Honoring America's Warriors Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program provides service dogs to veterans and/or service members at no cost.
LOGIC MODEL - ASSISTANCE DOG PROGRAM
Inputs:
5 AKC Qualified service dog trainers and 2 non-certified apprentices.
40 Veterans and/or Service Members.
Each Veteran and/or Service Member will complete total of 800 hours training over 22 month period.
University of Central Oklahoma to conduct a longitudinal study of Veterans and/or Service members who completed Honoring America’s Warriors Service Dog program.
Trainer Training – 20 hours annually, maintain certifications.
3 month and 6 months follow up with previous graduates.
Activities:
Certified trainers will train service dogs and train Veterans and/or Service Members how to handle them. 3 areas required: Advanced Obedience, Public/Urban Access (PA), Task Training.
CGC - Veterans complete classes covering 7 basic commands over 11 months.
PA – Veterans complete classes in all aspects of public environment over 5 months.
Tasking – Veterans complete classes over 6 months minimum of 3 tasks.
HAW trainers follow up with previous graduates every 3 months for first year, and every 6 months after.
Outputs:
35-40 Veterans and/or Service Members and their dogs will complete all 3 areas of training over 22 month period.
Veterans and/or Service Members who have completed program will be monitored with follow up and provided additional support if required.
Outcome Results:
(Results are based on anonymous internal survey HAW conducted among 20 previous graduates. UCO study will be more in depth, survey tool will adjust to align with HAW survey outcome results).
Veterans report increased overall well-being.
Veterans report improved relationships with other humans resulting from physical and psychological connection with a service dog.
Veterans report increased self-efficacy and positive affect.
Veterans report dog’s ability to reduce hypervigilance.
Veterans report dog’s effective recognition of oncoming seizures and detection of hyperglycemia low or high.
Veterans report improved sleep quality and duration.
Veterans reported improved symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Veterans report development of new friendships and support from other Veterans participating in training program.
Outcome Indicators:
(Based on UCO internal survey of 115 previous graduates)
Increased overall well-being - 100%
improved relationships with other humans resulting from physical and psychological connection with a service dog – 88%
Increased self-efficacy and positive affect – 100%
Dog’s ability to reduce hypervigilance – 90%
Dog’s effective recognition of oncoming seizures and detection of hyperglycemia low or high – 90%
Improved sleep quality and duration – 80%.
Improved symptoms of depression and anxiety – 90%
Development of new friendships and support from other Veterans participating in training program – 100%
Impact:
Veterans and/or Service members with Post Traumatic Stress will notice improvements in PTSD symptoms and quality of life attributed to a service dog.
Veterans and/or Service Members with disabilities have greater ability to function in high traffic public environments with a service dog.
We believe that over time, providing service dogs to Veterans and/or Service Members will enable them to focus on the present by disrupting the re-experience of hyperarousal, better sleep, increased community participation, physical activity, protection from suicidal thinking and behavior.
