It has come to my attention that educators are feeling the struggle of post pandemic in a huge way. Back to inperson learning, still dealing with Covid Testing and mandatory time off for a positive test result, students who are experiencing huge gaps in learning and social emotional well-being and anything else you can imagine. Being an educator today is really hard.

So, me offering just one more course for them to commit to is just not the right thing at this time.

I do believe that what I have to offer could be a way to engage students and offer something unique during this unprecedented time.

It is changing the deliver model that might help educators access it more easily.

I decided to turn the opportunity to take a course, into a comprehensive guide, that educators can implement on their own time. It offers everything they need to implement an Animal Assisted Intervention Program. I call it, "Dogs in Schools", which adheres to Standards of Practice that have been developed through the Association for Animal Assisted Interventions for Professionals.

https://www.aaaiponline.org

I am more than happy to offer the course if there is an interest. Maybe, after things settle down a little. There is lots of activity in the membership at AAAIP that indicates there is great interest in adding animals to educational practice.

In the meantime, the guide may be able to help those who want to get started.

If you are interested in purchasing the guide it is available on the website https://www.charitysweetlegacy.com under "Our Training."

The dog/human bond is one that can heal hearts.

It can teach self-awareness and what are emotions are telling us.

Dogs offer unconditional love and they do not judge us.

They love with their whole hearts and reflect back to us what we feel, giving us a chance to understand ourselves better and find new ways to be.

My experience in offering Animal Assisted Interventions to children and youth, as an educator, was the best strategy I ever came across.

All these years later, after humans have enjoyed the therapeutic benefits of having their pets with them, while they worked from home, increased awareness is opening up doors for adding a canine partner to your professional practice.

The magic is out there.

We have to be sure we are implementing this with thoughtfulness, support of those who are in the industry, and organizations like AAAIP who offer courses and certifications to provide accountability and credibility.

I get so excited just thinking about all the help we can offer to so many students by offering the love of a dog to our programs.