Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Therapy dog program highlights mental-health support in St. Cloud schools
Summary
A volunteer nonprofit described its therapy-dog visits to St. Cloud schools, reporting local teams, training standards, insurance requirements and requests for district partnerships and volunteer handlers.
Amy Tyson Walls, founder of the nonprofit You're Not Alone, told the St. Cloud Public School District board on Feb. 5 that her group pairs certified therapy-dog teams with schools to provide short, voluntary interactions designed to help students and staff manage stress and build connections.
The presentation outlined the program's reach, training and operations and asked the district to consider placements and volunteer handlers. "The semicolon is a pause," Walls said, describing the program's mental-health message and the hope the dogs bring to students. "We never want any family to feel as alone on an island like we did." Jenny Schott, a school counselor at St. Cloud Tech High School, described how her facility dog Murphy has helped students and staff: "I have yet to see a person walk by, look at him, and not smile." Founding board member Kurt Fazen said You're Not Alone has reached students…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
