OK, so I really want to start a program for vets who suffer from PTSD. Psychiatric service dogs are proven to be 86% effective.....talk therapy is only 36% or something like that. Medication was in the 50s or 60s I think.

Having the PTSD sufferer owner train has proven to be great therapy, and many are able come off meds totally.

There is a group called Paws and Stripes in NM that does things a bit differently than a traditional "school".
They help people select, test the dogs and owner train them.

I love this idea....
Anyone want to help me set up a non profit?

It is a great site!
I plan on making use of it with the people I will work with....

Thanks for bringing it up.

I like the Idea of helping owners train their own dogs, it will get dogs out to people much faster and get people relief.

I also like this model because with a traditional school, you can only train so many dogs at a time...its really limited...and that has lead to a serious shortage of dogs.

I plan on making use of Ed's site here and also of the videos......I'd like to start to put together a study guide for some of the videos....
I need to put that on the list..ask Ed if he minds if I put together a study guide for the vids....lol

If anyone wants to help get this going, please respond here or PM me?
I need help with the admin side of things....I want to do a national nonprofit with a network of trainers that can help people owner train the dogs...and testing centers for the dogs in the program........

I was responding to a PM from Ana...and thought that I'd put some of the brainstorming things on here and see if anyone had any thing to add....

1. I would love to have it be a national program. Trainers that run classes using Ellis and Ed's methods for the veterans on a weekly at least basis.

2. I would love to have testing centers for the dogs throughout the program..possibly levels of "certification" for the handler teams so they have short term goals that are attainable.

3. Have someone work on funding for things like screening x-rays, Leerburg videos, gear vet help....the such....

4. Do research on the best way to "interface" with the recipients..by definition when they come to us they are not going to be in a good place mentally. I feel confident with doing classes about training...not so sure about the people end..plus it's too much to do on my own...

5.Develop a screening process for the humans and the dogs..again got the dogs pretty good...but I know from experience with friends that a you have to be functioning at a certain level before you could work out in a program like this...also...commitment to getting better...we need a psychiatrist to work with initially as an adviser....

4. Someone who is familiar with VA stuff..I'm not.

5. ??????

Whew! Big plans. I have no knowledge to help but will be watching your progress with interest. Would love to donate monetarily when you're up and running.

My husband and myself would donate too.
I saw a show on TV where an ex-soldier with PTSD was really comforted by his dog.

You can ask me about accounting stuff when you get to that point; I can lead you to the steps involved in setting up a 501(c)(3).

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!

I've been doing lots of research and have decided on a different approach to start with.

Connie..I will be asking for help for sure, thank you so verrrrry much for offering to help.

After seeing how much is involved in a 501 (c)(3), and realizing that I'm just a gal with an idea..I decided to go a bit slower at first.

The problem as far as the world is concerned is that I have no certifications......We all know here that the certifications that are offered are usually not worth it, but as far the rest of the world goes, they want a piece of paper.
I've not been training professionally for YEARS, and when I was, it was on a small scale due to my schedule.....so I don't have case histories and that sort of thing.

So, this is my new plan...open to friendly advice....

Start a nonprofit LLC for now.
Do a small "pilot" program for 4 or so people with PTSD.
Find some good local psychologists that want to work with me and the dogs.
Set the classes up in the way they are taught in the military.
Work it out so the first class goes for 6 months, and then move them up to an advanced class, and start 4 more students.
At the end of the year, I'll have 8 or so people that I can point to and show results for, I'll have psychiatrists that can say that they have worked with the organization and they support it because of the results, I'll have financial info for the year....its all stuff I will need to have to do anything serious, especially on a national level.

For fund raising, I will need help..anyone want to volunteer?
I had the idea to have people adopt a Veteran in the program. Soldiers Angels does this and I think its a great Idea.

It could also bypass some of the financial stuff...example..have someone buy a backpack system and ship it directly to us rather than donating money..same for the veterinarian fund for each animal, have money donated to an account at a certain vet's office.

I think that people might be more comfortable at first sending actual items that are needed, rather than just sending money out to the wild blue yonder.

I will need to find someone that will help with the financial accountability. I was thinking of asking some of the moderators here if they might be interested.
Again people are more likely to donate if there is a "board" of even a few people watching the money.

Thank you Mariellena, and Betty for the offer!!!!!

Also The first thing I would need money for is for the non-profit LLC business license.

Then to get the clicker training your own assistance dog DVD that Ed sells. I need to preview it to see if I can turn it into a curriculum for the classes, or if I would be better off using Ed's vids as a base.

I've already bought and am setting up a website for the organization.

If anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them!!
Thanks for being so supportive!!!!!
Willie

Have you thought about where the dogs will come from? I think it could be a great way to get homes for rescue dogs!

I think that you could really be great at this. I wonder if there might not be funding
for this sort of thing from the VA or even from Veterans of Foreign Wars or other veteran groups.
Perhaps some veterans on the board might have ideas.