Breakout #22c- Addressing the Link: Ohio initiatives to engage social workers through cross-reporting

Presenters: Aviva Vincent, PhD, LMSW, VSW, Bethanie Poe, PhD, MSW, VSW, Shelby McDonald, PhD, MSW, and Vicki Deisner

1.5 CEUs for social work, counseling, marriage & family therapists, and chemical dependency

 Animal abuse and cruelty is a potential indicator and precursor of inter-personal violence (IPV). The Link is a term explaining the concordance of animal abuse and IPV. Similar to IPV, animal abuse is often grounded in power and control dynamics that can range from a very young age (training and grooming) or elder adulthood (elder abuse). Though pets are regarded as property by US law, most people identify pets as part of the family unit. However, documenting cases, bringing charges, and achieving justice is difficult; and cross-reporting systems are often absent altogether we seek to change this dynamic.

More information: https://www.naswoh.org/page/breakouts19

Breakout #4ab- Practice Guidelines for Emotional Support Animals

Presenters: Janet Hoy-Gerlach and Aviva Vincent

3 CEUs for social work, counseling, marriage & family therapists, and chemical dependency

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are companion animals without any special training, who are denoted in writing by a licensed mental health professional to be a therapeutic necessity for someone living with a mental health condition that meets the legal definition of a disability. ESAs are recognized within federal disability legislation, with limited rights to those who have ESAs as accommodations for mental health disabilities. The aim of this session is to review empirical and theoretical literature, discuss how and why ESAs benefit people living with mental health disabilities, and provide emergent best practices and guidelines for designating and documenting ESA.

More information: https://www.naswoh.org/page/breakouts19

Open to all community members, this educational event hosted by The Veterinary Center of Hudson, will give past and present pet owners insight into the grief experienced during the loss of a pet.

Information: https://www.facebook.com/events/502672647230219/

Location: The Veterinary Center of Hudson, 5980 Darrow Rd, Hudson, Ohio 44236

Free to attend, all are welcome.

2 CEUs for social workers

Cost: free for members and non-members

About the Workshop: This two-hour conversation serves as a primer in veterinary social work - social work at the intersection of the human and animal relationship. Content will include the various roles animals play in our lives for comfort, emotional support, and service. Terminology used to explain the various roles will be unpacked, including the state and national policies and laws that apply to the various roles. Specifically, emotional support animals will be discussed collaboratively, along with conversation about guidelines for social workers' role(s) for advocacy, letter writing, and supporting clients. Finally, local initiatives in our state to support human-animal bond, such as emergency foster care, homelessness and co-sheltering, and veterinary social work at the veterinarian will be shared including ways to continue learning and get involved.