ASSISTANCE DOGS (.R.E.A.D.)
"In addition to having their Delta Society Pet Partners certification, each dog and handler team goes through special training before they can participate in the R.E.A.D. program. ... The Angle Paws therapy teams are a great resource for this area."
- Sadie Smith, Head of Children's Services, Licking County Library
"Our first meeting between Eagle Wings Academy's administration and (Angel Paws' Director) was impressive ... We at Eagle Wings Academy highly recommend this program to any school considering the utilization of a therapy animal program."
- Amanda Griffith, Executive Director & Becky Shaffer, Curriculum Advisor, Eagle Wings Academy
"In addition to having their Delta Society Pet Partners certification, each dog and handler team goes through special training before they can participate in the R.E.A.D. program. ... The Angle Paws therapy teams are a great resource for this area."
- Sadie Smith, Head of Children's Services, Licking County Library
"Our first meeting between Eagle Wings Academy's administration and (Angel Paws' Director) was impressive ... We at Eagle Wings Academy highly recommend this program to any school considering the utilization of a therapy animal program."
- Amanda Griffith, Executive Director & Becky Shaffer, Curriculum Advisor, Eagle Wings Academy
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click on image to enlarge
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There are many unique aspects to our program and we would love to meet with you and your administrators to discuss how Angel Paws may support your program with registered Pet Partners therapy teams. Please us directly if you are interested in implementing a program in your facility.
Although any animal visitation can be a wonderful endeavor we are ever mindful of the fact that with increased frequency (due to the growing popularity of visiting animal programs) comes increased risk so although we do not charge a fee for our services we believe it is important to take a professional approach to maximizing benefits and minimizing risk for all concerned. And as a Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society) affiliate organization all of our animal-handler teams are registered Pet Partners which includes a uniquely comprehensive screening and training program for all of our therapy animal-handler teams. ("team" refers to 1 animal & 1 handler) |
Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society)
"Moment By Moment" |
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Our teams receive extensive training – both with and without their pets - and must go through detailed preparation for each visit in order to conduct themselves with sensitivity and professionalism. We find that having a clear understanding between our organization and volunteers, and you and your staff, helps things go smoothly and avoids potential difficulties or misunderstandings in our efforts to both maximize benefits and minimize risk for all concerned. |
With these considerations in mind the first step in our program collaboration and implementation process is to schedule an initial administrative presentation and discussion meeting to lay a foundation and clear understanding of what we offer, how we work, why, what your program objectives are, and how we may most effectively work together with facility staff to best serve you. We ask that all administrative staff members who will be responsible for the approval &/or execution of the agreed upon policies and procedures be present in order to avoid potential misunderstandings and miscommunications. Once that initial foundation of understanding and support has been established we generally work with a designated staff liaison such as an activity director, volunteer director, reading specialist, school director, teacher or who ever both parties agree would be the best staff contact for Angel Paws to work with.
Health Care Facility Staff asked to attend the introductory meeting include:
1 Administrative Director 2 Activities Director 3 Volunteer Director 4 Nursing Director 5 Risk Management/Infection Control 6 Marketing/Media Relations |
R.E.A.D. Program Staff asked to attend the introductory meeting include:
1 Principal or Library Director 2 Reading Specialist (if the school or library has one) 3 Director of Childrens Services (if library) 4 Teacher(s) or Librarians who would be responsible 5 Any volunteers who many be involved (optional) |
NOTE: A Library R.E.A.D. program is generally AAA while a School program is AAT
Please click HERE for more information about the difference between AAA & AAT.
Please click HERE for more information about the difference between AAA & AAT.
Our presentation will include handouts, a power point presentation and video clips. If you can provide a table to put our laptop and projector on, an electrical outlet, and a blank wall or screen to project onto we will bring our own lap top, projector & extension cords! If you have a built in projector and sound system even better! One hour for the presentation/discussion is best with access to the room roughly 1/2 hour before the meeting to set up and 1/2 hour after to clear out.
We look forward to working with you to design the best program possible for your facility! Please us for more information! Meanwhile, following is information we hope you will consider in your plans for an AAA/T program in your facility. More information about our affiliations and What makes Angel Paws/Delta Society Pet Partners and Reading Education Assistance Dogs unique can be found by clicking HERE.
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* 15 Characteristics of Quality / Questions (and answers) we encourage you to ask of any Therapy Animal Registry or group ...
Complete * “Guidelines for animal-assisted interventions in health care facilities” published by the Association of Professionals in Infection Control)
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* Comparison chart of basic differences between Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society), TDI & TDInc. (including testing procedures & how each organizations compare to the “Guidelines for animal-assisted interventions in health care facilities” published by the Association of Professionals in Infection Control)
Angel Paws Brochure
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