Certificate in Animal Assisted Interventions

Preparing human service professionals to engage animal partners in providing ethical and culturally responsive services to families, groups, and clients of all ages

The healing bond between humans and animals is well researched and rooted in the theory of Biophilia – as humans, we possess an innate and genetically determined affinity for our natural world, including other animal species. This certificate aims to harness the power of this bond in ethical partnerships between humans and animals to meet the mental health goals of people and enhance the overall well-being of all involved. Participants learn the fundamental principles, standards, and competencies for the safe, ethical and just inclusion of animal partners in social work interventions through exploring animal communication, behavior and positive training and socialization approaches. Integration of evidence-based methods with a variety of animal partners in therapy and social-emotional learning with people of diverse ages, identities and backgrounds, is an intensive focus of this course. With animal partners as instructors, participants will have opportunities to enhance reflexive interpersonal skills of observation, engagement, use of self, assessment, interpretation and intervention. Get ready for a unique, engaging and rich experience!

The Certificate in Animal Assisted Interventions is a series of four courses, totalling 39 instructional hours. To earn the certificate, participants must complete all four courses.

Across the four courses, 12.5 hours are conducted in synchronous, live online learning. The program also includes 19 hours of recorded content that participants will complete between live course sessions, and the fourth course includes 7.5 hours of in-person experiential learning on site in Dexter, Michigan.

AAI 1 | The Human-Animal Bond and Competencies in Animal-Assisted Social Work Practice

• Monday, October 5, 2026 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• Monday, October 19, 2026 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• Monday, November 9, 2026 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

AAI 2 | The Animal Assisted Interventions Team

• Monday, January 25, 2027 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• Monday, February 1, 2027 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• Monday, February 22, 2027 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• Monday, March 8, 2027 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

AAI 3 | Implementing Animal Assisted Interventions with Diverse Populations

• Monday, April 12, 2027 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• Monday, April 19, 2027 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• Monday, May 10, 2027 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

AAI 4 | Embodied Social Work Practice with Animal Partners Experiential*

• Monday, June 7, 2027 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (Live Online)
• Saturday, June 12, 2027 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM (IN-PERSON in Dexter, Michigan)
• Sunday, June 13, 2027 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM (IN-PERSON in Dexter, Michigan)

We do not have a payment plan for this program, however, participants can register for each course separately, if desired.

*Prerequisite(s): Participants enrolling in the experiential course should have already completed "AAI 1: The Human-Animal Bond and Competencies in Animal-Assisted Social Work Practice" OR the Animal Assisted Therapy Interventions 1-credit course in the University of Michigan School of Social Work's MSW program.