The Other End of the Leash Incorporating Student Programing with a Facility Dog: Harnessing Learning Styles and Discovering the Right Fit

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This presentation will explore how student programming was expanded to incorporate facility dog work in a new model for a practicum experience. An in-depth look at this institution's student programming model will be shared. The student’s unique perspective will be shared through a first-person student experience and direct connection to growth into internship readiness. This first-person experience will also be shared by facility dog handler and clinical trainer to reflect upon how the practicum student partnership offered an opportunity to explore clinical engagement. This presentation will also showcase future plans for program expansion and implementation in other institutions

Suggested Domain: Professional Responsibility

1.5 PDUs

Learning Objectives:

1. Define Facility Dog Program and Practicum Programing through the lens of ACLP and the Service Dog Organization.

2. Learn about the benefits and structure of a Facility Dog Program and Child Life Student Program partnership.

3. Discuss future and creative goals on how to implement programming into other hospital/teaching environments.

Courtney Dill

MS, CCLS, LMT

Courtney Dill, MS, CCLS, LMT is a child life specialist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is currently working the capacity of training coordinator, where she guides practicum, intern and cooperative students in the Department of Child Life, Education and Creative Arts. Courtney's interest include promoting well being and alternative healthcare.

Elizabeth Olsen

MS, CCLS

Elizabeth Olsen has been a Certified Child Life Specialist for over fifteen years. Her previous experiences in healthcare include working in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of NY Presbyterian and Good Shepherd Hospice in Long Island. She has been working at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for the past five years and began her career there in the Special Delivery Unit. Elizabeth has been working with SSD Dilly, CHOP’s first Facility Dog, hospital wide for the past two and a half years. Elizabeth and Dilly help to support patient’s during procedures, co-treat sessions with various therapies, and with the Hospital School Program. Elizabeth has focused much of her career to supporting grieving children and families. She helped to develop the curriculum for the Hospice and Palliative Care of New York State Interdisciplinary Pediatric Palliative Care. In her new role, Elizabeth is currently working on a certification in Service and Therapy Dog Training Professional. She has presented at several national and local conferences on grief and loss, Animal Assisted Therapy interventions, and Perinatal Hospice.