Meet Aspen! Certified Therapy Dog.

Hello from Fair Haven Rape Crisis Center,

We hope this finds you Safe & Well!  During the COVID19 shelter in place, our staff (including Aspen) worked from home.  These were very long days for Aspen!  As you can see from the picture below, she spent many hours looking out the window waiting to go to the office.  

On May 23, 2020, Fair Haven Advocates began responding in-person to the hospitals taking safety precautions and lots of PPE.  Aspen was very ready to re-engage work life in June.  Her picture below you see her sitting with our Assistant Direct Services Coordinator, Sylvia. 

The Fair Haven main office moved to full in-office working hours on Monday, July 6, 2020. We opened to in-person service the following week, July 13, 2020. We are following all procedures recommended by the CDC. We have waivers in place, take temperatures before entry, wearing masks, hand sanitizing stations throughout the office, scheduled cleaning through the day and after each meeting, and moving the office facility around to allow for social distancing. Our virtual options remain in place for those still uncomfortable with in person.  Here at Fair Haven, we reamin committed to survivors.

Aspen loves being back to work.  Our clients (and staff) are so happy to see her.  She is a big part of the healing process as survivors of sexual violence walk the journey toward healing.

Thank you so much for your continued support of our Therapy Dog Program.  Our program is only supported through community donations.  Every dollar helps!  We could not do this without you!

Thank you so very much for your continued support of Aspen, Fair Haven Rape Crisis Center's Certified Therapy Dog.  As our Therapy Dog program is 100% community supported, your generous donations go directly to provide this special service to all our clients (and our staff reap a benefit too!)

Last year, Fair Haven Rape Crisis Center provided 3,347 services to 276 survivors of sexual assault.  2019 was our largest service year in our 15 year history.  We provide 24/7/365 service & response to all 10 hospitals/ER's within our community.  Our support groups & individual advocacy servcies are offered throughout the week and no charge!  We are here to help.

February 2020 marked five years for Aspen working with victims of sexual violence at Fair Haven and we celebrated with a cake for both Aspen & the staff!

Aspen has grown so much in the last five years and I don't just mean her size! Her training has been built on routine and it has proven very successful.  She sits by the door waiting for group participants to come and wants to be the first to greet them.  Clients arrive early just to sip a cup of coffee and get lots of support from Aspen.

During the COVID19 Pandemic, all of our in-person services have been moved to virtual platforms.  Additionally, Therapy Dogs International has mandated that all visits with clients be suspended until shelter in place orders are lifted.  As you can imagine, Aspen has been very sad to not go to her "spot" in the office and see her regular clients.  Every morning she sits near the back door waiting to go to the car (pictured below).

For Indiana, our shelter in place orders begin to lift May 1, 2020.  As we gratdually reopen for in-person services, Aspen will be there waiting to greet everyone!  Until then, stay safe & healthy!

Links:

• Fair Haven RCC Website