An old show business cliché warns never to work with children or animals, but that is exactly what teachers, mental health professionals and therapists all over the world are starting to advocate. A program in Switzerland introduces elementary students to farm animals; in the United Kingdom, an equine program encourages children on the autism spectrum to ride horses; in India, a psychologist is offering therapy sessions for children with trained dogs. The profound impact of purposeful animal interaction for children is gaining traction, and is strengthened by evidence-based practices as global research emerges.  

No one has modeled how human-animal interaction can support children’s growth and development longer than Green Chimneys, a 75-year-old nonprofit education and human services organization. Green Chimneys is uniquely a therapeutic day school, residential treatment center and working farm spanning two campuses in Putnam County, New York.