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HOPE AACR Membership Information
If you are interested in
joining HOPE AACR,
Click
Here
to complete our Membership Information Form.
About HOPE AACR Teams
HOPE AACR is
made up of certified animal-assisted crisis response teams, who
are specially trained handlers and comfort dogs. We also have
Team Leaders, who are individuals without dogs, that are trained
to assist response teams. All our members have
gone through certification training and participate in our
continuing education program.
HOPE AACR’s Certification Training
Program
HOPE AACR’s Regional Certification
Training Program (RCTP) has been developed according to national
standards. Certification Training Workshops are scheduled at
various times each year in our four established regions.
Candidates may attend a screening and workshop in any region,
but are encouraged to participate at the closest location to
where they live.
The purpose of the RCTP is to
enable qualified candidates wanting to participate in
animal-assisted crisis response to acquire the skills necessary
for assisting those affected by traumatic events. The
instructional activities are to be a supportive learning
experience, giving every opportunity for both handler and
canines to succeed. There is an emphasis on achieving a balance
between learning the necessary skills to be effective responders
and the handlers’ and canines’ welfare and safety.
Click here to learn more about our certification training
program.
Prerequisites for HOPE AACR
Membership
What it takes to be a Certified
Member with canine partner:
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You must be at least 18 years
of age.
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Your dog must be at least two
years of age.
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You and your dog must be a registered
member of a formal animal-assisted therapy
organization.
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You and your dog must have a minimum of 12
verifiable AAA/T visits within the last
year.
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You and your dog must
successfully complete a HOPE AACR Screening Evaluation.
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You and your dog must
successfully complete a
Certification Training Workshop.
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Your dog should not be easily stressed,
and should enjoy interacting with people.
-
You should be in good health and
be capable of
handling the physical and mental stress of crisis response
work.
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Your dog should be in good health,
and have sufficient energy levels
adequate for crisis response work.
-
Pay workshop fees and
pro-rated annual membership dues based on certification
date.
What it takes to be a Certified
Member without canine partner (Team Leader):
-
You must be at least 18 years
of age.
-
You must successfully complete a HOPE AACR
Screening Evaluation. Screenings are scheduled about a month
before certification training workshops.
-
You must successfully complete
a
Certification Training Workshop.
-
You should be in good health and
be capable of
handling the physical and mental stress of crisis response
work.
-
Pay workshop fees and
pro-rated annual membership dues based on certification
date.
After Completion of Certification
Training
New members will:
-
Be qualified to respond to
call outs.
-
Be able to attend all HOPE
AACR activities, training exercises, drills with emergency
responders, all aspects of continuing education program.
-
Be mentored by experienced
members to reinforce learning “on the job”.
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Be covered by HOPE AACR
liability insurance while participating in all HOPE AACR
activities and responses.
Maintaining Active Membership
To maintain active membership in
HOPE AACR, certified members must fulfill the following:
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Pay annual membership dues and
submit required renewal information & forms.
-
Submit annual canine
veterinary health documentation.
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Maintain active registration
with recognized animal-assisted therapy organization, and
make at least 12 AAA/T visits per year.
-
Maintain certifications in
human First Aid & CPR, and Pet First aid.
-
Participate in continuing
education opportunities, required number of group training
exercises, drills, and/or responses each year
Testimonials
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“Both dogs were magnificent. We put them in a down-stay
position and allowed the kids to say their enthusiastic hellos.
The children were touching and pulling and petting and
stroking. I counted seven hands on Brinkley at one instant in
time.”
-- Response, Hurricane Katrina,
New Orleans, Louisiana
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"This work is so rewarding....and our dogs can do so much to
help folks on their way to healing and coping with a minimum of
intervention...”
-- Response, death of a
firefighter, Independence, Oregon
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“Our
dogs act as a bridge, an ice-breaker, to allow people to talk
about their personal tragedies in a safe environment, and thus
begin the healing & recovery process...they gave the
firefighters a comfortable way to relieve their stress and
exhaustion...”
-- Response, San Bernardino Wild
Fires, California
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“Every adult present, both before and after the dogs’ arrival,
felt the dog teams were invaluable in diffusing the children’s
high emotions. The dogs did a beautiful job and were very
gentle with the children.”
-- Response, accidental shooting
of a student, Bozeman, Montana
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Please see our
Calendar page for information about
when
an open house,
screening, and workshop
may be held in your area.
If you are interested in
joining HOPE AACR,
Click
Here
to complete our Membership Information Form.
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