Practitioner Experiences Illustrate Benefits of HAI

Horse Herd Helped by Dedicated Volunteers

November 17, 2020

November 6, 2020

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created substantial challenges for both Green Chimneys and the University of Denver-based research team, the portfolio of research projects has proceeded with data that had been collected concurrently with content for the recently published “Documentation of Nature-Based Programs.” The result is several qualitative studies on the perceptions of Green Chimneys staff and practitioners in the integration and impact of nature-based activities on participating youth.

The first in this series of studies focused on describing the essence and nature of special education teachers’ lived experiences in incorporating nature-based interventions as a tool to improve youth social-emotional learning outcomes and promote positive youth development. “Human-Animal-Environment Interactions as a Context for Child and Adolescent Growth” indicates that almost universally, teaching staff perceive nature-based interventions to effect marked improvement in:

Prosocial behavior

Caregiving and nurturing

Connection to animals, plants and humans

Curiosity and excitement about learning

Recently published in “Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice” a second qualitative study asked farm staff to describe how they’ve seen youth be impacted by nature-based programs, particularly in shaping outcomes related to their development and well-being. Staff shared that youth interactions with plants, animals, and nature improved mood, strengthened relations, self-regulation, and self-conception.

The third study in the series, conducted with Green Chimneys clinicians, appears in “Journal of Child and Adolescent Social Work” and features clinical perspectives on how animal-assisted therapy impacts youth. View all articles published to date

Bodhi

Bodhi is the Golden Retriever companion of Green Chimneys’ Admissions Supervisor and one of the most familiar faces on campus. Bodhi also holds the distinction of being a certified therapy dog and recently participated in Green Chimneys’ first funded research project studying the effect of involving a dog in social skills development training for children on the autism spectrum. Her full name, Bodhi Ani, means “Awakens/Enlightens Grace” and describes her personality and the role she embraces with the students on campus; Bodhi is very calm and grounded in her ability to awaken their potential while helping them to relax and feel at peace.