Exciting news for the Calais Community…

Our Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) program was recently honored by the Morris County Chamber of Commerce with an “Innovative Program of a Nonprofit Organization” award. This accolade is reserved for nonprofit organizations with revenue under $1 million, making a meaningful impact on the community through a program within the organization.

Established in 2013, our proprietary technique for integrating Animal Assisted Interventions has helped countless Calais students during school hours achieve academic, behavioral and therapeutic success. Developed expressly for students with special learning needs, our therapy dog program has given support and hope to those struggling with mental health, learning disabilities and socialization challenges.

Executive Director John Cohrs has been a driving force behind the program’s development. “This public recognition from the Chamber validates our efforts in what we believe to be a revolutionary therapy program helping our students achieve success in all areas of life. Our hope is that this program will also ultimately benefit students regardless of their abilities, in public and private schools throughout New Jersey.”

Our unique program incorporates therapy dogs to deliver value that extends far beyond the basic benefits of recreational meet-and-greet scenarios. Highly trained dogs and their handlers collaborate with faculty, therapists and students in individual and group counseling sessions, reading remediation, speech therapy, occupational therapy, social skills building, physical therapy, and in-school crisis response.

Members of the Calais Administration and the therapy dog program were in attendance to accept the award at the Chamber’s 18th Annual NonProfit Conference on April 25 at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park. The Calais School also congratulates fellow honorees: MCOHA, Students 2 Science, Nancy Bangiola, Michelle Borden and Kelly Kurtzman.