Delta Classroom Canines™ Program

The Delta Therapy Dogs program traditionally involves a volunteer and their Delta accredited dog visiting sick children, frail aged and disabled residents in supported care.

A now have a new and exciting program launching national in July 2011 visiting primary schools called the Delta Classroom Canines™ Program.

Overview

We are all aware of the complex role that the school and staff have in the overall development of the students. The Delta Program is aimed at improving human health and well being through the companionship of animals. These dogs and volunteers can offer a service to the students in schools.

Volunteers and their dogs will visit a school for up to one and a half hours each week. We visit the same grade so that we are able to build a relationship with those children even though we soon become recognised by all children (and staff) in the school.

Our role in the classroom is to become part of the class and specifically work with any children that the supporting-reading recovery teacher - wishes us to assist.

Children can be complex little people; they can have the worries of the world on their shoulders. They can feel insecure, lonely, sad, distracted etc. When a dog walks into the classroom an insecure child can take charge of the dog and they can become friends – dogs are loyal non-judgemental companions.

Classroom Canines™ is a program designed to assist children improve their literacy, our volunteer and his/her Delta accredited dog visit a school setting on an informal but regular basis, sufficient to establish an ongoing relationship with the students and staff. Volunteer teams will work for one term in each school targeting those students as identified by the reading recovery teacher assigned to those schools.

Classroom Canines™ utilises books/learning aids supplied by the reading recovery tutor.

In the school situation, the Delta Therapy Dog team works within the framework of the Student Welfare Policy – ‘the school values a culture of mutual respect, appreciation of individual differences and belief that each child has the right to learn and grow in a supportive environment among people who are caring and cooperative’.

Our volunteers act under the direction of the school staff, in particular the reading recovery teacher assigned to each school. Primarily our volunteer teams will work with children either on a one to one or a group basis – as the children read aloud to your dog. Our volunteers may also be able to assist with informal chats, participating in group activities to help improve the self esteem, motivation, socialisation and communication of those children.

Delta Therapy teams are aware of the confidential nature of what they observe in the classroom and have undergone working with children checks as required.

The benefits for the student (School)

Research has found that animals are useful in the promotion of health, well –being and normal development in children.
Pets can be a way of improving quality of life as a tool for socialising, relaxation and communication.
They can also help a child who may be experiencing anxiety and stress.
Occasional contact with animals is beneficial in providing children with the opportunity to display independence and confidence by looking after a pet.
They may also learn to gain an awareness of pro-social behaviour in regard to treating animals appropriately.
Contact with pets also provides opportunities for sensory stimulation and exercise and enables children to receive and give attention and affection.
The dog provides a non-judgemental acceptance of the student.

The benefits for the Delta Classroom Canine™ Dog

The program gives the dog an opportunity to socialise with students and offer attention, affection and fun.
They are petted and cared for, talked to, massaged and generally fussed over.
They are spending time with and pleasing their owners.
They develop a high level of trust and understanding with their owners.
Their health and grooming are maintained at a high standard, as the owner is aware of the requirement to have a healthy, happy dog.

The benefits for the Volunteer

The program provides an opportunity for the volunteer to be useful and involved with children; it provides a way of helping in a community; it is a way of spending time with a pet and of sharing the worth of the pet with others. Working with the dog the volunteer:

helps children to become aware of the needs of pets and thus how to care for them responsibly
gives children a chance to gain from the positive involvement with a dog
shows a cooperative and caring manner to students and staff.

And it allows the volunteer to be seen and recognised by students and to be accepted around the school as part of the school environment.

Benefits

Delta volunteers and their dogs say hello to a child each week.
They listen to their news.
They listen to children read stories.
They read stories to the children.
They are able to make up stories and leave them in the classroom as a book.
They can play games with small groups of children as selected by the teacher to support the teachers program.
They spend time with any child that the teacher directs them to when there is a need in that child.
If required - small groups of children can take them for a walk to share experiences and open the path to communication.
The children can get a bowl of water and give the dog treats.
They can go with a child to visit other classrooms and meet other teachers to help the child become more familiar and confident in school.
They can go with any child to the office and talk to the Principal and Secretary.
They can seek out the integration children and say hello to them.

HOW TO VOLUNTEER IN THE PROGRAM

Do you have a dog with a good temperament?

To become a part of this program a volunteer will first need to undertake the assessment and training for their dog as part of the Therapy Dogs Program. If you feel that your would like to join the Classroom Canines program and you are available approximately one to two hours each school week you should contact your co-ordinator to discuss the options.

Volunteers wishing to join this program after joining Therapy Dogs will need to attend an additional temperament testing day for their dog.

If successful, they undertake a one-day training seminar where the topics covered include ethics and confidentiality, the conduct of a visit and how to avoid stress in their dogs.

On successful completion of this program volunteers will be issued with Delta accreditation, including I.D photo for the volunteer and the dog, and a uniform. Police checks are mandatory.

Volunteers will have to work for one classroom session (one-two hours) each week for one term in a designated school (normal school holidays will apply).