Therapy Dog for Youth-at-Risk

Boulder Preparatory High School is raising money for a therapy dog to help our students who have experienced trauma, bullying, social anxiety, grief, and neglect. Every little bit helps!

Boulder Prep High School is a Free-No-Fee College Preparatory Community that encourages the pursuit of knowledge and education as an intervention for youth, particularly those who may be "off-track." We strive to graduate young people ready and eager to meet the challenges of college and adulthood with an appreciation of their responsibilities to themselves and to the global community. 

With our alternative campus designation, over 90% of our students are considered "high-risk." A student is considered to be "high-risk" when they are any of the following: detained, coded as a dropout, habitually truant, expelled, migrant, and/or homeless. Some are considered to be "high-risk" when they fit the parameters of an "other high-risk" category. This means they have experienced: a personal or family history of drug or alcohol use, a personal or family history of gang involvement, a personal or family history of domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, loss of a parent or sibling, present mental health or behavioral health issues, involvement in the foster system, and/or significant trauma. As one can imagine, these classifications come with significant social-emotional impact, so social-emotional learning and trauma-informed care become top priority.

At Boulder Prep, we strive to remain at the forefront of innovation and research as we implement the practices that will best serve our diverse community of learners. When examining the latest research in trauma and mental health care within schools, therapy dogs are emerging as an effective support for struggling students. Not only do you see visiting therapy dogs after isolated tragedies, they are also becoming resident "counselors" on some campuses so that students can access them more frequently. 

As a research-based practice, access to a therapy animal is shown to have the following benefits:

·        it lowers people's blood pressure and stress levels,
·        it increases levels of dopamine and serotonin,
·        it decreases stress hormones (like cortisol),
·        it decreases anxiety, it increases positive mood,
·        it eases social isolation and helps promote social skills,
·        it helps young readers gain confidence,
·        it stimulates memory and problem-solving skills,
·        it helps develop empathy,
·        it moderates energy levels and calms anger,
·        it improves school climate and culture,
·        it increases attendance,
·        and it improves positive attitudes toward learning and self-reported levels of motivation.

The benefits are undeniable and can have profound positive impacts on a student's relationship with themselves and their education. Since many students come to Boulder Prep as an alternative to traditional education, it is imperative they receive both the academic and social support they were missing at their previous school(s). As we continue to implement a comprehensive counseling program at Boulder Prep, this is an element we feel would enhance our students' social-emotional well-being and their ongoing personal development.

While the advantages to having a resident therapy dog are seemingly endless, so are the costs! In order for Boulder Prep to have its own therapy animal (preferably a Boxer as that is the school's mascot), we will need to raise at least $5,000 for the following:

·        adoption fee ($250),
·        food ($3,000 for the lifetime of the dog),
·        Level 1 Training (quoted $750),
·        Level 2 Training (quoted $750),
·        routine veterinary appointments,
·        and miscellaneous supplies (bed, leash, kennel, food dishes, toys, etc.).


(Source: http://time.com/money/4884120/we-did-the-math-heres-how-much-your-dog-costs-you-over-its-lifetime/)



We are looking for the community's help in supporting our students in this unique and data-proven way! To learn more about the school and its mission, please visit our website: http://boulderprep.org/about.php.