We are a non-profit organization supporting Animal Assisted Interventions (AAIs)
Educational Institutions and Organizations Membership is by invitation only and limited in duration. The membership is reserved for institutions and organizations that are involved in teaching coursework, continuing education, or research related to AAI. AAII asks the institution or organization to promote its standards, competencies and accreditation amongst its students as an example of best practice and encourages them to see AAII as a key practitioner body. Educational Institutions and Organizations do not have voting rights.
Idaho State University is a public research-based institution that advances scholarly and creative endeavors through academic instruction, and the creation of new knowledge, research, and artistic works. Idaho State University provides leadership in the health professions, biomedical, and pharmaceutical sciences, as well as serving the region and the nation through its environmental science and energy programs. The Idaho State University Graduate Certificate in Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) is housed in the Department of Counseling. The ISU AAI certificate curriculum was thoughtfully and intentionally developed in the spirit of current best practices and in collaboration with international leaders in animal assisted interventions. Each class offers a balance of theoretical knowledge and applied skills, with a heavy emphasis on provider competence, animal welfare/advocacy, and practical efficacy. Although the curriculum has a heavy emphasis on Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Animal Assisted Education (AAE) as professionalized approaches, we also attend to issues relevant to the delivery and direction of Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) within healthcare and educational contexts. Within the three-course sequence, students gain in-depth theoretical knowledge of AAI history and literature, industry standards and culture, professional issues, and live practice opportunities under supervision. The curriculum is applicable to a wide variety of animal species, and students are provided with structured opportunities to gain in-depth, species-specific knowledge about the species of animal that he/she wishes to work with in the future. Each course in this series was painstakingly reviewed and subsequently endorsed by several international leaders in the AAI community, and your program director continuously engages in updating course content to reflect current standards and continuously invites peer consultation and feedback on all aspects of the curriculum. Guest experts are a regular presence during class meetings so that students are exposed to a variety of expert perspectives and introduced to industry leaders beyond your program director.
The Section on Human Animal Interaction: Research & Practice, of Division 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology) of the American Psychological Association is dedicated to professional and scholarly activities that advance the understanding of human-animal interactions as they relate to psychology.
The Tufts Institute for Human-Animal Interaction (TIHAI) was launched in 2015 as a cross-university initiative with the mission of promoting the health, strengths, and well-being of humans and animals through transdisciplinary partnerships that foster innovative research, education, and service programs in human-animal interaction. TIHAI is led by an advisory board with faculty representatives from multiple Tufts campuses and serves both undergraduate and graduate students from multiple disciplines.
The Center for Human-Animal Interaction (CHAI) is a non-profit organization operating within the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, dedicated to improving health and well-being through interaction with companion animals. CHAI’s threefold mission begins with the pursuit of interdisciplinary research into the benefits of human-animal interactions (HAI). CHAI shares an understanding of these benefits through educational offerings within VCU, our community, and other national and international venues. And CHAI’s Dogs on Call program implements these benefits by providing therapy dog visits designed to enhance the wellbeing of patients and staff at VCU Health, and of students attending VCU. All aspects of our mission are made possible by the support of VCU and VCU Health, grant funding, and generosity of our financial supporters and our volunteers.
The Consortium for AAT at the University of North Texas (UNT) promotes human and animal welfare for professionals who include animal assisted therapy in practice, and volunteers who share their pets with others. Leading expert, Dr. Cynthia Chandler offers distance learning, on-campus coursework and weekend workshops. This educational program focuses on ethical training, research and community services.
Pace University, College of Health Professions: Canines Assisting in Health
Students in this hybrid course will learn about the valuable roles animals have in human health. The human-animal connection, including theories related to this bond, and the biological, psychological, and social benefits humans derive from this connection will form a foundation to gain understanding of the valuable role animals have in human health. Grounded in this developing understanding, students will advance their knowledge of animals, with a focus on canines, who are trained and educated to be a service dog and to be partnered with a person who has visible or invisible disabilities; canines who participate in animal assisted interventions; and, the benefits of “personal” or “companion” pets, for human health. Students will explore indications and expected outcomes for canines to support human, and will gain understanding of canine education, training and welfare for these different canine roles, including experiential learning within the classroom community and the service learning communities. Through ongoing reflection of experiential leaning and co-creating knowledge in the classroom-learning-community to support and enhance their service- learning, students will gain understanding of the meaning and value of canines assisting in health, personally, and, in the University and Assistance Animal Community.
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