K-9th Circuit Therapy Dog Program Unveiled
Orlando, FL –On Monday, November 17, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Frederick Lauten and Circuit Judge Thomas Turner held a press conference at the Thomas S. Kirk Juvenile Justice Center to announce the K-9th Circuit Therapy Dog Program. The program will provide therapy dogs to children who must testify at court or undergo forensic interviews.
The Court is partnering with the State Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, the Department of Children and Families, the Guardian Ad Litem program, and several local agencies to make the program a reality. Once a participating agency identifies the need for a therapy dog, a referral form is filled out. After the request for a therapy team is approved, a DCF point person contacts an approved therapy dog provider so a team can be assigned to the case. Meetings are then arranged between the team and the requesting party to ensure a bond develops between them.
Currently the five therapy teams, which consist of a dog and a handler, are provided by the nonprofit organization Companions for Courage. The teams are registered graduates of recognized pet therapy or assistance dog organizations which have been approved by the Ninth Circuit.
For now, therapy teams are only assigned to Orange County cases, but the Court hopes to expand the program to Osceola County. Besides helping children testify in sensitive cases, therapy dogs may also be assigned to mentally limited individuals or adult victims of violent sexual offenses.
For additional information, please contact Julio Semino, Court Support Manager, at ctadjs1@ocnjcc.org or call 407-836-0403.