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NEWS BACK ISSUES

Thanks also to film producer Mia Nakagawa of Pro-Vision International and crew who are making documentary DVDs of the conference.

“Thank you so much for the time, effort and quality that went into this presentation. I don't know which has been more important to me, the information or the inspiration andhope this week has provided.”

First POOCH 101 Workshop is a success Top Row: Ann Kline (NC), Steve Carlino (TX), Amy Johnson (MI), Paula Schoen (LA), Jean Reid (TX) Bottom Row: Angi Veek (OR), Vicki Sayles (PA), Wendy Gerboth (CA).

EVER SINCE Project POOCH WAS FOUNDED in 1993, social services professionals and advocated for shelter animals alike have been impressed by the zero recidivism rate among POOCH graduates - clear evidence of the program's effectiveness.

The POOCH 101 Conference, held at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, August 21-16, was planned as a response to requests from groups across the nation and around the world for assistance in establishing similar programs. Project POOCH director, Joan Dalton, was assisted by MacLaren Superintendent, Gary Lawhead; Youth-Kennel Supervisor, Adam Bergin; dog trainer, Cinthia Mitchell; researcher, Kate Davis, MSW; and POOCH staffers, Brie Caffey and Jane Turville, in presenting workshops on coordinating and working within correctional facilities, facilitating personal and vocational development in incarcerated youths, coordinating and working with the canine shelter system; screening, caring for and obedience training dogs; strategies for placing dogs in adoptive homes, and establishing an effective board of directors.

Eight individuals enrolled for the 5-day conference. They came from Oregon, California, Texas, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana.

Conference highlights included:

• A tour of the MacLaren facility led by Gary Lawhead, superintendent, to give attendees an opportunity to see the different program areas and talk with the youths at their various work sites
• A picnic at Champoeg State Park to get acquainted and ask questions of Gary Lawhead and Adam Bergin, youth/kennel supervisor
• A day with the youths at the kennels including lunch with the youths on their living units (this activity was rated"10")
• A Powerpoint presentation by POOCH youth, Marcel, on what he has learned from working with dogs
• A demonstration of temperament testing by Brie Caffey at the Humane Society of the Willamette Valley and choosing a dog for Project POOCH (Deano, aka Jester), followed by lunch at a Salem restaurant
• A clicker training demonstration by Cinthia Mitchell of Doggone Fun! Doggy Daycare in Tualatin
• A presentation of research data by Kate Davis, MSW, on the program's success rate as measured by whether the lessons learned transfer to other areas in the lives of incarcerated youth

Thanks to Oregon Youth Authority for sponsoring breakfast for the attendees and to the following contributors for their generous support:

Anyone interested in attending a future POOCH 101 Workshop should contact:

Joan Dalton, POOCH 101
project_pooch@yahoo.com