¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ·

According to research — and what we see every day at ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· Children’s Health, Jacksonville — when pet therapy animals visit, healing gets a little easier. The smiles on the faces of the kids in our care seems to back that up. Our patients and their families have a better experience overall, and their results are often better, too. That’s why we have long offered visits by registered volunteer therapy animal teams to our patients in our Animal-Assisted Intervention program.</p>\r\n<p>As part of an Implementation Science Research initiative in partnership with the University of North Florida, ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· is offering our patients and families the enhanced clinical service of Animal-Assisted Treatment (AATx).</p>\r\n<p>Animal-Assisted involves specially trained and licensed medical, mental health or other service providers working with qualified animals in each child’s treatment process, along with local expert animal handlers, to help with kids’ emotional growth and learning.</p>\r\n"}} id=text-2af7e534a1 class=cmp-text>

According to research — and what we see every day at ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· Children’s Health, Jacksonville — when pet therapy animals visit, healing gets a little easier. The smiles on the faces of the kids in our care seems to back that up. Our patients and their families have a better experience overall, and their results are often better, too. That’s why we have long offered visits by registered volunteer therapy animal teams to our patients in our Animal-Assisted Intervention program.

As part of an Implementation Science Research initiative in partnership with the University of North Florida, ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· is offering our patients and families the enhanced clinical service of Animal-Assisted Treatment (AATx).

Animal-Assisted involves specially trained and licensed medical, mental health or other service providers working with qualified animals in each child’s treatment process, along with local expert animal handlers, to help with kids’ emotional growth and learning.

The Assisted Dog and Pony Therapy (ADAPT) Program at ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· Children's helps address a variety of kids’ mental and emotional health needs, including anxiety, anger issues, grief and loss, behavioral and family relationship concerns, communication difficulties, depression and emotional adjustment to medical issues.</p>\r\n"}} id=text-23652fc3b5 class=cmp-text>

The Assisted Dog and Pony Therapy (ADAPT) Program at ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· Children's helps address a variety of kids’ mental and emotional health needs, including anxiety, anger issues, grief and loss, behavioral and family relationship concerns, communication difficulties, depression and emotional adjustment to medical issues.

¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· is among the first pediatric health care organizations in the United States to date that offers this innovative approach to clinical care.</p>\r\n<p>Animal-Assisted Treatment at ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· is integrated throughout our care by our behavioral and medical health care providers (who have specialized training and experience).</p>\r\n<p>AATx is incorporated into a child’s treatment plan with specific, individualized goals.</p>\r\n"}} id=text-e6fce0c79b class=cmp-text>

¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· is among the first pediatric health care organizations in the United States to date that offers this innovative approach to clinical care.

Animal-Assisted Treatment at ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· is integrated throughout our care by our behavioral and medical health care providers (who have specialized training and experience).

AATx is incorporated into a child’s treatment plan with specific, individualized goals.

Our team consists of licensed mental health professionals and medical care providers — including psychology, social work medical providers. All of our teams have had extensive training in AATx and many of our provers have earned graduate certificates in Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling from the University of North Florida Brooks College of Health. They partner with a trained, registered dog, or mini horse.</p>\r\n<p><b>Meet the ADAPT Executive Team</b></p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Jenny Pfieffer, APRN, ESMHL, Director and Senior Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning</li>\r\n<li>Amanda S. Lochrie, PhD, ABPP, Co-Director, Chief of Psychology</li>\r\n<li>Christie Evans, CAVS, MSM, Program Director of ADAPT Volunteer Services, Patient and Family Care Manager</li>\r\n<li>Shiloh Crawford, BA, Director of ADAPT Operations</li>\r\n<li>Carlene Taylor, EdD, Consultant, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director, University of North Florida</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n"}} id=text-6c0814d6a7 class=cmp-text>

Our team consists of licensed mental health professionals and medical care providers — including psychology, social work medical providers. All of our teams have had extensive training in AATx and many of our provers have earned graduate certificates in Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling from the University of North Florida Brooks College of Health. They partner with a trained, registered dog, or mini horse.

Meet the ADAPT Executive Team

• Jenny Pfieffer, APRN, ESMHL, Director and Senior Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning
• Amanda S. Lochrie, PhD, ABPP, Co-Director, Chief of Psychology
• Christie Evans, CAVS, MSM, Program Director of ADAPT Volunteer Services, Patient and Family Care Manager
• Shiloh Crawford, BA, Director of ADAPT Operations
• Carlene Taylor, EdD, Consultant, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director, University of North Florida