This course will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand how animals can support individuals facing substance use and other mental health disorders.  

The course is completed at your own pace!

*If you sign up today, the course must be completed by April 30, 2025.

**If you sign up on May 1, 2025 or after, you will have until April 30, 2026 to complete the course.

Unlock the transformative power of human-animal interaction!

• Module 1: Understanding the Bond - Explore the evidence-informed benefits of the human-animal bond and how animals, especially pets, can support recovery & the wellness journey.
• Module 2: Integrating Animal-Informed Care - Learn about the benefits of integrating animals into your practice to enhance support services.
• Module 3: Tailored Strategies for Ethical Animal Participation - Explore specialized techniques for working with different animals and client groups.
• Module 4: First Steps and Best Practices - Navigate the early stages of incorporating animals into your practice by reviewing guidelines and case studies.

• First of its kind to be offered in the substance use health field.
• Developed by a team of experts with academic and lived experience in the fields of mental health, substance use, and human-animal interaction.
• Grounded in a One Health approach - recognizing the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health - with specific attention to zooeyia. 
• Recognizes Indigenous worldviews. 
• Learn about companion, therapy, service, and emotional support animals.
• Practical, interactive, and evidence-informed for real-world application.
• Convenient 5-hour online format, learn at your own pace, in an individual or group setting.
• Develop an action plan for your organization to become animal-aware.
• Receive a digital badge/certificate and continuing education credit.
• Low introductory cost ($49+tx CDN, payable by credit card) with subsidies available.

• Recognize the role of animals in recovery & the wellness journey
• Identify evidence for the human-animal bond
• Distinguish animal roles and interventions
• Identify therapeutic benefits and concerns
• Incorporate animals ethically and professionally 
• Generate and share ideas for practice integration

Ideal for professionals in substance use and mental health, social service, and allied professionals interested in enhancing their practice with animal aware approaches. Also suitable for anyone interested in understanding their own animal relationships, including individuals on their recovery journey. 

• Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association: approved for 5 CEC hours 
• Canadian Addictions Counsellors Certification Federation: approved for 5 hours
• Saskatchewan College of Paramedics: approved for 10 credits to all members, NOCP area 8,  approval ID # 2024-145
• Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers: approved for 5 credits for Continuing Professional Education
• College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan: approved for 5 hours for Continuing Competence Programming
• College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Saskatchewan: approved CEP activity
• Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers:  approved for 9 CEUs (6.00 Knowledge and 3.00 Skills) for trainers and 2 CEUs for behavior consultants.  
• Make a suggestion - More to come!

You can register at  

ASCE M01B Animal Awareness for the Substance Use Workforce | University of Saskatchewan (usask.ca). 

Once you add the course to your cart and proceed to the check out, you will be asked to :

• Login with your existing NSID and  password and then you can check out, OR 
• If you do not have an NSID and password, you will be asked to create them and then you can check out. Do not be alarmed that you will be asked to enter some of the same information twice; this is how the system is set up. 

© Daschuk, M., Dell, C., Roma, R. (2024). Animals Awareness for the Substance Use Workforce. Online course. Saskatoon: University of Saskatchewan.