How to become a PAWS Team
1. Interest in Volunteering & Introduction with The Chris Center
2. Application & Evaluation
After you complete your initial call with The Chris Center, you will fill out the volunteer application and complete the online background check*. The volunteer application also includes a health screening form to be signed off by your vet. Once we have reviewed your application, background check, and fees are paid; we will schedule an evaluation with one of our AKC/CGC evaluators at a public location. This location is typically a park (if weather permits) or a dog-friendly store. During the evaluation we will test your dog's basic obedience, social interactions, overall temperament, and readiness for onsite visits. Please see review our Support Dog Criteria for additional information around what is expected of our PAWS Dogs.
3. New volunteer onboarding
Congratulations! We have approved your volunteer application and you have passed your evaluation. Our onboarding process begins with a virtual orientation call with our Executive Director, Sandy Moreira. During this call we will discuss expectations, show you how to sign up for volunteer shifts, review our Mental Wellness Toolkit and Uptown Pup: Dog Body Language video, as well as schedule shadow and support visits. The shadow visit is completed without your dog and allows you to get comfortable with how we conduct our sessions, prior to including your dog. After your shadow visit, we will assign you and your dog up for an onsite session with an experienced PAWS Team. This is an opportunity for you and your dog to participate in a school visit with guaranteed support from another team member. New PAWS Teams are typically comfortable after these two visits to begin volunteering on their own. Additional support visits can be scheduled if needed.
4. Sign up for volunteer opportunities
Once you have completed onboarding, we will ask you to begin signing up for PAWS Team Handler shifts. The expectation is for our PAWS Teams to participate in an average of two onsite visits per month.
how do I know if
my dog is a
good candidate?
benefits of WELLNESS SUPPORT dog for teens
Over the age of one-year-old
Demonstrates Basic Obedience Skills
Naturally calm demeanor
Patient
Attentive to training
A love to please
Confident
A love of human contact
Promotes social interaction
Unconditional love
Non-judgmental interaction
Reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness
Provide an overall positive distraction
Help put children at ease
benefits of becoming a Chris center handler
Access to our training workshops
Comprehensive liability insurance coverage
Group partners organized and scheduled for you
Includes an ID badge and a therapy vest
Support from our PAWS Team staff to help every step of the way
The Chris Center is actively seeking additional handler/dog teams to join our PAWS Wellness Support Dog Program. During the 2023 academic year, our PAWS Wellness Support Dog Team will support student wellness at several partner organizations, including:
Guerin Catholic High School
IPS Mary Nicholson School #70
Options Noblesville
Options Westfield
The Orchard School
University High School
Westfield High School
Carmel Clay Public Library
The Chris Center is committed to creating a volunteer force that is more representative of the populations we serve. We welcome unique perspectives and experiences in terms of national origin, culture, socioeconomic background, ethnicity, race, color, sex, gender identity and expression, education, age, languages spoken, veteran status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs, which help us strengthen our impact.