All HOPE Animal-Assisted Response Teams go through comprehensive training for the skills essential to animal-assisted crisis response. With our initial training and continuing education, we make sure that all of our canine teams are prepared to bring Comfort In Times of Crisis at the highest standard.
HOPE regions typically schedule training workshops once per year. We do require that interested people and their canines have 12 consecutive months of experience volunteering in animal-assisted activities/therapy with a formal animal-assisted activity/therapy (AAA/T) organization. Canines are the only animals we accept for screening and training.
There are four elements to the HOPE certification training program:
An Informational Video gives prospective members a comprehensive overview of HOPE AACR. Prospective members have an opportunity to meet HOPE members and their canines.
Screening evaluations are designed to help qualify handlers and canines for certification training. A screening consists of an in-depth interview, interactions with HOPE evaluators, obedience skills test, crate test, and a role-play scenario designed to test for crisis response aptitude.
Individuals without canines go though a similar screening process and are evaluated on their leadership skills and aptitude for assisting canine crisis response teams.
Our 3-day certification training workshop consists of comprehensive training for essential skills needed for animal-assisted crisis response. Some of the topics taught included:
Continuing education for our response teams is vital for maintaining skills and readiness. We strive to:
Screenings and workshops are subject to change.
Pacific Northwest Region (PNW): AK, ID, OR, WA, British Columbia, Yukon
Pacific Southwest Region (PSW): AZ, CA, HI, NV
Rocky Mountain Region (RMR): CO, MT, UT, WY, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan
Central Gulf Coast Region (CGC): AR, LA, NM, OK, TX
Midwest Region (MWR): IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI, Manitoba, Ontario
Southeast Region (SER): AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN
Northeast Region (NER): CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV, Labrador, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, PEI, Quebec
Treat yourself, your spouse, your friends—or your staff—to an unforgettable evening in support of an extraordinary mission. The very first HOPE AACR Gala is coming to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, and it's more than a fundraiser—it's a celebration!
