Animal-Assisted Education (AAE)

The workgroup has retained the category name of animal-assisted education (AAE), used historically, but modified the definition that was published in the 2018 IAHAIO white paper. In this new definition, AAE refers to any educational program in which animals are integrated, directly or indirectly, as a critical component of an ongoing educational process. Depending on the degree and type of training of the AAE provider, the nature of the goals of AAE programs may be academic, social-emotional, psychoeducational, cognitive, vocational, and/or personal or organizational development, and may focus on emotional regulation, coping strategies, prosocial skills, and/or empathy development.

AAE may take place in a variety of locations, such as schools providing education, prisons, stables, and private centers. Programs with animals specializing in humane education goals may include those operated by animal welfare groups, museum education, nature and environmental centers. Programs in AAE may include equine- and canine-assisted learning, requiring relevant training and knowledge of the animals present in the program. An AAE psychoeducation program may involve working with prisoners or at-risk youth, teaching social skills with the goal of helping the recipient feel a sense of self-worth or self-esteem, acquire positive self-control skills, internalize limits and positive limit-setting skills. The AAE provider may work with facility-owned animals, collaboratively with an assistant or may work with their personal animal. In all cases, it is recommended to have knowledge of animal behavior and communication to protect the health and well-being of the animal and everyone else involved in the process

Animal-Assisted Support Programs

Intended to replace the term “Animal-Assisted Activities,” the new category proposed here, animal-assisted support programs (AASP), includes only programs in which animals are engaged, directly or indirectly, in activities aimed at supporting and enhancing the well-being of humans. These programs may have aims that include increased motivation, prevention of loneliness and isolation, reduction of tension and anxiety, distraction from difficult situations, or emotional comfort. In the case of animal visitation services, the human service providers and animal specialists may be volunteer handlers with related knowledge in animal behavior and training at the species, breed, and individual levels. The activities may or may not be documented, depending on the goals and demands of the specific AASP being carried out. Other examples of these AASPs include courthouse facility dog programs, formal crisis interventions, victim advocacy, prison or detention visiting programs, support services and dog training programs for human rehabilitation. An AASP may be an adjunct to AATx or AAE. These programs can be delivered in three different ways, depending on the background of the provider: • by professionals with licensure/degree who also have specialized training in this type of AASP in the circumstance/ environment specific to the program (e.g., life skills coach); • by professionals with licensure/degree or equivalent, working together with an assistant who is a trained, qualified animal handler; • by volunteers (see provider-specific terms below) who have education, skills and/or experience in delivering this specific type of support activity (e.g., visitation animal team), interaction or intervention in the specific circumstance, environment, or target population

Animal-Assisted Treatment (AATx)

Animal-assisted treatment (AATx) replaces animal-assisted therapy (AAT). In the simplest of terms, AATx is treatment focused. AATx refers to a class of mental or physical health professional treatment modalities for which the integration of animals, directly or indirectly, is a critical component of the treatment approach of the professional.
How AATx might ID themselves: