Volunteer in your community by sharing your dog with people in a hospital setting.

Austin Oaks Hospital offers a continuum of psychiatric services for children and adolescents, ages 7-17, and for adults, age 18 and older. They strive to provide a warm environment that promotes crisis resolution, positive self-awareness, social skills and personal growth. Austin Oaks Hospital provides inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services to stabilize symptoms of depression, anxiety and other behavioral health disorders.

(Bow Wow Therapy Dog team must be Qualified as Complex or Complex Plus)

Bow Wow Therapy Dog Team will visit with clients at the facility one day every week for 1 hour; Visits will be conducted in a group therapy setting

30 minutes with the Child/Adolescent Outpatient Program: The Children's/Adolescent program focuses on helping the patient identify emotions and correct maladaptive behaviors that have contributed to conflicts at school or home. The adolescent program uses the peer group to bring about change, and places focus on helping them to develop a positive self-image, appropriate socialization skills and healthy communication (ages 12-17 with an average group of 5-10)

30 minutes with the Women's Inpatient Program: Services provided are aimed at helping women who are dealing with various mental health issues, need help coping with traumatic events, and for women facing grief, loss and relationship issues.

**Note: The Director of Expressive Therapy and Patient Advocate Program, nurse and mental health technician will be there for the visits and support