Through a $5,000 grant from the Get Grounded Foundation, Tennyson Center for Children (TCC) has enhanced their community-based services by adding a Animal Assisted Therapy program for traumatized children. TCC provides residential and therapeutic services, as well as a K-12 school, to Colorado children ages five to 18. The children are survivors of severe abuse or neglect, or have significant mental health or developmental issues. TCC empowers children who have experienced abuse, neglect and trauma to bravely and safely change their life’s story.
Children who have experienced trauma often struggle with behavioral problems in their elementary and middle school years, which can compromise their ability to learn in a traditional classroom setting and engage in a therapeutic process. By using therapy animals, studies show that youth are better able to share and disclose painful feelings.
Through the Get Grounded Foundation grant, TCC provided an intensive eight-week session for 24 kids ages five to 14 through their Animal Assisted Therapy horse program.
“The Animal Assisted Therapy program was very effective in minimizing the behavioral issues in these children and helped give them the skills needed to learn to communicate with his/her therapist and learn to work in tandem with the therapist,” said Ned Breslin, CEO of Tennyson Center for Children. “The ability to talk through issues is a proven coping skill for the children at Tennyson, and they will carry this skill with them for the rest of their lives. The Get Grounded Foundation grant was key in helping to provide these critically needed services.”
To learn more about Tennyson Center for Children and how you can get involved please visit www.tennysoncenter.org
