The LaMoure Loboes added a new staff member this fall with the help of a SEEC Innovation Fund grant. Kota isn’t a typical staff member though. She is a comfort dog whose mission is to reduce stress, increase joy, and improve overall mental health in and out of the school. Kelli Isaacson, LaMoure’s school counselor, is Kota’s handler and a firsthand witness to the school’s mental health challenges impacting students. Student mental health challenges have become an increasing concern for schools across the country. LaMoure’s status as a small rural school adds a layer of difficulty for its students and families. Isaacson lists the limited availability of providers, constrained transportation, economic barriers, and stigma as obstacles in LaMoure. Mental health stigma has decreased over the years, but it still remains a hurdle according to Isaacson. While Kota’s job is not to solve all mental health concerns, she serves as another tool in the school’s toolbox to support students.
As the school counselor and self-proclaimed “dog person”, Isaacson always imagined introducing a dog into the school someday. These future plans were catalyzed last year when a community member reached out to gauge school interest after watching a news story on a comfort dog. Research into feasibility and logistics of having this program soon began. The school contacted Interquest C.A.R.E.S (Comfort, Assist, Reassure, Encourage, Support) to source a comfort dog. The Interquest C.A.R.E.S website, defines a comfort dog as “a professionally selected and trained Labrador or Golden Retriever that acts as a tool to a school administrator, counselor, teacher or other facility staff member to foster a safe and effective environment for students to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.” Isaacson explained that the process to get a dog and complete training typically takes multiple years, but LaMoure’s process was much quicker. They decided on Kota last spring, and her first day on the job was September 26th. Both Kota and Isaacson attended training prior to integration into the school.
A comfort dog cannot be used as a tool for everyone. Isaacson acknowledges the reality that some students are allergic, and other students may be fearful of dogs. Prior to Kota’s arrival, the school sent out a survey to collect information on which students had an allergy and/or fear. The benefit of being a small school is that Isaacson knows who those individuals are and their schedules, so she knows which classrooms she can’t visit.
Isaacson is currently the only handler in the school, so Kota follows her throughout her day. Kota is already incredibly popular with students. Choruses of “Hi Kota” float through the air wherever she visits, and she visits all sides of the K-12 building. Each week Isaacson checks in on classrooms, leads counseling classes, and hosts one-on-one sessions with students. She has recently started “puppy pets” where students at recess line up simply to pet Kota. The presence of a dog alone can have positive mental health and academic benefits. Isaacson says that Kota is a “great listener” and uses those listening skills with students who struggle to read. She brings Kota into classrooms, and students have the opportunity to read to Kota and practice their learning without the anxiety of practicing with another student. Just seeing Kota can raise student spirits. Isaacson leads counseling classes for each classroom once every two weeks and Kota just lays at the front of the room during the lessons. She says that one of the most noticeable impacts is the general joy Kota brings to everyone, both students and staff. Kota has also seen action in one-on-one sessions and crisis situations helping students calm down and deescalate.
An added benefit to the introduction of a comfort dog is that Isaacson’s office is now a hotbed of activity. The minutes between lunch and the next class are additional opportunities for students to pop in to say hi to Kota, and subsequently, chances for Isaacson to interact with students who otherwise may not come talk to her. We saw this in action on our visit to the school. Two students asked if they could paint Kota’s nails before their next class. While in her office, Isaacson had an opportunity to chat with the students about their recent Thanksgiving break and check-in with them. Kota is a conversation starter, and for the school counselor, that makes a real difference to her interactions with students.
LaMoure received Innovation Fund grant dollars from the South East Education Cooperative to implement this program into the school. An additional goal for LaMoure is to extend Kota’s skills past the school walls and into the community. So far, she has attended LaMoure School’s Veterans Day concert, pep rallies, and the Live Showcase. Kota has also taken a trip to the assisted living facility and recently ran in the Thanksgiving 5K with her host family. Isaacson hopes to further introduce Kota into the community in the new year now that they’ve settled into their school routine. Isaacson’s advice to other schools interested in a comfort dog is to gather support and discuss the proposition with staff prior to moving forward in the process. She also recommends finding one staff member to be a committed handler. Consistency is key to maintaining comfort dog training, and that may deteriorate as more handlers are added to the team.
Kota is already profoundly benefiting students and staff, and she’s only been a team member since September. We can’t wait to see how this program grows in both the school and the community! To read more about the SEEC Innovation Fund and other projects, check out our website.
Written by Kate Balstad, SEEC Events and Marketing Specialist