Terminology update: Animal-Assisted Services (AAS)

Terminology update: Animal-Assisted Services (AAS)

 In Current Activities, Uncategorized

Earlier this year, we shared news of new terminologies in Animal-Assisted Services. This was the culmination of a 2-year project with robust international collaboration. IAHAIO and Animal Assisted Services International joined forces with an international team to establish uniform terminology in the field. This led to the publication of a paper where details were given of:

  • Proposed term: ‘Animal-Assisted Services’
  • Categorized into three areas: Treatment, Education, and Support Programs
  • Provider-specific terminology

This achievement is a game-changer for researchers, practitioners, and service recipients. Now, we can communicate with precision and unity, advancing the entire field of animal-assisted services.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our international colleagues for their fantastic efforts!
IAHAIO has begun the process of updating its documents and guidelines, including the White Paper.  The revised 2025 White Paper will be available in Spring 2025. We encourage adoption of these new terminologies and welcome feedback on how this is being implemented. A quick guide to the main recommendations can be found here.
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