Update:

Our application for 501 3(c) status has been submitted to the IRS.  According to their site, we should hear within 3-4 months.  Once we do, we will be ready to accept donations, apply for grants, and obtain some source of funding so we can proceed with our mission.

During our first board meeting we discussed organizing a seminar, targeting other mental health professionals, to bring awareness of the benefits of canines in assisting in psychiatric treatment.  Dr. Wilson hopes to shed insight on the value of canines in the treatment room during couples counseling.  Our trainer will speak about which types of patients are suitable handlers, and which for which patients would the responsibility of dog ownership be too much when considering service dogs as treatment tools.  I hope to share my experiences using canines with psychotic patients.  

During our second board meeting we discussed contacting various psychiatric outpatient facilities to see 1) if they already have an AAT program, and 2) if not, are they interested in one.

we continue to look for volunteers interested in social media. Specific tasks include helping us stay current with canine assisted therapy in the news, as well as helping us develop other social media sites for posting, aside from this blog and our facebook page.