PAWS for People Community Newsletter: Late May, 2022 |
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PAWS Makes a Positive Impact in Schools |
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As we are quickly approaching the end of the school year, we want to PAWS and take a moment to reflect on PAWS pet therapy in our schools. Staff and students have faced many daily challenges since the beginning of the global pandemic. PAWS pet therapy programs have had a huge positive impact on staff and students’ morale and mental well-being.
PAWS is fortunate enough to be providing a variety of pet therapy programs in nearly 30 schools. We would love to be in every school! Some of the types of visits available are:
• PAWS Pre-K - Pre-K PAWS focuses on the special academic needs of 3- and 4-year-old pre-readers. Using specially developed activity packets and a great therapy companion, our teams work with pre-readers on basic learning concepts.
• PAWS for Reading - Trained PAWS for Reading pet therapy teams encourage young readers to build confidence and skills by reading aloud to non-judgmental, loving PAWS pets during individual sessions in partnering school and library sites— developing literacy and life skills.
• PAWS Autism Initiative - PAWS pet therapy teams learn behavioral support strategies to use during visits with children on the autism spectrum. Working with teachers & support staff, measurable goals & objectives are identified, and PAWS dogs’ unique support helps children learn and succeed.
• Social & Emotional Learning Support - PAWS teams learn how pet therapy can help to meet the needs of children with social and emotional behavioral problems. These trained teams work with therapists and teachers to support students.
• PAWS General Support - Children of all ages may experience challenges that can be better addressed and managed with the help of a gentle loving therapy pet. Anger management, behavioral challenges, depression, and overall mental health concerns can be mediated in the presence of a non-judgmental, calming PAWS pet. Schools are experiencing rewarding results from these PAWS visits.
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These in-school visits don’t include all of the numerous DeStress Visits PAWS has been doing at schools as Community Events. That number has been off the charts, especially since the pandemic.
When asked what the impact of pet therapy is at North Smyrna Elementary School, Counselor Amy Brogan shared that the following is provided when the kids visit with therapy dog Kate (Dawn Kisner):
· motivation to come to school to see Kate
· feeling of acceptance around other students with the dog
· the joy and laughter the visits bring
· reading books to Kate
· no judgement or rejection from the dog
· promotes calmness
While things will quiet down for the summer, fall will be here before we know it and we’ll be back in the schools providing amazing PAWS pet therapy. We are always seeking additional advanced pet therapy teams who have daytime availability and would love to support the many kids in our schools who could use some time with a loving dog, cat, or rabbit. Contact info@pawsforpeople.org for more information about our school-based programs.
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PAWS Debut at Milford Place |
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PAWS for People recently opened a brand new site in Sussex County, DE, at Milford Place. Diana LeDonne and her precious Husky Mix, Allie helped launch the program, much to the delight of staff and residents in Assisted Living and Memory Care. Life Enrichment Coordinator Reshell Truitt and Life Enrichment Assistant Kathleen Davidson were especially pleased to welcome PAWS to their facility.
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After two years away from in-person visits, Ben Franson-Wright and his sweet Belgian Malinois, Sadie, made a triumphant return to their friends at the Brennan School. The Brennan School serves students on the autism spectrum and Ben and Sadie have been visiting with students at Brennan since 2017. Ben also serves as the volunteer coordinator for the PAWS Autism Initiative, helping to develop our program and train new volunteers.
Ben and Sadie visited with 6 kindergartners who used a specially designed PAWS PECS board (Picture Exchange Communication System) to choose which activity to engage in with Sadie. Students could choose “brush,” “water,” or “pet” and the whole class got to take Sadie for a walk. The PAWS visit supported several skills the students are learning including verbal and nonverbal communication, appropriate/gentle touch, taking turns and walking in the hallway.
Ben, Sadie, and all the PAWS Autism Initiative teams look forward to continuing their work with the wonderful teachers and students in the fall. If you would like to learn more about the PAWS Autism Initiative and how to get involved, please contact krosenthal@PAWSforpeople.org.
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PAWS to Read a Good Book from Barnes & Noble |
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Join us at the Christiana Mall Barnes & Noble for our Father’s Day Weekend Book Fair and Pet Affection Section event. Our PAWS pet therapy teams will be onsite to add some tail-wagging joy to your day and to share information about the programs of PAWS for People.
In addition, Barnes & Noble will be donating a percentage of sales to PAWS for People for everyone who checks out using this special Book Fair Voucher. It’s the perfect time to buy a gift for a dad or a grad or purchase the books on your summer reading list. Bring your friends and family and join us for a weekend of fun!
Friday, June 17th 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday, June 18th 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday, June 19th 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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Tucker (Alexis Daisey) loved the kids reading to him at the Sussex Children’s Book Festival at the Bridgeville Library.
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The second graders are studying bugs at Phillip Showell Elementary School, so Mari (Cindy Strouse) is dressed up as a ladybug. |
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Did you know that there is a whole heaven of stars right in the PAWS office? If you turn left after entering the office, you’ll see many, many stars – our PAWS Shining Stars. Rows and rows of photos of our gorgeous PAWS therapy pets line both walls of the hallway – some famous, some infamous, but all loved. There is plenty of room for your own Shining Star to join the rest – your own sweet therapy pet (pets.)
It’s really neat to walk down that hallway and see dogs you knew from the past and maybe some pets you trained with. We have bunnies and cats and lots and lots of dogs – “smiling” and looking both adorable and official at the same time.
If you haven’t put your own therapy pets up on the wall yet, now is a great time. It’s easy – you send us a great shot of your pet (headshots are best), we’ll crop it and frame it and hang it where everyone can admire it. (cost for this is $25). Order today
If you aren’t a PAWS member, please accept our invitation to come meet many of our therapy pets by walking the hallway of PAWS’ STARS. You’re welcome anytime.
-Lynne Robinson, Executive Director
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Edie Kurzweil and Jasper, her talented almost 5-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, are a brilliant team, delighting people with Jasper’s vast repertoire of tricks at such sites as ChristianaCare, Baylor Women’s Correctional Center and James T. Vaughn Correctional Center. In addition, they recently participated in a special study at the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill.
Edie has been a member of PAWS since 2007, and her contributions to the organization are many and varied. She and her first PAWS dog, Rusty, also a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, visited at ChristianaCare – Springside and the Medical Unit at the Newark Campus. Edie herself is a marvel, doing intake calls for prospective new members, helping train at PAWS OST (Orientation, STEX, & Training), and accompanying teams on First Visits to various partnering sites.
A tip of the hat, and a hearty thanks to Edie and Jasper for their dedication and loyalty, as well as for delivering cheer and smiles to the scores of people they’ve met during their PAWS journey.
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Janice & Arlo, Clementine, Luka, Sylvie, and Governor |
When it comes to volunteers, Janice Baldwin-Hench is a real gem! Janice along with her crew of Arlo, Clementine, Luka, Sylvie, and Governor joined PAWS in December of 2012.
Janice and her wonderful gang visit a very special clientele at C.E.R.T.S. Adult Action Center in Smyrna, DE and Dover Behavioral Health System. They were a long-time visiting team at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. Janice and her pups are a PAWS for Reading team and have read at the Dover and the Kent County Public Libraries. They visit folks with dementia at Brookdale, Dover. Janice and her pack have recently been participating in a Penn Study for mental health at Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill. Not only does she visit at all these places, but she volunteers her time as an Intake Caller, a First Visit Assistant, and an OST (Orientation, STEX, & Training) Trainer.
Thank you, Janice, for the generous amount of time and love that you give to PAWS. Thank you, Arlo, Clementine, Luka, Sylvie, and Governor, for bringing fluffy affection to your visits and furry comfort to all who need it.
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Thanks to our PAWS Partners |
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Donate While You Shop
The AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases when selected by customers. Choose PAWS for People when you log in: smile.amazon.com
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