Animal-Assisted Therapy

American Humane has long acknowledged the power of the human-animal bond, and currently trains and provides registered therapy animals to help people in need -- especially children who have been abused or neglected or have witnessed trauma to others. To further support and advance this work, American Humane has launched a national initiative called the Therapy Animals Supporting Kids (TASK) Program.

Can Animals Help Kids Heal?

It is widely accepted that therapy animals can help individuals who have suffered physical or emotional trauma. The TASK Program takes this concept one step further and encourages child welfare professionals to incorporate therapy animals into sessions with children who have been abused or neglected or have witnessed violence. When children have suffered trauma, it is often difficult for them to speak of their experiences. Incorporating a therapy animal into the process can help a child open up and promote the healing process.

Who Should Know About the TASK Program?

The TASK Program was created to provide guidance to child welfare professionals, attorneys and prosecutors, child protection workers, social workers, police officers, and any other professionals who work with children who have been maltreated and could benefit from involvement with therapy animals.

Who Created the TASK Program?

The program was created by Allie Phillips, J.D., vice president of American Humane’s Public Policy Office and a former prosecuting attorney, and Diana McQuarrie, director of animal-assisted interventions for American Humane and a certified therapy-animal handler.

The TASK Program Manual

Together, Phillips and McQuarrie authored the American Humane TASK Program Manual, a publication that merges two important areas of expertise: first, the practical issues involved with setting up an animal-assisted therapy program and safely working with therapy animals; and second, the legal implications of effectively incorporating therapy animals in work with children, which often entails a difficult court process.

The TASK Manual identifies six situations for incorporating therapy animals into work helping traumatized children, and thoroughly details the benefits, drawbacks and potential legal ramifications involved with each type of situation. These situations are:

• Greeting children (at a children’s advocacy center or other agency location)
• Forensic interview or evaluation
• Medical examination
• Individual or group therapy
• Court preparation
• Courtroom testimony

The manual features children’s advocacy centers and prosecutors’ offices that currently incorporate therapy animals to assist children.

The TASK Manual was peer-reviewed by nationally recognized leaders in child protection and animal-assisted therapy, as well as agencies that have effectively incorporated therapy animals in programs to benefit child victims and witnesses.

Learn More

Download the TASK Manual or learn what it takes to become a certified handler-animal therapy team.

Allie Phillips, co-creator of the TASK Program, speaks with Colorado Public Radio’s Colorado Matters host, Ryan Warner, about the benefits of the TASK Program and using therapy animals in courtrooms. Listen to the interview. (Courtesy of Colorado Public Radio)

For more information about the TASK Program, please email task@americanhumane.org.