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.
Maria Espinosa de los Monteros didn’t grow up with dogs, but quickly opened up her heart and home to the many stray dogs in need of care in her community once she was able to. She is now the director of the R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistant Dogs) program in Mexico City where she serves a diverse population and is elevating the role of dogs in her community.
The holiday season is upon us again, with its typical spectrum of emotions from joy and happiness to grief and despair. Perhaps these emotions are also amplified by issues unique to 2020, such as the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice in the U.S. There are also many aspects of the holidays that might be experienced as stressful by a dog or any companion animal species.
Shanti Hill-Gauer earned her MSW and AASW certificate in 2013 and is now the owner and clinical director of the Wish Fulfilling Tree – Therapeutic Ranch. The Wish Fulfilling Tree provides animal-assisted therapy services to youth in Sonoma County, California.
Rachel Pletcher completed Animals and Human Health in 2018 which has allowed her to develop and implement an animal-assisted therapy program for her child welfare organization.
The Institute for Human-Animal Connection offers Research Fellowship for individuals with their MSW who are interested in receiving robust training in social science research with a focus on the Human-Animal-Environment Interaction field.
Lisa Daigle is the founder of Savannah's Place, a sanctuary providing mindfulness, advocacy, and wellness for equines and a 2015 graduate of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection's (IHAC) Animals and Human Health (AHH) Certificate program. She's recently enrolled in another IHAC certificate program to benefit her local community and the animals at the sanctuary.
Adam Clark is a Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) graduate from the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work where he received his Animal-Assisted Social Work (AASW) Certification through the Institute for Human-Animal Connection and specialized in Family Systems work. After graduating Adam focused his career on grief and loss, with a specialization in understanding pet loss and its effect on human-animal relationships.
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.
