Workshop participants will gain an overview of
how Green Chimneys Farm (a NARHA
Premier Accredited Center) provides a variety of treatment
services to special needs
students and maintains a therapeutic milieu that incorporates
animals, plants and nature.
The presentation will include a brief history,
theoretical foundation and extensive tour of
the program. It will examine how animal assisted therapy and
activities, horticultural
therapy and nature based therapy are conceived, applied and
evaluated by a variety of
professionals to support and enhance the educational, social,
emotional and medical
treatment of 180 children ages 5-15 who have been identified as
having psychological,
social, emotional or behavioral special needs. Key aspects to be
covered include how a
team-approach facilitates a supportive therapeutic environment
for students, animal
selection and animal partner evaluation and screening,
scheduling and motivating
students. Case histories will be presented as well as specific
program areas that
incorporate animals and animal subjects into the campus day
throughout the year.
Workshop faculty
Michael Kaufmann
is the Farm and Wildlife Director at Green Chimneys Farm, a
NARHA Premier Accredited Center in Brewster, NY.
Dr. Steven Klee
has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and is the Associate Medical
Director for Clinical & Medical Services at Green Chimneys Farm.
Dr. Duncan Lester, Ed.D.
is the farm’s Associate Executive Director of Operations at
Green Chimneys.
Elizabeth Leon
who has specialized education in animal-assisted therapy, is
the primary supervisor and resource staff for the farm interns
at Green Chimneys.
Miyako Kinoshita
an Equine Program Coordinator at Green Chimneys Farm, is a
NARHA Certified Advanced Level Instructor and a member of
EFMHA’s Board
