AniCare Workshops
ASI equips professionals with appropriate skills to reverse conditioned trends in the cycle of abuse. Effective interventions will save the lives of men, women, children, the elderly, and many family companion animals. We present workshops for clinical professions and for health, education, and social service fields. Our workshops stress the seriousness of animal abuse as it relates to domestic violence, animal suffering, and continuing patterns of abuse. Interventions include action plans, identification methods and referrals, and skills to treat the abusers.
- Explore why animal abuse is a clear indicator to look further
- Learn what research reveals about the link between positive relationships with companion animals and human health
- Discuss why parents who neglect companion animals may neglect or abuse their children
- Find out why family batterers often threaten the family companion animal to control a spouse and children
Five Workshops Available:
1. Assessing and Treating Juvenile Animal Abuse
2. Assessing and Treating Adult Animal Abuse
These two workshops are designed to provide clinical professionals with important conceptions and trends about the connection of animal abuse to human violence. Many of these professionals will already understand animal cruelty as a serious offense requiring attention. They are potentially working with clients who have been referred as animal abusers, or who have been harmed by or threatened with animal cruelty; or been effected by witnessing animal abuse. Their caseload could include individuals who have been referred via the courts, the schools, social services agencies or parents. There are two distinct types of professionals in this targeted market - those who work with children or those who work with adults.
Grounded in research, the dynamics of animal abuse are presented to amplify the significance to family, child and spousal abuse. Based on the AniCare Child and AniCare Adult approaches, it provides strategies for the participant to be able to identify possible animal abuse and to make skilled assessments. Participants will learn the skills for treating juvenile / adult animal abuse. They will leave with checklists and instruments to complement their diagnostic and treatment practice.
Topics covered include:
- the relation between animal abuse and other forms of abuse and disorders
- the range of animal abuse behaviors
- evaluation of animal abuse when children / adults present with various problems
- how to integrate treatment with other interventions
- assessments of juveniles /adults who present with animal abuse
- treatment principles and concrete interventions
Through lecture, video interviews, case study, role-play, and interactive learning, the participants will gain a working understanding of the AniCare Child treatment approach, which focuses on empathy, problem solving and the development of self-management skills within the therapeutic organizing framework of connection, expression and corrective intervention; OR of the AniCare approach, which focuses on accountability and the development of self-management skills and empathy.
3. Assessment and Action Planning for Animal Abuse
This workshop is designed to introduce the important conceptions and trends about the connection of animal abuse to human violence. It is appropriate for various audiences such as school counselors, probation / parole officers, domestic violence specialists, child welfare advocates, public health professionals and nursing specialists. These professionals work closely with individuals and consequently are in a position to make an appropriate referral, when necessary as part of their workload. They work in a variety of settings where they come into contact with people who are in crisis or who are dealing with a difficult situation and their work requires specific protocols.
This presentation, grounded in research, explains the dynamics of animal abuse and its significance as an indicator of child and spousal abuse. Based on the AniCare Adult and AniCare Child approaches, participants will review strategies to effectively identify possible animal abuse and techniques so they can make appropriate referrals. Participants will leave with checklists and instruments to assist them in taking effective actions to intercede in animal abuse within the protocol of their professional role.
4. The Connection Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence
This workshop is designed to introduce police, educators, criminal justice specialists, and humane / animal welfare specialists to the important conceptions and trends regarding the �link� of animal abuse to human violence. This presentation, based in research, explains the significance of animal abuse as a potential indicator of family, child and spousal abuse. Information and materials are provided to help participants integrate appropriate actions toward ending the cycle of abuse, within the protocol of their profession. Objectives:
- Understand the importance of animal abuse as it relates to family and domestic violence
- Identify populations at-risk; types of animal abuse and profiles of abuser
- Understand how animal abuse impacts cultural norms, laws and institutional changes
- Understand cross reporting systems and procedures
5. Project Second Chance Animal Assisted Intervention
Criminal Justice professionals, social workers, case managers in group homes learn about an effective dog program that improves empathy, reduces anger and assists youth in gaining self respect, respect for other living things and responsibility while caring for animals. This workshop demonstrates how some of the basic elements of the AniCare treatment approach are used in a practical setting.
Testimonials
Children are our future. To interrupt the cycle of violence will be of lasting benefit."
Samuel Ross, PhD, Director, Green Chimneys, Brewster, NY
"We prosecute individuals who abuse animals and if convicted ask the judge to order them to AniCare counseling sessions"
Diane Balkin, Deputy District Attorney, Denver, CO
"We highly recommend AniCare Child to Domestic Violence counseling programs."
Karen Dunne, M.P.A. Director, Domestic Violence Rape Crisis Center, Cecil County, MD
"AniCare Child .gives clinicians what they need!"
Tracey Kaly, The Harbor Behavioral HealthCare Institute, New Port Richey, FL
"Thanks to AniCare and AniCare Child, New Mexico now have over 150 trained clinicians in the treatment of animal cruelty."
Delores Stroud, Grants and Prevention Coordinator, Mental Health Dept, Albuquerque NM
