Paws for Kids is a partnership between CT Department of Children and Families and the animal advocacy community to promote child and animal well-being through education, cross-reporting efforts, marketing, and establishing an Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) for DCF children with trauma.

Through our dedicated collaboration, Paws for Kids launched an AAI service for DCF children who have been exposed to trauma. Our service aims to provide comfort and support to children and reduce stress and anxiety through exposure to therapy animals. Coupled with educational activities, our AAI program hopes to advance children's awareness, empathy, and respect for animals. Paws for Kids also provide education for DCF staff and the animal advocacy community on Cross Reporting and AAI, expanded our partnership with the Department of Agriculture around Cross Reporting activities, and plans to evaluate our AAI service to measure how the work is beneficial to children.