05/19/2026
We are looking for therapy teams!!
TRANSFORM LIVES: Join the "Parenting, Prison & Pups" Therapy Team! 🐾
A FABULOUS, HIGH-IMPACT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Are you and your certified therapy dog ready to step into a space where the smallest gesture creates the biggest change? The nationally-recognized Parenting, Prison & Pups (PPP) Program at the Westchester County Department of Correction is seeking dedicated, compassionate Therapy Team Volunteers (Handler and Certified Dog) to help incarcerated parents reconnect with their children, heal from trauma, and build brighter futures.
This is more than volunteering—it's translational therapy in action. You won’t just be providing comfort; you will be an essential tool in teaching empathy, non-judgmental communication, and attachment skills that disrupt the cycle of incarceration.
YOUR MISSION: Creating Bonds, Breaking Cycles
The PPP program integrates Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) into a structured parenting curriculum. Your team provides a stable, loving presence that facilitates critical emotional and educational breakthroughs:
Emotional Regulation: Your dog’s presence immediately lowers anxiety and creates a safe space, allowing mothers to practice emotional regulation and self-reflection.
Parenting Skills: You support the curriculum by modeling gentle, patient, and responsive interaction, which the participants then learn to apply to their own children.
Healing & Hope: You become a tangible link to unconditional love and the outside community, reminding participants of the potential for healing and successful reentry.
THE COMMITMENT
We are seeking reliable, dedicated teams ready to make a consistent impact:
When: Monday Evenings
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Includes screening and debriefing time)
Where: Westchester County Department of Correction, [Valhalla, NY
Duration: February and March for Fathers who are incarcerated and September and October for Mothers who are incarcerated (specific dates provided upon interview). A commitment is for both.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
This high-security, high-reward setting requires a special kind of team. You must possess:
✅ Certification: Current certification as a Therapy Dog Team (Handler and Dog) from a recognized organization.
✅ Resilience: Emotional maturity and comfort working in a correctional environment.
✅ Reliability: Absolute punctuality and commitment to the strict schedule and entry protocols.
✅ Compassion: An ability to demonstrate empathy and non-judgmental support for all participants.
✅ Team Player: Willingness to work collaboratively with program directors, correctional staff, and university students.
WHY THIS IS FABULOUS
Few volunteer roles offer this level of direct, measurable impact. You will see firsthand how a dog’s tail wag can crack the hardest emotional walls, restore self-esteem, and plant the seeds for successful family reunification. This work is life-changing—not just for the parents, but for everyone involved.
Make your Monday evenings matter. Become an indispensable part of a program that is truly changing the criminal justice landscape.
TO APPLY:
Please submit your resume and note of intent to:
[Dr. Kimberly Collica-Cox - [email protected]]
Subject Line: PPP Therapy Team Volunteer - Monday
Note: All volunteers must pass a background check and complete mandatory facility orientation.
https://ppp.blogs.pace.edu/
Pace University Dyson College of Arts and Sciences Hudson Valley Paws for a Cause Hudson Valley Paws for a Cause
ABOUT PPP Parenting, Prison & Pups (PPP), the only program of its kind, is an evidence-based parenting program, initially provided to incarcerated women in jail, the most underserved of all corrections populations, to help them reinvest in their relationships with their children. In January of 2022,...
