Service Animals in the Workplace: Best Practices for Veterans and Employers Ms. Erin Allen, MSSW, LSW Argus Institute, CSU VTH Dr. Kelly Mann (USA, Retired) Postdoctoral Fellow, CSU VTH/ACC

Agenda Introductions Terms and definitions VTH resources Discussion Kelly Mann, DVM (USA, Retired) Erin Allen, MSSW, LSW Audience Terms and definitions VTH resources Discussion Practices that would enrich the quality of life for Student-Veterans and their Service or Companion/Assistance Animals in our community. Summarize and follow-up

Terms and definitions Service Animal = a dog (or miniature horse) that has been individually trained to perform a specific task or service for a person with a disability. Companion or Assistance Animal = animals that help a person with a disability alleviate one or more symptoms of their disability while in their home. Animal-Assisted Therapy = the planned inclusion of an animal in a patient’s treatment plan. Animal-Assisted Activities = the use of animals in recreational and visitation programs to help people with special needs.

Our mission: To honor the human-animal bond by providing compassionate support and advocacy for people who care for animals.

Hospital Services Client support– working with the health care team: Emotional support during appointment Assisting during crisis/emergencies Providing updates during surgery and high risk procedures QOL discussion/assessment EOL decision making Guiding parent-child discussions Grief counseling Support during and after euthanasia Staff and student emotional support

Education In the moment teaching Hospital service rounds with students, nurses and clinicians Hospital service rounds Oncology service: weekly since 1984 others on request In-service workshops Compassion fatigue Self care Supporting the emotional client Communication skills Suicide assessment skills

Community Outreach Pet Memorial Pet Aging Seminar Series Memorial Wreath-making workshop Pet loss support group Grief support line

Community Outreach Path of Honor Educational Workshops Local veterinary clinics Conferences Front Range Community College C.S.U. courses Pet Hospice

CSU Pet Hospice Mission: To provide passionate end-of-life care for pets and emotional support and education for their families Started in 2004 First and only pet hospice in a VTH setting 207 families served 190 student volunteers trained “I received genuine caring and important guidance from my hospice volunteers. I know getting through this period would have been much more difficult without them.”

Discussion What benefits are derived from Service/Companion/Assistance Animals?

Discussion Share a positive experience involving a Service Animal in the workplace.

Discussion Describe a negative experience involving a Service Animal in the workplace.

Discussion Offer a suggestion that would improve your life or your Service Animal’s quality of life in the workplace, on the CSU campus or in our local community.

Discussion Have you had any personal experiences with Animal- Assisted Therapy or Animal- Assisted Activities within or outside of your military service?

Summarize and Follow-up Next steps Contact information

Contact information www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu ​argus@colostate.edu If you are at the CSU VTH: Ask for your medical team to introduce us or have a receptionist page us. If you are outside of the CSU VTH: Call our clinic line at: (970) 297-1242 kelly.mann@colostate.edu