2021 PATH Intl. Virtual Conference

Starts:  May 13, 2021 09:00 (MT)
Ends:  May 14, 2021 17:00 (MT)

Click here to register: 2021 PATH Intl. Virtual Conference Registration | (force.com) (members must log in first to apply discount)

2021 Virtual Conference CENTER Registration | (force.com)


JOIN US on May 13th and 14th for PATH Intl.’s 2021 Virtual Conference!

Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge, contribute to the growth of EAS, and chat with like-minded professionals!

PATH Intl. hosts an annual virtual conference to attract attendees in the field of equine-assisted services (EAS) from all over the world. This engaging 2-day event is one of PATH Intl.’s annual highlights where PATH Intl. members and other EAS professionals gather to view unique presentations by leading industry and medical professionals.

Sessions start at 9am-4pm MST, with a lunch break and LIVE Q&A session. Each day will consist of pre-recorded presentations, with a live Q&A opportunity to connect with some of the presenters. Some of the speakers will be available during their recorded session to answer questions via chat-box.

Pricing:
• Individual Non-Member: $299
• Member Discounted Price: $199
• Center Pricing - PATH Intl. Member Center: $450 (unlimited viewing; CEUs may be redeemed by 3 people. The center's primary contact must first log in and register, then please contact [email protected] with the three attendee’s names.)

Registration includes video recordings of the conference sessions. Conference attendance provides continuing education credits for PATH Intl. Credentialed Professionals.

ACT NOW to reserve your spot! Keep an eye out for more registration information.

CEU Breakdown:
7.5 CE
.5 DE
1 CR All


Questions? Reach out to the Education team at [email protected].


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Conference Sessions:
DAY 1, May 13th:

9AM MT
Message from the CEO, Kathy Alm

9:05 – 9:48AM MT
Imagine the Possibilities!
With Kristen McGraw
.75 CE

In today's ever-changing world, are you find it challenging to meet the needs of the community? Have you ever considered adding an unmounted program to the list of services you provide to help fill gaps? Do you already provide unmounted programs and are looking to expand or add to your toolbox? Join me as I share the trials, tribulations, and how we found success in meeting community needs and organizational sustainability through unmounted programming.

Kristen McGraw credentials include PATH Intl. CTRI, Level II Therapeutic Driving Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and EAGALA Equine Specialist. She served as the PATH Intl. New Hampshire State Chair from 2003-2006, Region 1 Rep from 2006-2010 & 2016-2018 and currently is the PATH Intl. Membership Outreach Committee Chair. She also served as a Driving Committee member from 2007-2011. In 2010, she graduated from the Leadership Series through the NH Institute on Disabilities. Kristen was appointed to sit on the NH Developmental Disabilities Council in Oct. 2011 and served as the Chair of the Council from 2012-2016. In 2012, Kristen received the PATH Intl. Certified Professional of the Year Award for Region 1. Currently, she oversees all of UpReach’s unmounted programs.

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9:48 – 10:30am MT
Understanding Animal Collaborations: “Is That a Service Dog or a…?”
Aviva Vincent, PhD
.75 CE

This conversation serves as a primer of the various roles animals play in our lives for comfort, emotional support, and service. Terminology used to explain the various roles will be unpacked, including the state/national policies and laws that apply to the various roles. Specifically, companion, emotional support, therapy, and service animals will be discussed along with guidelines for organizational requirements, advocacy, and supporting clients. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss any challenges or situations.

Aviva Vincent, PhD is a graduate of the Mandel School. Her background in veterinary social work informs her practice as the Director of Program Quality at Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. She is an instructor of macro course-work at Case Western Reserve University, and teaches in the University of Tennessee in the Veterinary Social Work Certificate Program. Aviva's research focuses on the physiological impact that animals have on individuals, specifically in the reduction of fear and anxiety in stressful situations. Methodologically, her research interest is the integration of salivary analyte measures in social science research. Aviva is founder and co-chair of the human-animal interactions workgroup with National Association of Social Workers-Ohio, serves on the board of the International Association of Veterinary Social Work, and advisory board member for the Center for Human Animal Interaction research and Education at Ohio State University.

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10:30 – 11:15am MT
Support our Centers- Panel With: Equine Services 4 Heroes
ES4H Committee
The Committee will come together and answer frequently asked questions that have been received from membership.
.75 CE

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11:15am – 12:15pm MT
Schooling with Horses
Jo Anne Miller
Executive Director at Brook Hill Farm
.5 CE

Did you know you could teach Math and English on horseback? So many teens are not in school and are struggling with academics due to the pandemic. Brook Hill Farm has a pandemic pod school for low income at-risk youth that provides the center with a sustainable revenue stream that is supported by the community. The farm has a 100% graduation rate of their students, and it is because of the experiential learning with horses, that this program is so successful!

In 1991, Jo Anne Miller and her family bought a farm in Bedford County. They needed to add some grazing animals to the property in order to be taxed as a farm. Over dinner one evening, Jo’s veterinarian introduced the idea of taking on lame horses for rehabilitation and sanctuary. “What, take in lame horses, are you crazy?” Jo exclaimed, incredulously. Yet two years later, Brook Hill Retirement Center for Horses was officially founded. Her vet, and eventually she herself, recognized the need of the thousands of lame horses desperate for a place to recover. With her background in corporate management and dealing with lameness issues, Jo Anne and her vet established the rehabilitation and educational programs leading to the farm’s success.

During Brook Hill’s early years Jo Anne was amazed at how these rescue horses healed with the help of staff, volunteers and youth. The horses were able to go on and lead productive lives, and the children involved grew into strong, confident, caring adults. Combining rescue and therapeutic riding created a win-win situation for both horses and people. In 2011, Jo Anne joined with PATH International and became a Registered Riding Instructor and an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, allowing Brook Hill to grow its educational and therapeutic programs. Jo Anne has spoken at many national and international industry conferences and provided webinars in both Equine Welfare and Equine Assisted Therapies. She has spoken at the Homes for Horses Coalition Conference, and has presented her research at the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations conference, the Horses in Therapy and Education in Dublin, Ireland, and at PATH International regional and international conferences. She has also served on many national committees, including the Equine Welfare Committee for PATH International, serves on the Virginia Horse Industry Board, the EQUUS committee for equine welfare, and co-founded the Virginia Alliance for Equine Rescue Organizations. Today, in keeping with the farm’s mission of education, Jo Anne is an adjunct professor of equine science at Randolph College, serves on the Virginia Tech Equine Education Advisory Board, and the Virginia Horse Central District Horse Council. In her spare time she coaches the Brook Hill Farm show jumping team!

--- BREAK FROM 12:15 – 1:20pm MT ---

---1:20 – 1:50pm MT, Live Q&A---

1:50 – 2:50pm MT
Raising Future Assistance Puppies
Lorin Bruzzese
Puppy Program Manager at Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind
.75 CE

This presentation will share insight on the upbringing of future guide dogs and service dogs from puppyhood to graduation. Our organization relies on the support of our Puppy Raising volunteers around the United States to provide our pups with essential foundations and socialization from 8 weeks old to about 18 months old. Puppy Raising is a unique and rewarding role that eventually leads into the partnership of a wonderful dog and their forever teammate, to help them live life without boundaries.

My experience in the companion animal industry first began during high school, through volunteering at local shelters here at home on Long Island! I attended The Ohio State University where I studied Animal Sciences and became a Puppy Raiser for a local service dog organization. I've raised 4 future service dogs thus far. After returning to Long Island, though, I began working at the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, where I now manage our Puppy Department. Our team oversees more than 400 amazing volunteers who help us provide fundamental training skills and socialization to our future assistance dogs. My role is most focused on training and behavior modification, as well as outreach and education.

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2:50 – 3:50pm MT
Rachel Fischer
OTR/L
.5 DE

A Downright Perfect Match: Exploring the Benefits, Considerations, and Implementation of EAS for Individuals with Down Syndrome
This presentation will define and explain Down Syndrome and its unique characteristics in greater detail to better explore and describe the benefits of EAS for this participant population. Additionally, attendees can plan to better understand the specific considerations necessary for this population including horse selection, volunteer support, potential equipment needs as well as intake assessment, goal development and progression. Lastly, we will briefly explore the contraindications for this participant population.
Rachel Fischer has had the pleasure to serve participants at many PATH International centers across the state of Wisconsin. She is blessed to share her experience as a PATH CTRI (7 years) and occupational therapist (5 years) with participants of all ages and diagnoses. EAS offers her a unique blend of her passion for horses and service to others.

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DAY 2, May 14th

9AM MT
Message from the CEO, Kathy Alm

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9:05 – 10am MT
That's the Way We've Always Done It
Stefani Viktora Zabala
Director of Organizational Development at McCormick Research Institute
1 CE

We don't get to use that phrase anymore. With our thinking caps on, we will spend this session discussing a process to achieve creative programming solutions, and erasing this phrase from our vocabulary. Center sustainability and adaptability are in the front of all of our minds, and centers everywhere are taking new approaches to instruction, mentoring, volunteer management, and more. Whether it's for virtual instruction or managing staff remotely, we will walk through a streamlined process to achieve growth and new approaches that can have a positive impact on all aspects of center programming.

Stefani is a PATH Intl. Advanced Instructor, ESMHL, and Interactive Vaulting Instructor, and currently the Director of Organizational Development at the McCormick Research Institute in St.Cloud, Florida. She is also a PATH Intl. Mentor, and Site Visitor, and has served on several PATH Intl. Committees. She brings a passion for instructor education and center sustainability, as well as a love for lifelong learning!

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10 – 10:55MT
Equine Welfare in PATH Intl.: Developments in Equine Welfare in Equine-Assisted Services and the Role of the Equine Welfare Committee in PATH Intl.
Emily Kieson, PhD, M.S., PgDip, ESMHL
Christie Schulte Kapper,t ASPCA Program Director, The Right Horse Initiative
1 CR All

Research has grown exponentially in recent years with developments in both physical and psychological welfare for all animals. With a greater understanding of the fundamental principles of welfare and their application to equine-assisted activities, therapies, and learning programs (EAATL), we can better understand how to provide the best possible conditions in which our horses can live, work, and play. This presentation covers recent discussions in the application of welfare to EAATL from the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO), updated research in animal welfare including the five freedoms and five domains, and the role of the Equine Welfare Committee at PATH. This presentation is created with the intention of moving facilities forward in incorporating new welfare concepts into new and existing programs.

Emily Kieson currently serves as Chair of the Equine Welfare Committee at PATH and as Research Director and educator at MiMer Centre, a Swedish-based non-profit focused on education and research in equine-human interactions and horse welfare. Her research focuses on equine behavioral psychology, equine welfare, and horse-human interactions as they apply to both horse owners and equine-assisted activities and learning programs. She holds a PhD in Comparative Psychology, a MS in Psychology, and a graduate degree in Equine Science. Her current research focuses involve looking at equine affiliative behaviors to study how horses create and maintain social bonds and how those can overlap with human affiliative behaviors to create authentic lasting friendships between horses and humans that can improve welfare in both horse and human. She is certified as ESMHL in PATH and has worked as a therapeutic riding instructor in the past. In addition to her research and work on the committee and with MiMer, Emily also develops and teaches courses at various colleges and universities in areas of human and animal behavioral psychology.

Christie Schulte Kappert Christie serves as program director for The ASPCA’s Right Horse Initiative, which seeks to make lasting, transformative improvements to equine welfare in the United States by massively increasing equine adoption. Christie is a skilled program and marketing manager with experience assembling equine industry partners to collaborate on complex industry-wide issues. Prior to joining the ASPCA and The Right Horse, she led marketing and partner development for the American Horse Council’s Time to Ride Initiative and has held other roles in marketing, event production and management in the horse industry. Christie is the proud adopter of two Mustangs, one burro and a pony mule. She competes in ranch horse versatility events with her AQHA mare and has been a top-ten finalist at two Extreme Mustang Makeovers. She and her husband raise a small herd of beef cattle along with a menagerie of other animals near Austin, TX.

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10:55 – 11:50 am MT
Domestic Violence Dynamics and Trauma
Linda Douglas, M.S.ED
1 CE

New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
This presentation will discuss the dynamics of domestic violence including power and control, why someone may be unable to leave the relationship, and an overview of some of the underlying causes. In addition, the presenter will provide an overview of the short and long term traumatic impacts that occur when a person is being abused by their intimate partner. At the end of this presentation, attendees will hopefully have a better understanding of intimate partner violence and will reach out to their local domestic violence programs for more information.

--- BREAK FROM 11:50am – 1:20pm MT ---

---1:20 – 1:50pm MT, Live Q&A---

1:50 – 2:35pm MT
Nichole Boyd & Hallie Sheade
Presentation on racial diversity, equity, and inclusion. More information on this presentation TBA!
1 CE

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2:35 – 3:35pm MT
Pebbles Turbeville
Executive Director for Horses and Humans Research Foundation
More information on this presentation TBA!
1 CE