Healing Youth Through Animals Program

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Healing Youth through Animals Program Los Angeles County, CA Population: 9,935,475 The Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) of Los Angeles County LA is tasked with quality child welfare services and support to assure children grow up safe. One of the most important aspects of this task is assisting a child to overcome the abuse that has changed their lives. The Healing Youth through Animals Program is a collaboration between DCFS and the Gentle Barn to use stories of abused animals and the animals themselves to help children cope with the struggles they have encountered. The children are able to identify and relate with the pain of the animals. The hands-on and verbal interactions with the animals help the children process their own trauma and abuse. The program uses 130 abused dogs and farm animals taken in by the Gentle Barn and unites them with foster children that have experienced abuse. The children arrive at the barn with their guardians and are introduced to the happy and energetic animals to create a safe atmosphere. The trainer and leader of the barn facility places the children in groups of their age group. The facilitator engages a discussion about the animals and the foster children, allowing the kids to open up and begin healing. Children learn survival skills, forgiveness, strength, courage, trust, empathy, leadership skills and kindness. At the end of the session, the kids are taken to a wishing well and are asked to write a positive experience they learned from the animals on a rock to toss in the well. The positive experience is shared with the group. The result of the administered survey for the Healing Youth through Animals program proved an increase in self-esteem by 34% and happiness by 33%. Also, a 33% decrease in anxiety level was recorded. The unconditional love and nonjudgmental attitude the animals display towards the children is the key to reaching their emotional sides in this program. The outcome of the program allows inner healing, increased self-esteem and a start to a new life.