Compassionate relational care & animal-assisted intervention

Nova Scotia College of Social Workers

Mini-conference on compassionate relational care in health and social sectors through animal-assisted intervention (AAI)

<p>Please join the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers for this one-day conference as we explore the important intersections between social work and animals in health and policy. Dr. Cassandra Hanrahan’s presentation features interviews with animal-assisted intervention (AAI) practitioners on their relationships, places, and contexts in AAI as a growing adjunct health service. Later, Dr. Hanrahan will host a discussion and moderated panel highlighting research, social service organizations, and advocacy regarding animals and their impact in therapeutic contexts, shaping ‘companion animals friendly’ spaces, and the nature of trans-species companionship. </p><p>The event is open to the public; all are welcome to attend.</p><aside><em>Note: For members of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers, the morning research session may be considered formal professional development. The advocacy panel can be used to meet the mandatory requirement for annual advocacy activity requirements. The breakout groups can be used to meet informal professional development requirements.</em></aside>

<h1>Schedule</h1><h2>11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m: Research presentation</h2><h3>Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) in practice contexts and as potential field guide in/to alterity relations</h3><p>Dr. Hanrahan’s presentation will spotlight findings from their interviews with AAI practitioners across Nova Scotia. These findings highlight the unique and extensive self-direction and advocacy of AAI practitioners to shape the public spaces and contexts for their therapeutic work with a range of client populations, and the potential for AAI to simultaneously stimulate local economies, guide much needed community education in/to alterity relations, and enhance public health by connecting people to other people, other animals, and to other places.</p><p>Exploring key findings through the emergent overarching theme of relationality, this mobilization of study findings aims to strengthen AAI services through a critical and creative discussion of practitioner motivations and resolve; experiences and perceived outcomes of working with and drawing inspiration from animal partners for clients and providers alike; and conceptions/misconceptions of animal justice. This research mobilization's further aims is to highlight how interrelationships between people, other animals, and natural environments are being conceptualized and understood, and why they must be integrated into the evolving perspectives of AAI practitioners, as well as communities at large. Dr. Hanrahan responds with prescient optimism to the strengths and challenges of AAI in a time of transgression of planetary boundaries affecting a global pandemic, a climate crisis, environmental degradation, war and mass migrations…</p><h3>Speakers</h3><p><strong>Cassandra Hanrahan</strong>, RSW, PhD (sociology &amp; equity studies), associate professor at Dalhousie University School of Social Work (she/her, they/them)</p><p><strong>Amberlee Boulton</strong>, RSW, MSW, PhD student (population &amp; public health) at Cumming School of Medicine, Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary (she/her) </p><h2>12:30-1:00 p.m: Lunch break</h2><h2>1:00-2:00 p.m: Discussion</h2><h3>Practice implications: Going deeper into AAI and its broadening impact as an adjunct health service</h3><p>In roundtable and break-out room discussions, participants will reflect and discuss the themes and implications of Dr. Hanrahan’s presentation and human-animal intersections in social service and health sectors.</p><h2>2:15-3:30 p.m: Service &amp; advocacy panel</h2><h3>Human-animal relations in policy, relationship &amp; practice</h3><p>Service organizations, social workers, and advocates will discuss the implications of working in humanized spaces that include animals. While non-human animals, especially companion species, are a part of daily life and a key familial relationship for many, they are  often not considered in health and policy. </p><p>Each panel member will present on how their experience and organization is expanding community definitions of companion animal roles and human-animal interactions.</p>

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Compassionate relational care & animal-assisted intervention

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