Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

This course requires pre approval and only those pre approved may register. If you are interested in taking this course and learning more about the prerequisites and pre approval process, please email Andrea Hering ([email protected]).

Requesting This Course:

• For information on requesting this course for your organization through our Speakers Bureau program, please contact Millie Morehouse at [email protected].
• To check if this course is being offered by an Approved Instructor, search our Event Calendar.

Course Description:

This course aims to provide individuals with the fundamental principles and skills required for animal-assisted crisis response (AACR). Students will delve into various topics, such as assessing canines and handlers, training requirements for canines and handlers, selecting the right canine partner, establishing programs for facility dogs and crisis response dogs, fostering partnerships with crisis response organizations, and understanding essential training elements of AACR. These include self-care, comprehending disaster response phases, and outlining the AACR team’s responsibilities during crisis scenarios. Finally, students will learn about the effective and appropriate utilization of canines in CISM interventions.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize different types of goal-oriented canine interventions
• Comprehend the role of the AACR team in an event
• Learn how to identify qualified canines and handlers for AACR
• Grasp the training needs for AACR handlers and canines
• Understand how to implement an AACR program
• Learn how to utilize a canine effectively during a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing/Defusing

Certificates and Continuing Education:

General Contact Hours:

Two-Day Course; 13 Contact Hours: 1.3 General CEUs from University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Dept. of Emergency Health Services Professional and Continuing Education (PACE). Based on a formula of 1 Continuing Education Unit for every 10 contact/classroom hours.

ICISF Certificate of Completion:

After the completion of this ICISF course, with verified full attendance, participants are eligible to receive an electronic ICISF Certificate of Completion including General Continuing Education Units. Participants are required to complete a course evaluation prior to receiving this Certificate of Completion.

Completion of ICISF courses and receipt of an ICISF Certificate of Completion does not attest to competence in the field, nor does it provide certification in the field of CISM.

Profession Specific CEUs:

If you are seeking continuing education requirements for a specific profession, contacting the relevant state licensing board is the best way to ensure you have the most up-to-date and accurate information. They can provide you with specific details regarding whether a certificate of completion from a particular course or program will be accepted towards your continuing education requirements.

If the ICISF course you attend is offered through:

ICISF Virtual Training, Online Training, or Conference it is approved for the following:

• NAADAC – the Association for Addiction Professionals
  13 CE Credits; Expiration Date – February 28, 2027

This course has been approved by International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider # 87914, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), is responsible for all aspects of the programing.

 ICISF Speakers Bureau Program: It is up to the Sponsoring Agency to apply for profession-specific Continuing Education Units (CEUs) if they choose to do so.

ICISF Approved-Instructor led Program: While our Approved Instructors have the authority to teach specific ICISF courses, it is their responsibility to apply for profession-specific Continuing Education Units (CEUs) if they choose to do so.

** Please check with your state licensing board prior to registration to see if they will accept the Certificate of Completion as a means for continuing education.

*PLEASE NOTE: These hours are only applicable towards courses offered at Virtual Trainings, Conferences, Online Courses, and the World Congress.

Learn more on our ICISF Continuing Education Information page.