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.
April 30
Join us virtually or in-person to hear from the Institute for Human-Animal Connection's researchers Liana Moss and Kaleigh O'Reilly!
They will present findings from their portfolio of research that aims to understand current U.S. animal control policies and practices. This portfolio includes qualitative and quantitative studies on how animal control engages with the communities they serve. Highlighting our first-of-its-kind study of over 1 million animal control cases with national representation, this seminar will highlight the inextricable intersection of animal control, access to veterinary care issues, systemic racial bias in differential enforcement, and the urgent need to address these disparities collectively as a field.
Starts June 2
Have you been wondering what it would mean to incorporate an animal into your work? Check out our Animals and Human Health certificate program! Throughout three online courses and a final capstone session, you will build up your expertise and skills around human-animal interactions and develop your own plan for how to implement your vision. In our program, you will have the opportunity to tailor your learning to your specific interests.
The Pets for Life as One Health study was the FIRST to explore how access to pet supportive care affects community-wide health within the One Health framework. While the COVID-19 pandemic complicated data collection and analysis across this four-year research study, pre-pandemic findings support the ability of access to care programming, focused on the human-animal bond component of the One Health Triad, to positively affect perceptions of overall community health in an urban setting.
Bello, B., Flynn, E., Geldhof, G.J., Yu, D., Mueller, M.K., & Morris, K.N. (2024). Measuring social and emotional functioning as a facet of Positive Youth Development among children and adolescents with mental health and learning challenges. Social Development. e12738. doi: 10.1111/sode.12738
Gandenberger, J., Ledreux, A., Taeckens, A., Murphy, K., Forkin, J., Gilmore, A., & Morris, K. N. (2024). The Presence of a Pet Dog Is Associated with a More Balanced Response to a Social Stressor. Stresses, 4(3), 598-613.
Wesley, J., Furst, G., Bello, B., & Morris, K.N. (2024). How prison dog programs challenge the racial code in correctional settings and beyond. Corrections: Policy, Practice, and Research. In press. doi: 10.1080/23774657.2024.2338848
Ekholm Fry, N. (2024). Equine welfare in therapy and learning services: An overview. In L. Kogan (Ed). Animal-assisted interventions: Recognizing and mitigating potential welfare challenges (pp. 14-17). CAB International.
Can saving companion animal lives improve the economy? In the first study of its kind, the GSSW Institute for Human-Animal Connection is investigating the economic impacts of a no-kill animal shelter policy.
A conservation social work course took Graduate School of Social Work students to Kenya, where they discovered how the lives of humans and threatened species intersect.
Our quarterly seminars feature a wide variety of speakers and topics with an emphasis on social justice issues.
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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.
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