The Chimo Project Goals

Ben Williams said...."There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face."

We believe that!!

Clinical studies and anecdotal information have indicated that interaction with a dog, cat or other animal
can reduce blood pressure, release endorphins, and contribute to improved human longevity.



Animal-Assisted Therapy has been used by individual therapists and organizations for many years.
Our research project however, was the first in Canada that brought an implementation project systematically with psychologists, psychiatrists, other professionals and their clients
together with selected, screened animals to prove the benefit of using this approach
for persons with mental illness.

The Chimo Project demonstrated that properly selected animalscan help therapists
to improve the lives of our most vulnerable citizens - those suffering from mental illness.

It is hoped that The Chimo Project results will be used to help convince
schools of therapy to add courses about Animal-Assisted Therapy to their curriculums.
In addition, we would like to see Animal-Assisted Therapy
incorporated into more theraputic settings across Canada and North America.

For more information about recommendations, please see the Chimo Final Project Report.

With the help of volunteers , their animal friends,
and dedicated professionals who want another tool to assist clients,
the Chimo Project hopes to underline that this approach should be taught in schools of psychiatry, psychology, and other training for professionals and in hospitals.

The Chimo Project staff is continually recruiting professionals and volunteers who have suitable animals.



WHAT IS THE GOAL OF OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS?

Our current funding is for program development with these types of mental health facilities:
1. clients in Capital Health hospital psychiatry wards
2. adolescent clients suffering from the effects of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
receiving treatment in Residential Care facilities.

These programs provide animals working with professional therapists that contribute substantially to the mental health of the individuals, and reduce the amount of time in treatment.

Each facility working with us in our current programs is using our manual (written during our initial research project). The manual assists therapists by providing effective strategies in using animals
for different therapy goals set.