Transforming Lives Through Partnerships with Service Dogs

Mental health

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

GDA|TLC's programs address the critical needs of individuals with vision impairment, Veterans with PTSD and/or mobility limitations, and families impacted by autism to live with safety, confidence and independence, be able to actively participate in their communities, have equitable access to social, educational and economic opportunities, and engage in life to the fullest. By providing professionally trained guide and service dog partners at no cost to people who need them, GDA|TLC's programs help improve mental health, increase community safety, decrease income inequality, and facilitate social support networks, directly addressing four of the LA2050 13 issue areas.

This grant will help GDA|TLC fulfill its mission to transform lives through partnerships with service dogs by providing for critical program expenses including costs to care for and train future guide and service dog partners, teach individuals accepted to our programs how to work with their new dog as a team, and provide the on-going support services necessary to ensure each graduated team remains safe and effective throughout its working life. GDA|TLC's goal is to place 50-60 fully trained service dogs a year, and while it costs the organization over $60,000 per dog, there is no cost to the recipients of the dogs or their families. Service dogs address many of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. They bring greater confidence and independence, open doors to social and economic opportunities, facilitate improved mental health, and increase safety. They truly do transform lives and in so doing strengthen communities.

LA County will be stronger and more diverse because of GDA|TLC's work. Having a service dog empowers people with disabilities by bringing improved mental health, greater confidence and independence, expanded social and economic opportunities and increased safety. By mitigating symptoms of hyper-vigilance, anxiety, anger, depression and isolation, and performing calming behaviors in the presence of triggers, Veteran Service Dogs help their human partners reintegrate into society. By enhancing communication skills, addressing sensory integration processing needs, helping develop adaptive skills, assisting with activities of daily living, performing grounding behaviors, Autism Service Dogs help build confidence and increase safety. By avoiding obstacles in their path, stopping at changes in elevation, and exhibiting “intelligent disobedience” (e.g. refuse to step off a curb into oncoming traffic), Guide Dogs help their visually impaired partners travel more safely and confidently.

GDA|TLC measures the impact of our programs in many ways, including by regularly collecting feedback from our clients. Recent data shows: over 95% of clients report being satisfied with the program and finding their guide or service dog to be effective, allowing them to gain greater confidence, independence, social experiences and educational and professional opportunities; 90% of autism service dog recipients report a reduction in their child’s maladaptive behavior and an increase in independence in the home and community environments; 88% of veteran service dog recipients reported a decrease in symptoms of PTSD, anger, anxiety, hyper-vigilance, flashbacks, sleep disorders and decreased medication use; and 95% of incarcerated trainers who participated in our programs reported gaining skills and qualities, such as patience, communication, collaboration, responsibility, commitment, that lead to positive transformation in themselves.