Canine Handler

This is a hands-on, full-time role for a therapy dog handler who already owns and works with a licensed, trained therapy dog (1 year or older).

The Canine Handler brings their therapy dog into school-based settings to support students’ social-emotional learning, emotional regulation, and engagement. The handler is responsible for managing all student/dog interactions, following safety and confidentiality protocols, and coordinating with school staff.

The Canine Handler will incorporate specially trained animals into goal directed, educationally relevant teaching plans designed to promote development student skills in areas such as cognition, social functioning, personal growth etc.

Primary Responsibilities and Essential Functions of Position:

Have training specific to animal-assisted intervention on topics including, but not limited to: 

• Ensure appropriate interactions between the students and the animal 
• Use techniques for responsive stress management to support the animal 
• Proactive positioning of the animal relative to the student, considering special equipment such as IV lines and wheelchair wheels 
• Selection of appropriate environments and/or students for the therapy animal team, giving due consideration to the animal’s experience and comfort level, the activity level of the environment, and the additional oversight or support that is available from onsite staff 
• Enforce any applicable confidentiality requirements, such as the Health  
• Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) 
• Identify signs/symptoms in the handler or animal that preclude interactions 
• Identify risks to the handler and animal that preclude an interaction, such as posted precautions 
• Facilitate interactions with students:
• Adhere to a Social Emotional Learning plan
• Create a schedule, meet with staff and communicate lesson plans
• Act as a liaison for the program who will become knowledgeable of the policy and procedures of the therapy dog program
• The liaison will be responsible for the coordination of services between the facility and therapy dog organization
• Remain present during therapy dog activities as a means of further ensuring safety for all participants
• Maintain records of the session, including documentation of any problems that may have arisen during a specific session  
• Have access to continuing education, including formal coursework and/or mentoring/shadowing
• Each handler/animal team must have undergone a practical assessment of skills and aptitude to demonstrate its ability to interact with students safely and effectively
• Handlers should have a relationship with the animal for at least six months 
• Basic canine obedience skills such as walking on a leash without pulling, not jumping up on people, no face-licking, etc. are all important attributes for dogs to have  
• All animals should welcome touching from a variety of people in a variety of ways, including people with poor motor control, or people with varied tones of voice
• Maintain health standards for the animal
• Care for the dog is allocated towards the salary.

Completion of formal training in animal-assisted intervention, including:

• Handler must have an established relationship with the dog for a minimum of six months.
• MUST PROVIDE DOG. Animals should be one year of age or older.
• DOG MUST BE LICENSED as required by article 7 of NYS agriculture and Markets Law
• Trauma-informed engagement canine stress signs and safe handling
• Intervention planning
• Risk reduction and environmental assessment
• Must maintain ongoing professional development through coursework, mentorship, or shadowing.

Benefits

At HeartShare we offer a comprehensive benefit package based on full-time/part-time status. You can expect: 

• Rewarding Work in a team environment.
• Paid vacation, sick, personal days, and holidays.
• 403(B) retirement plans with employer contribution.
• Health, dental, vision and life insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Flexible spending account (Dependent Care, Medical, Parking, and Transit).
• Employee Appreciation Programs and Events.
• Tuition Assistance Program.
• Professional Development opportunities.
• Wellhub Discount
• Verizon Wireless Discount.
• BJs Membership discount.
• Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & more

HeartShare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). If you need to request accommodation during the recruiting process, please reach out to Leaves@heartshare.org.

About Heartshare

Who WE ARE:

For over 150 years, Heartshare has been dedicated to championing and empowering New Yorkers society has too often overlooked and underestimated. To learn more about HeartShare, please visit our website at www.heartshare.org or Follow us on Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Facebook

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Salary : $25 - $27