Arizona State University College of Public Programs School of Social Work, 
in Partnership with Animals and Society Institute

Introduces

“Treating Animal Abuse Professional Development On-Line Certification Program”

The School of Social Work and Animals and Society Institute’s Treating Animal Abuse Professional Development Certification Program is a non-credit online program focused on  training advanced level health and human service practitioners to treat those children and adults who have abused animals. Animal abuse is a very serious and alarming behavior. For children it is one of the early manifestations of conduct problems associated with “low empathy and callous disregard” (Dadds, Whiting & Hawes, 2006, p 141) and requires intervention (Merz-Perez & Heide, 2004). A substantial body of research also suggests that animal cruelty may be an early indicator of later violence toward humans, as well as included in one of a cluster of deviant behaviors in families such as domestic violence, child abuse and elder abuse.

The purpose of the certification program is to enhance practitioners’ knowledge of human-animal relationships and the ability to assess for, and treat animal abuse. It will provide practitioners with extensive knowledge on the assessment of human-animal relationships and treatment of animal abuse through such activities as directed readings in evidence based journal articles and books, online lectures, service learning, field observation, individual research papers, experiential projects and Q&A tests.

Twenty-eight states contain counseling provisions in their animal cruelty laws. Four of those states (California, Indiana, Iowa, and Tennessee) require counseling for all persons convicted of animal cruelty. Colorado orders counseling for a second offense and Florida for acts of intentional torture or torment. Kansas and West Virginia require an evaluation. Six other states mandate counseling for juveniles. Counseling can include the perpetrator as well as his/her immediate family. It is recommended when counseling children who have abused animals that their parents be involved. Legislators in many other areas are considering such mandates. There is an emerging need for practitioners to be trained in treating animal abuse. This is the first program that we know of to do so.

This professional development certificate is open to Masters or PhD level professionals in such disciplines as social work, psychology, nursing, counseling, psychiatry and other health and human service professionals with Masters or PhDs and may include CEUs. This is a NOT FOR credit program. A minimum of a Master’s degree is required to enter the program but professionals with a bachelor’s degree in health or human services can take any of the courses with CEUs available.

Courses                                                                            

TAA1 Human-Other Animal Relationships (14 weeks), available Fall semesters
This course focuses on two broad areas of current significance for health and human service professionals;(1) the link between non-human animal abuse and other forms of violence such as domestic violence, child and elder abuse; and (2) the powerful potential that positive connections with other animals have for healing and promoting resiliency in human beings while at the same time benefiting other animals. This course examines issues of prevention and treatment; it considers animals across the human life span, non-human animal abuse, and healing connections within an ecological and empowerment context; and works to build sensitivity to various cultural contexts. This is a prerequisite for courses TAA2 for students pursuing one of the two certificates.

TAA2 Assessment and Treatment of Juvenile Animal Abuse (14 weeks), available in Spring semesters
Designed for both mental health practitioners and other professionals working with children and adults, this course presents AniCare and AniCare Child. AniCare Child is an assessment and treatment approach for children (up to age 16) who have abused animals. Building on cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, and attachment theories, AniCare and AniCare Child keys on empathy and self-management. Through a manual, a demonstration DVD, and clinical case materials, students are introduced to a variety of exercises and other tools, such as puppet role play and projective material. AniCare provides an assessment and treatment approach for adults (age 17 and older) who abuse animals. Based on a well-established clinical theory and interventions for perpetrators of domestic violence, AniCare emphasizes the social-psychological causes of violence. The cognitive-behavioral approach provides clinical exercises with homework assignments through a manual, a demonstration DVD, and clinical case materials. Anicare keys on issues of accountability and relationship.         

TAA3 Assessment and Treatment of Adult Animal Abuse (7 weeks), available only Fall 2008
This course provides an assessment and treatment approach for adults (age 17 and older) who abuse animals. Based on a well-established clinical theory and interventions for perpetrators of domestic violence, AniCare emphasizes the social-psychological causes of violence. The cognitive-behavioral approach provides clinical exercises with homework assignments through a manual, a demonstration DVD, and clinical case materials. Anicare keys on issues of accountability and relationship.                       

 
Requirements

Courses are available by Arizona State University’s semester calendar (www.asu.edu) and are expected to be completed within the assigned semester unless otherwise designated. There are three models available:

1. Advanced Treatment of Animal Abuse Professional Development Certificate
Requires the completion of TAA1 and TAA2; and distance clinical supervision by Animals and Society Institute certified Anicare trainers. Dr. Shapiro will offer distance clinical supervision of treatment cases. Following successful completion of the course sequence, subscribers are assigned one of 15 senior counselors certified as AniCare trainers who will supervise them for three cases involving the problem of animal abuse. Entry into this Certificate requires a minimum of a Master’s degree in a health or human service discipline.

2. Treatment of Animal Abuse Professional Development Certificate
Requires the completion of TAA1 and TAA2. Entry into this Certificate requires a minimum of a Master’s degree in a health or human service discipline.

3. CEUs only
Qualified students may complete one or more of the courses for CEUs.

Admission Process
 
The program is delivered online using the ASU University Blackboard system. Registration information:  http://ssw.asu.edu/certificates.html  or http://ssw.asu.edu/animalhumanbond

Registration Deadlines:
TAA1 and TAA3 – August 1, 2008
TAA2 – January 5, 2009
 

Tuition Costs

Each course costs $900.00 (total costs will depend on how many courses a student enrolls in)

The $900.00 includes the cost of the Blackboard availability and support as well as registration fees. It does not include books, other materials, or the distance supervision.

Director

Christina Risley-Curtiss, MSSW, PhD
Associate Professor
ASU College of Public Programs
School of Social Work
risley-curtiss@asu.edu
602-496-0083 

Administrative Assistance

Nancy Schlicht
ASU School of Social Work
602-496-0058

Faculty

Dr. Christina Risley-Curtiss is an associate professor of Social Work at Arizona State University as well as Co-Director of the Child Welfare Training Project and an Affiliate with the ASU Women and Gender Studies Program. She has over 20 years of practice and management experience in a combination of public health and child welfare. She has authored/co-authored many publications and presented numerous scholarly papers and workshops to various state and national groups. Her primary areas of research are in the areas of the animal-human bond and child welfare. Her course–Animal-Human Connections, won the HSUS 2004 Society and Animals New Course Award, she has a grant-funded national study of social work practitioner’s knowledge of the animal-human bond, a grant funded graduate internship program at a county animal abuse investigation unit, and she chairs The Arizona Humane LINK, a coalition of animal welfare and human service agencies in Maricopa County, AZ. She is one of the faculty advisors to the Oxford Centre on Animal Ethics and invited to be a Fellow at same. She grew up on a farm in Connecticut, where her father and grandfather practiced veterinary medicine. She does hands-on rescue work including having volunteered at Best Friends Katrina shelter in Tylertown, MS. and helped found a TNR feral cat program at ASU. She currently lives in a trans-species cultural home with 14+ other animals.

Dr. Kenneth Shapiro is founder and executive director of Animals and Society Institute, founding editor of Society and Animals: Journal of Human-Animal Studies; and cofounding, coeditor of Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. Shapiro earned his BA from Harvard University and his PhD in clinical psychology from Duke University. His most recent book is Animal Models of Human Psychology: Critique of Science, Ethics and Policy.  Dr. Shapiro and his colleagues developed the Anicare model for assessing and treating animal cruelty. He does training in this model nationally.

Registration Procedures

Please submit a resume and cover letter describing what courses you are interested in to Dr. Christina Risley-Curtiss, Treatment of Animal Abuse Professional Development Program, ASU School of Social Work, 411 N. Central Ave, Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004-0689 or risley.curtiss@asu.edu.  As soon as it has been confirmed that you meet the educational admission requirements you will be notified by email.