Effective Date: June 2024
Status: Part-time, Non-Exempt Position
Reports To: Program and Volunteer Manager
Compensation: $50/hour
Schedule: Wednesday 3:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Organizational Overview: Founded in 1991, Canine Therapy Corps (CTCorps) is a Chicago-based, volunteer-driven, animal-assisted therapy organization providing programs to health care, human service, and educational institutions throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Each year, CTCorps' dedicated volunteers and their certified therapy dogs help restore health and hope to thousands of individuals living with physical and emotional challenges. CTCorps’ dogs help people get better as well as feel better.
Position Overview: In fall 2013, Canine Therapy Corps began utilizing a professional leadership model that employs two co-program leaders, a professional dog trainer and a therapist specializing in the population the program serves. The leadership team’s collective knowledge and experiences support both program participants and therapy dog teams, and this model increases program efficacy.
Commitment: Canine Therapy Corps' programs typically run once per week, 18 to 35 weeks per year. Each program ranges in time between 1.5 and 1.75 hours. Approximate annual commitment is 45 to 85 hours.
Job Duties:
This job description details comprehensive duties and responsibilities of each CTCorps program. Actual division of labor will be determined between co-program leaders.
- Manage, execute, and coordinate Canine Therapy Corps' animal-assisted therapy program in accordance with organizational policies, curriculum, and/or guidelines
- Schedule program sessions and coordinate volunteers in collaboration with Program and Volunteer Manager
- Collaborate and cooperate with institutional program partner staff as necessary to run an effective and efficient program
- Attend and lead animal-assisted therapy program sessions, ensuring successful and consistent execution of curriculum and program evaluation procedures, where applicable
- Ensure compliance with organizational and institutional rules, policies, and guidelines, and uphold organizational standards
- Maintain frequent communication with CTCorps administration regarding program-related matters (poignant anecdotes, program schedule, cancellations, need for volunteers and/or therapy dog teams, incidents, etc.) and provide feedback
- Manage roster of 4-20 program volunteers
- Maintain accurate program records including attendance, program notes and evaluations, incident reports, etc., and provide session reports and updates on program and volunteer activities
- Ensure therapeutic intervention is effective and impactful
- Work with the Program and Volunteer Manager to identify, analyze, and implement new program opportunities that will lead to organizational growth, as needed
- Assist and mentor new program leaders selected for other programs, as needed
- Serve as a valuable member of Canine Therapy Corps' team. Because we are a small and nimble organization, on occasion, you may be required to attend meetings, programs and events; represent the organization in the community; and help with a variety of needs and special projects
- Other duties as required
Job Duties:
This job description details comprehensive duties and responsibilities of each CTCorps program.
Experience:
At least 3 years of professional experience and demonstrated success delivering and administering:
- Therapeutic interventions or programming for at-risk youth who have severe emotional and behavior challenges due to trauma, abuse or neglect
Bachelor's Degree required. Master's or Doctoral Degree and management experience preferred.
Skills, Abilities and Interests:
- Creativity, flexibility, patience, and the ability to improvise when necessary
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Desire to work with volunteers, special needs populations in therapeutic and rehabilitative settings, and dogs
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Capable of motivating, inspiring individual learning, and building synergistic relationships
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Charismatic and positive team player with strong leadership and professional demeanor
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Excellent communication skills with diverse audiences including colleagues, volunteers, program participants, institutional partners, staff, and Board members
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Organized, reliable, ethical, and responsible
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Takes pride in and ownership of work
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Evening availability
Special Requirements:
- All Canine Therapy Corps team members need a foundational understanding of and strong appreciation for animal-assisted interventions, specifically animal-assisted therapy, and the human-animal bond. All Canine Therapy Corps employees, representatives, and volunteers are expected to be well-versed and conversant in the organization's mission and work
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A high standard of integrity and ethical behavior
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Nights and weekends required
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Access to reliable transportation required
Note: This job description is subject to change. Additional activities, duties or responsibilities may be required of the position.
Canine Therapy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. We seek a broad and diverse pool of candidates and strongly believe that our organization benefits from the perspectives and talents of a diverse staff. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.