Animal-Assisted Activities
New Haven Communities offers animal‑assisted activities at our ranch as a separate service, where pre‑screened pets spend time with residents in a supervised group or individual settings to provide comfort, positive social interaction, and recreational enjoyment. These activities are designed to enhance quality of life and are not provided as formal animal‑assisted therapy or clinical treatment at this time.
This is not an insurance-billable service. The AAA Program is fully funded through the generosity of our community, private donations, private pay camps, and facility ownership.
Services
Pet Visit
A scheduled ranch “pet visit” in a small group setting.
Animal‑themed coping groups
A live animal is present as a comfort/engagement aid, but the intervention is the psychoeducation or skills group, not the animal itself.
Private comfort visit
A live animal is used in a one-to-one setting to provide calming comfort and to manage dysregulation.
Benefits
Emotional and behavioral benefits
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Youth who interact with animals in residential settings often report increased positive mood (more “excited, energetic, happy”) and emotional stability compared with other leisure activities.
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Studies of animal‑assisted interventions in children and adolescents show reductions in anxiety, depression, anger, and trauma‑related symptoms, especially when animals are used as a calming, non‑judgmental presence.
Engagement and participation in treatment
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Animals can act as a motivator, increasing participation, on‑task behavior, and verbal communication during groups or activities, especially for youth who shut down in standard talk‑based settings.
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Programs that add animal‑assisted components often see better session attendance, less dropout, and more active behavioral participation and socialization during treatment days.
Social skills, empathy, and relationships
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Interaction with animals can help teens practice perspective‑taking, empathy, and gentle limit‑setting (reading cues, respecting boundaries) in a low‑stakes way that transfers to peer and staff relationships.
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Youth with social anxiety, ASD, or behavioral disorders often show more social initiation, pro‑social behavior, and appropriate communication when a friendly animal is present.
Regulation and coping skills
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Contact with animals (petting, brushing, walking) is associated with reduced physiological arousal and psychological stress indicators such as anxiety and agitation.
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In a BHRF milieu, AAA can be framed as a concrete coping skill “using animal time as a healthy calming activity” that staff can pair with coaching on breathing, grounding, or cognitive coping.
Quality of life and milieu climate
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Animal‑related activities add novelty, positive anticipation, and a sense of normalcy to residential life, which supports overall quality of life and satisfaction with care.
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Regular, structured AAA can foster a more positive milieu climate (more positive affect, less withdrawal and disruptive behavior) that makes it easier for staff to deliver the rest of the treatment program.
Day Program Camp
A ranch‑based animal‑assisted program for ages 12–17 who want to have fun, learn, and grow through outdoor adventure, connection with nature, and intentional skill‑building with ranch animals and our team. Each session combines hands‑on, structured ranch activities, and small‑group challenges that build confidence, responsibility, communication, and leadership in a supportive, unplugged environment. This is an educational and recreational program focused on animal‑assisted activities, not therapy or clinical treatment.
Available to BHRF's, Group Homes, Assisted Living Homes, and more.
Coming Soon
TBA