The Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) is advancing awareness and understanding of the interrelationships among people, other animals and the environment. Keep up with the latest news about IHAC and our work related to human-animal-environment interactions.
What's New at IHAC
February 25
Green Chimneys: The Evolution of a Nature-Based Program
Since 1947, Green Chimneys has operated an education and therapeutic program for children with special needs on a farm surrounded by nature and hundreds of animal species. For over 20 years, Kristin Licardi (Chief Clinical Officer) and Michael Kaufmann (Vice President of Nature Based Programs) have worked to continually adapt and evolve best practices for the current student population and a large number of farm animals, equines, dogs, and wildlife.
In this seminar, learn how research data gathered over a decade-long relationship with the Institute for Human-Animal Connection informs the current program and strategic directions at Green Chimneys. Kristin and Michael will share perspectives and illustrate how theory and practice inform each other in a model program that continually strives to improve.
Human Engagement in Animal Welfare and Sheltering Orientation Course
We have a brand new online course available with NO eligibility requirements! Complete coursework entirely on your own time.
Designed for animal welfare and shelter workers, you will dive into the knowledge and skills you may need to successfully engage community members and colleagues. Topics such as mindset, implicit bias, trust-building, facilitating psychological safety, positionality, and empowerment are reviewed in the context of culturally responsive community engagement in animal welfare.
Our research has been featured in The Conversation, an independent news organization that platforms academics and researchers like us to share our evidence-based findings with a broad, global audience.
IHAC research staff Jaci Gandenberger and Dr. Kevin Morris discuss how our companion dogs may do more than just reduce stress; they can actually help keep us in a healthy zone of stress response.
Pamela Wheeler is a licensed mental health practitioner who founded UBU Therapy Farms in Lincoln, Nebraska where children can learn socio-emotional skills and interact with animals in a therapeutic setting.
The Canine-Assisted Intervention Specialist (CAIS) Certificate at the Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) is one of the newest offerings in the IHACPro professional development suite of programs, and it has quickly become very popular! Professor Tedeschi spoke with us about why this program is so beneficial. “It seems to me that the biggest benefit offered to students who participate fully in the CAIS program is the ability to both understand and more accurately communicate with dogs,” stated Tedeschi.
Through our unique education opportunities students and professionals from around the world are learning ethical and effective approaches to human-animal-environment interactions. The Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) offers both graduate and professional development education certificates.
The Institute for Human-Animal Connection's research uses innovative approaches to answer seminal questions in the human-animal-environment interactions field. This year, our research team grew with the addition of three full-time staff positions. We produced several reports and publications, including: 10 peer-reviewed publications and 3 other publications, with 6 additional manuscripts submitted or under review.
At the Institute for Human-Animal Connection, we are enthusiastic about this new Ecological Justice concentration at DU as it complements our work exquisitely. We have long promoted that human health and wellbeing will only be realized through creating healthy human relationships with the natural world and with all other species.
The Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) is excited to welcome Betty Jean Curran to the adjunct faculty team for the Animals and Human Health (AHH) professional development certificate program. Curran is a Licensed Master Social Worker, educator, and writer with a passion for program design and evaluation.
The Institute for Human-Animal Connection is pleased to welcome Maureen Huang to the adjunct faculty team for the Animals and Human Health certificate program. Huang is the founder of Pawsibility, a private practice in Singapore that specializes in animal-assisted therapy. She often works alongside her canine co-therapists to bring insights that change the way people think, behave and feel.
Signature Events
Research Seminar Series
Our quarterly seminars feature a wide variety of speakers and topics with an emphasis on social justice issues.
The IHAC and Green Chimneys co-hosted conferences present the latest research, best practices, and future directions of human-animal-environment interactions, and inspires attendees to rethink human relationships with other animals.
