1

Periodic Evaluation of Centers, Institutes

and Other Special Units (CIOSUs)

Human-Animal Bond in Colorado (HABIC)

Center for the Human-Animal Bond

2011

1. List of current faculty and other personnel affiliated with HABIC

  • Ben P. Granger, MSW, MPA, PhD., Emeritus Professor Director, School of Social Work. Co-Director, HABIC (Designated CIOSU Administrative Director)
  • Georgia V. Granger, BS., Co-Director, HABIC (AAT in schools program development)
  • Carrie Bowlus, BS, HABIC Dog Trainer, and Denver Program Coordinator (part-time)
  • Vicky Buchan, MSW, PhD., Professor, School of Social Work
  • Brenda Dickison, MSW, HABIC Office Manager (part-time)
  • Mark Holmes, DVM., Paws of the RockiesAnimalHospital
  • M.D. Salman, DVM., PhD., College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
  • Karen Scott, HABIC accountant
  • Jane Shaw, DVM, PhD, Director of Argus Institute for Families and Veterinary Medicine, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
  • Bob Seiz, MSW, PhD., Assistant Professor, School of Social Work (Research Committee)
  • Brad Sheafor, MSW, PhD., Professor, School of Social Work (Research Committee)
  • Brian Cobb, PhD., Emeritus Professor, Interim Co-Director, School of Education (Research Committee)
  • Mark Winoker, PhD., Director, Social Work Research Center (Research Committee)
  • Zeynep Biringen, PhD, Professor, Department of Human Development & Family Studies (Research Committee)
  • Lori Kogan, PhD., Assistant Professor, Clinical Sciences (Research Committee)

Colorado State University • College of Applied Human Sciences • School of Social Work

127 Education Building • Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1586 • 970-491-2776 • Fax 970-491-7280

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Executive Committee

  • Brenda Dickison
  • Nancy Digby
  • Steve Gardner
  • Ben Granger
  • Georgia Granger
  • Barbara Heffington
  • Greg Heffington
  • Kathleen O’Loughlen
  • Bob Seiz
  • Mo Salman
  • Linda Zafarana

Note: HABIC (Human-Animal Bond in Colorado) is a CIOSU of the School of Social Work, and the College of Applied Human Sciences. As such HABIC isadministratively responsibleto Deborah Valentine, PhD, Director of the School of Social Work, and to Nancy Hartley,PhD, Interim Dean of the College of Applied Human Sciences. HABIC receives its non-profit status from CSU. The CSU Foundation maintains our financial accounts.

2. Brief description of the goals and objectives of HABIC as related to the original purpose.

HABIC was established in 1993 as a Programof the School of Social Work, College of Applied Human Sciences. Itsmission is to “improve the quality of life for people of all ages through the therapeutic use of companion animals.” Within this mission are the goals of:

  • Service/outreach - provide animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and animal-assisted activity (AAA) services and programs inpartnership with: public schools; long-term care and rehabilitation;hospitals;hospice; mental health;youth corrections;residential treatment; child advocacy; and other social service organizations in Colorado.
  • Teaching - educate students and professionals on the human-animal bond, the therapeutic use of companion animals, and AAT and AAA.
  • Research - conduct researchand evaluation in the human-animal bond field andon AAT/AAA interventions.

Related objectives include:

  • Trainingand supervising HABIC volunteer human-animal teams (e.g. owner/dog) for providing AAT/AAA services (this includes certifying teams at the initial and advanced levels).
  • Developing and maintaining HABIC programs in collaboration with community social services, school, health and mental health facilities. This includes working with contact staff members in each program, and with professional staff who are providing AAT/AAA with each human-animal team.
  • Providing ongoing supervision of human-animal teams, professional and contact staff, to help assure quality and effectiveness.
  • Teaching an interdisciplinary course (SOWK 550 - The human-animal bond and animal-assisted therapy) to university undergraduate and graduate students interested in this field. Providing lectures and presentations to other university units and to the community.
  • Using HABIC as a field practicum for students wanting to incorporate animal-assisted therapy/activity into their majors and future professional practice.
  • Conducting program evaluation and providing opportunities for students and faculty to engage in research in this field. Assisting students in completing projects, papers, theses/dissertations in this area.

3. Brief description of the activities, services, training, or research performed as related to HABIC’s function and mission.

Providing AAT in schools with “at-risk” students has increased over the past two years, based upon this intervention considered by school professional staff (e.g., special education teachers, counselors, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists) to be effective. The fact that we also have an AAT evaluation project with schools and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), has provided evidenced based practice data with regard to the effectiveness of AAT our human-animal team approach (e.g. trained owner/dog and professional staff member). AAT also compliments the schools’ Positive Behavior Support (PBS) system that incorporates other positive based interventions.

Along the Front Range HABIC has 23 AAT programs in public schools, with 54 human-animal teams working with 92 children. School involved include: 8in Thompson School District, 5 in Poudre School District, 6 in Weld RE-4 (Windsor) School District, 1 in Park School District (Estes Park), 2 in Jeffco School District, 1 in Adams 12 School District.

HABICpresently have a total of 120 human-animal teams (including the above) providing AAT/AAA services along the Front Range. These HABIC programs include:

  • Long term care (Spring Creek;Columbine Health Systems at Centre Ave. Health and Rehabilitation, Columbine West, Lemay Health and Rehabilitation, and North Shore-Loveland; Prospect Park-Estes Park; Veterans Administration Medical Center, Family Care Unit-Denver).
  • Hospitals (PoudreValleyHospital, Presbyterian/St. Luke-Denver, Saint Joseph’s-Denver).
  • Hospice (Hospice Metro Denver, North Shore Health Care-hospice unit).
  • Schools (Thompson School District- Edmonson, Bill Reed, Lincoln, Winona, Garfield, Milner, Van Buren;Poudre School District-Bacon, Bethke, O’Dea,

Putnam, Werner; Windsor School District-Tozer, Sky View, Mountain View, Windsor Middle, Range View; Park School District R-3, Estes Park Middle; Adams 12-Westlake Middle School - Broomfield, Pfeiffer - Littleton, Mortensen-Littleton ).

  • Youth corrections (Platte Valley Youth Services Center-Greeley).
  • Mental health (Highlands Behavioral Health-Denver).
  • Child advocacy (Denver Children’s Advocacy Center).

In the Thompson School District, HABIC has developed a crisis intervention AAT project, where selected human-animal teams are “on-call” to work with counselors and support staff when there is a school crisis (e.g., death of a student, a traumatic incident). We are also in the process of developing an AAA/AAT program with the Visiting Nurses Association of Denver, Caring Solutions in Loveland (providing AAA with the elderly in their own homes), and Jeffco Mental Health (providing AAA with the chronically mentally ill residing in community settings).

In partnership with the Social Work Research Center (Marc Winoker, Director)HABIC continues to conduct research and evaluation projects focusing on the effectiveness of AAT. Presently, we are in the fourth year of an evaluation project with CDE and the Thompson School and the Weld RE - 4 School Districts. The 3rd evaluation report is available upon request.

We continue to develop video clips providing case vignettes with selected populations; especially with children receiving AAT in schools. This has been very helpful in demonstrating the use of AAT, the human-animal team approach, and in understanding the most effective methods in providing this intervention. These AAT case examples have been completed in cooperation with school personnel, including receiving parental/guardian permission/waivers and maintaining confidentiality.

Funded grants during the past 24 months include: continuation funding from CDE and Thompson School and Weld RE – 4 School Districts; Rotary International – Estes Park, and grant from the Dr. Scholl Foundation. A grant proposal was written to the Dr. Scholl Foundation in 2010 and funded ($18,000) for specific AAT/AAA services during 2011.

HABIC has completed several successful “fund-raising” events, including the sixthannual “Diggin’Doubles” tennis tournament sponsored by the Colorado Tennis Center, and the “Rise and Dine with Your Dog” with the Praha restaurant in Longmont. Each year HABIC has its recognition dinner for human-animal teams who have completed their advanced human-animal team certification requirements. HABIC also has ongoing training sessions, and additional social events scheduled for the membership.

SOWK 550 (The human-animal bond and animal-assisted therapy) continues to be taught on a regular basis. Students from a number of disciplines including social work, occupational therapy, human development, education, psychology, animal sciences, and exercise and sports scienceshave taken this course. This is one of a few university courses offered for students who wantto learn more about the human-animal bond and AAT/AAA for their professional development and practice.

In addition, we have been invited to lecture and provide presentations on numerous occasions within CSU as well as in the community. Our dog trainer has recently developed a power point presentation on “stress in dogs,” and animal behavior.

Students from a variety of disciplines have completed projects, theses, and dissertations related to the human-animal bond field. Each year we have a social work student complete her/his field practicum requirements with HABIC.

4. Brief budget summary.

HABIC continues to have a conservative and stableoperating budget, that remains about $50,000 annually. We continue with two part-time staff members: a HABIC office manager at CSU (Brenda Dickison), and a coordinator for our Denver based programs (Carrie Bolus). Carrie is also HABIC’s dog trainer, with her fundsprovided by members going through our training requirements.

As noted, the CSU Foundation (CSUF) has fiscal responsibility for HABIC’s financial accounts; in conjunction with the College of Applied Human Sciences and the School of Social Work. An updated budget summary (12/31/10) completed by our accountant (Karen Scott) showed a balance of $155,403 in discretionary funds (CSUF Expenditure account, and 22 account) and $105,064 in the CSUF Endowment/Scholarship account); for a total balance of $260,467. HABIC has several fund-raising events each year, as well as having a donor base of contributors. We remain active in grant writing to foundations and other sources.

We do not receive RI (Regular Instruction) funding from the university. An office in the School of Social Work, and a number of support services from the school, college and university are provided. HABIC’s revenue comes from a variety of sources including: program fees, grants and contracts, individual donations, and fund-raisers.

Please note that Georgia Granger and Ben Granger, Co-Directors of HABIC,are not salaried. They are volunteers as are all of the human-animal teams, professional staff in schools and other facilities, program contact staff, community consultants (e.g., veterinarians) and other personnel associated with HABIC. In-kind services, including our“human-animal teams”and other volunteer services are estimated at $175,000 annually.

5. A list of accomplishments and contributions including pending and approved grants and contracts, refereed and non-refereed publications, and effects on teaching and outreach.

Service/Outreach

  • Through AAT/AAA services and programs HABIC is providing a useful and significantcommunity outreach, especially with:“at-risk”students in schools and corrections; residents in nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities; persons receiving mental health services; and patients and their families in hospitals and hospices. Through this service, the university has gained recognition in its mission of community service, in providing a positive educational/rehabilitative impact, and in taking this initiative.
  • There is a cost-effective use of volunteer human-animal teams (i.e., owner and dog)who are trained and supervised by HABIC. This has increased the number of volunteers with CSU as well as helping to expand the positive impact for Colorado. In addition, both the human and dog find a purpose in their lives by providing AAT/AAA services.
  • HABIC has a contact staff person in each of the facilities where there is an AAT/AAA program. This provides for effective communication and coordination.
  • HABIC has expanded its outreach to includethe development of several new programs. This is based on the capacity to do so in terms ofavailable resources, commitment by staff of facilities wanting a HABIC program, and ability to maintain quality and effectiveness.
  • To help assure quality, HABICcontinues to have a “program maintenance committee.”Committee members are experienced teams who provide on-site review with teams providing animal-assisted therapy/activity in our contract programs.
  • HABIC provides two levels of certification (initial and advanced) for our human-animal teams. Carrie Bolus is a competent and well qualified dog trainer for HABIC, and provides initial training of teams (level 2 and 3), as well as refresher courses. This helps to assure program quality, along with other competent staff. The Grangers as Co-Directors continue to provide key leadership and direction, along with HABIC’s Executive Committee.

Teaching

  • The course SOWK 550 (The Human-Animal Bond and Animal-Assisted Therapy) has been taught once a year on a continuous basis. Students from a wide variety of majors have taken this course. These are students who, in one way or another, have experienced the human-animal bond and want to learn more about how animal-assisted interventions can be used in their professional field of practice. The course and instructors have received excellent evaluations. Students also come to HABIC to complete term papers, theses, and special projects.
  • Guest lectures and presentations are provided within the university and in the community on a regular basis. These most often focus on the nature of the human-animal bond, and understanding AAT/AAA, with illustrations where this can be a helpful intervention (i.e., to relieve loneliness/isolation and depression, to facilitate rehabilitation of a person who has had a stroke or brain injury, working with a student who has emotional, behavioral, and learning problems).
  • HABIC provides a six month training process for human-animal teams. This includes training classes for the canine and owner, evaluation, animal behavior and stress seminar, animal behavioral screening, and on-site orientation and supervision.

Research/grants/contracts

  • We continue having a HABIC Research Advisory Committee (members are listed under item one). The purpose of the committee is to help enhance research efforts, including funded research/evaluation, and to provide guidance and focus. This committee is important in terms of helping to increase research efforts in the human-animal bond field; especially evaluating the effectiveness of AAT/AAA with different client groups and setting.
  • This committee has been helpful in supporting the submission of a NIH research grant proposal. With the leadership of Zeynep Biringen, PhD (Professor, Department of Human Development & Family Studies), a grant proposal entitled “Enhancing children’s emotional availability through animal-assisted therapy” was submitted to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, special emphasis panel on the role of human-animal interaction in child health and development.
  • A third year report was completed in 2010 regarding our four year project with the Thompson School and Weld Re-4 School Districts. The report, “Animal-assisted therapy school-based programs” provide an analysis of data for the first three years of the project. A “bonding scale,” administered pre>post AAT during the school year, has provided quantitative data that is statistically significant in a number of measures. To date a total of 117 children completed the bonding scale. Qualitative data, including interviews with school staff and human-animal teams, supports the positive outcomes of AAT with “at-risk” children in schools. This report is available upon request. A final report of this project will be provided in the summer of 2011.
  • Students from a number of majors have hadclass term papers and projects with HABIC. One Sociology graduate student completed her thesis(2010) in the human-animal bond field entitled “Equestrianism: serious leisure and intersubjectivity.”
  • As noted, our latest funded grant was from the Dr. Scholl Foundation (2010-2011).
  • We continue to receive funding from Rotary International – Este Park, in support of HABIC programs in Prospect Park long term care facility.
  • Individual donations and other sponsors continue to provide support for HABIC’s programs and services. For example, our “adopt a school” project continues, where donorscan contribute toward a school’sannual program fee. This is especially helpful due to the serious budget cutbacks in schools.

Reports,Publications, Presentations, Creativity