Utah Animal-Assisted Therapy Association's mission statement is "bringing comfort, love, hope and healing to those in need through the human-animal bond". This work is accomplished by trained human-animal teams working with healthcare, social service and educational professionals.

Description:
The broad objective of Utah Animal-Assisted Therapy Association (UAATA) is to provide public awareness and professional recognition of the benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and animal-assisted activity (AAA) as a treatment modality for humans. To achieve this objective UAATA recruites, screens, trains(through the Delta Society*), mentor and support animal/handler teams for facilities requesting our services through the Comforting Friends Program. UAATA strives to provide professional and highly trained volunteers to meet the demand for service in healthcare, social service and educational facilities.

• UAATA is an affiliate of the internationally recognized Delta Society (www.deltasociety.org) which provides the curriculum for volunteer training and all of UAATA instructors and evaluators are certified through the Delta Society.

History:
UAATA was initially created in 1992 (with the original name "The Good Shepherd Association" by Lana Davis who based her work and research on her experience with her teenage son who died of cancer, and his comforting bond with his German Shepherd, Grizly. Lana initially worked with the Delta Society and volunteers in Utah developing rigorous professional standards for animal-hanlder teams as well as public accountability for human-animal teams. There was a personality conflict within the board of directors of the Good Shepherd Association in 1996 and Utah Animal Assisted Therapy Association was formed in 1997 by a core group of supporters of Lana Davis' work and focus. This group now serves diverse populations from children to seniors in facilities treating clients of all types, from eating disorders to hospice to psychiatric facilities.

Contact person: Gaelyn Derr, Executive Director, (801) 280-1855, (email)
Main office number: (801) 280-1855
TDD number: Dial 7-1-1 for Relay Utah

Languages Spoken: English

Address:

PO BOX 18771 Salt Lake City, UT 84118 This location is handicap accessible

Web Site: http://www.uaata.org

Miscellaneous Information

Other common names for this agency:
	The Good Shepherd Association