How do congregational care teams begin a CCUSPP ministry?
National Health Ministries is currently in the process of becoming an affiliate of Delta ® Society's Pet Partner Program. Delta ® has a national network of trainers and evaluators who can work with a congregation interested in starting a program. In addition, becoming an affiliate of Delta ® provides liability insurance coverage, a wealth of training and experience, research resources and a national support system.

If your congregation already has a care team ministry, adding this nuance should require fewer steps. If your congregation does not have a care team ministry, you will want to begin one as the foundation for this work. Concurrent with the development of a care team ministry, you would identify resources specific to the pet partner component. Once contact with a trainer/evaluator has been made, that person may also be aware of hospitals, health and long term care, assisted living, independent living or other facilities that have already approved pet partners in your community . If there are no facilities already encouraging approved pet partners, your group will be challenged to find a facility willing to allow the program. Resources that show the value of these programs are available through National Health Ministries as well as through Delta ®.

C-CUSP provides unique opportunities for congregations
Many congregations report that the numbers of folks available to do visitation has dwindled. C-CUSP care teams will:

1. Attract younger members into a caring volunteer service
2. Enable both younger and older members to work jointly in a program
3. Provide a needed and helpful activity for members of their congregation and community

As an entree to care teams for younger members, C-CUSP care teams can very simply be fun. Many young people would enjoy an opportunity to introduce their calm and reliable pet to others who either do not or cannot have a pet of their own. In the C-CUSP model, the pet would be portrayed as a focus of the activity. Young people would not feel the pressure of anticipating conversations about topics foreign to them or the expectation that they would asked to demonstrate affection for a person who might be a only a slight acquaintance.

More about C-CUSP ...
Several national organizations train and/or evaluate both pets and handlers to assure suitability and safety for service in a variety of settings. Therapeutic pet assistants (and their handler) or pet partners are currently involved in "activity therapy" in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted care centers and after school reading/tutorial programs to name a very few venues.

Unless the pet partner is part of a therapeutic plan that will be implemented under the supervision of trained professionals, never take your pet into a facility or on a visit without first checking to see if pet partners are allowed. Never allow your pet partner to approach an individual unless you get a clear message that the pet will be accepted.

What kinds of skills are needed? Could your pet become a C-CUSP?
While many different pets are used as pet partners, dogs are most frequently utilized—and tend to be the most active pet partners. Much of the information related to choosing appropriate pet partners is therefore geared to dogs. Pet partners must be social. The point of the program is the interaction between the pet and the people you are visiting. If the pet does not enjoy the visit the interaction will be less than ideal. The person needs to feel accepted by the pet. A rejection could make the visit more hurtful than no visit at all. A good pet partner is calm, tolerant and friendly. The visits should be pleasurable for both the team and the person being visited.

Pet partners must be polite. It is rude for a person to challenge another for walking down a public street. The same is true for your pet. That it is natural for one dog to challenge another does not mean its polite. It is also rude for one person to touch another without permission. A polite dog does not touch a person unless invited.

The balance between calmness and friendliness is a difficult one. Even an excellent obedience dog may not be a good visiting dog if he/she shows little interest in meeting people. An aloof dog may be calm, but may cause people to feel rejected. A very friendly dog may have the best of intentions but may cause injury. A dog that is full of energy and always ready to work may be too active for most situations.

There are many examinations that various associations use to determine if a pet is ready to be a partner. Pets that are not inappropriate can have a disastrous effect on a program—whether it is new or established. Putting a pet who is not ready into a care team situation is not fair to the pet or the team certainly not fair or wise for the person you intend to visit.

The questions and answers below will give you some idea of the potential pet partner's readiness. Although this self-evaluation is geared toward dogs, it will provide good basic information about skills needed. Answer the following questions by determining which best reflects your potential pet partner's behavior.

Is your dog well socialized?
Good C-CUSP candidate: He's accustomed to many kinds of situations, people and other dogs.
Needs work: Yes, I let him out in the yard everyday and that's as far as he goes.

Does your dog jump up on people?
Good C-CUSP candidate: I don't permit this conduct; I use a stern but humane correction.
Needs work: Only when they ring the bell, meet us in the street, talk to her or me, etc.

Are you surprised when your dog puts his/her best paw forward?
Good C-CUSP candidate: No, I've worked hard to train him and I expect him to behave.
Needs work: Yeah! You never know (WHAT he'll do...?)

How does your dog react to rolling shopping carts, roller blades or skateboards?
Good C-CUSP candidate: She calmly watches with curiosity as they move past.
Needs work: Her eyes glaze over, the mouth foams and with curled up lips she barks and growls furiously.

How do you and your dog handle the unexpected?
Good C-CUSP candidate: Appropriately, just like Lassie.
Needs work: Chaos could result.

How does your dog behave at the vet or groomer?
Good C-CUSP candidate: He compliantly agrees to whatever fate awaits him.
Needs work: They meet us at the door with a muzzle.

Have you and your dog had any formal training? How about at home training yourself?
Good C-CUSP candidate: Yes, we have been through at least beginners and we still practice at home.
Needs work: Why would we need training?

Does your dog have any health problems?
Good C-CUSP candidate: No, as far as I know she's fine, but I check her regularly for lumps and sensitive areas.
Needs work: I have no idea.

How does your dog accept a treat?
Good C-CUSP candidate: He sits and waits until given the signal and then gently takes it from my hand.
Needs work: Eagerly, don't get in his way.

How do people respond to your dog?
Good C-CUSP candidate: They smile sweetly and pat her fondly.
Needs work: They sometimes seem afraid.

What happens when your dog sees another dog?
Good C-CUSP candidate: He exhibits mild curiosity and wags his tail.
Needs work: He growls, snarls and drags you down the street.

Does your dog like children?
Good C-CUSP candidate: Yes, she wags his tail and wants to go play, gently. She knows not to jump up and scare little ones.
Needs work: She has never been around children.

Does your dog ever bark incessantly?
Good C-CUSP candidate: No, not ever. He knows that is unacceptable behavior.
Needs work: Yes, he's a true watch dog.

Does your dog growl at strangers, children or anyone she doesn't know?
Good C-CUSP candidate: No, my dog really likes people.
Needs work: Yes, occasionally she just doesn't like someone.

Office of National Health Ministries support for C-CUSP
Congregations interested in beginning Congregational Caregiving Using Special Pet Partners (C-CUSP) care team may apply for care teams start-up/seed grants. Training for individuals who wish to be evaluated or to advance and become evaluators will be provided as a part of the "Encircling Care" conferences when possible. Additional training opportunities are frequently available through Delta Society ® and this information will be made available as it is received.

New resources will be posted on the Health Ministries Web site as they are developed or identified.

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