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About CanTRA Member Centres Get Involved Contacts Certification Events Hippotherapy Supporters Employment 2011 Conference Merchandise Instructor Resources ParaEquestrian EFW Past News F.A.Q |
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About CanTRA Member Centres Get Involved Contacts Certification Events Hippotherapy Supporters Employment 2011 Conference Merchandise Instructor Resources ParaEquestrian EFW Past News F.A.Q |
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(EFW - Canada) Equine Facilitated Wellness Certification System Update We are pleased to provide you with an update to our review of our certification system for Equine Facilitated Wellness in Canada. Our Equine Facilitated Wellness task force, lead by Jan Yorke of Georgian College/Laurentian University has made very specific recommendations to our Board with respect to qualifications, training and testing for specific levels of certification in this field. A key aspect to these recommendations is for the independent testing of mental health and education professionals to ensure that they are meeting the highest possible standards in Canada. To this end, the CanTRA Board of Directors is pleased to be discussing a partnership for this purpose with the Certification Board of Equine Interaction Professionals(CBEIP), an organization whose mission is to offer a “credentialing process for equine interaction professionals grounded in a foundation of knowledge and experience that supports safe, humane and ethical practice.” We have entered into discussions with CBEIP and our two Boards of Directors anticipate reaching an agreement in the very near future. CBEIP’s process and examination criteria mirror the high standards for quality and safety that CanTRA has become known for internationally and we believe that the philosophies of our two organizations are in line with one another. Once an examination process is in place, CanTRA plans to move forward with the following components to CanTRA’s Equine Facilitated Wellness certification system: · There will be four certification options available: o CanTRA Equine Facilitated Wellness Mental Health Professional – Basic o CanTRA Equine Facilitated Wellness Mental Health Professional – Advance o CanTRA Equine Facilitated Wellness Equine Professional – Basic o CanTRA Equine Facilitated Wellness Equine Professional – Advanced The overall intent of this structure is to allow certification candidates to gain experience and work toward certification while working in their chosen field. The components of each of the above levels are being finalized. As part of the process, candidates will of course need to attend training in specific areas. As there are many college and university courses already available that will meet the training requirements for the above levels, a full list of courses that meet our criteria for training are being established and will be expanded over time. This will allow certification candidates to access much of their training in their local communities. In addition, CanTRA plans to develop additional workshops that will be offered across the country, drawing on local experts. CanTRA is also currently finalizing tuition fees and registration processes and this information will be available and distributed to our membership as soon as possible. In the interim, interested candidates should contact the CanTRA office to be included on our ‘Interest List.’ As soon as all tuition and registration details are finalized, the office will send a full information and registration package directly to these individuals as well as informing our membership that this is available. In closing, our Board of Directors would like to thank all of our members for your patience as we thoroughly evaluated and refined this process. We believe that we are achieving a system that meets the same high standards as our other programs and that will be highly regarded throughout Canada and internationally. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the CanTRA office. CanTRA's Standards of Practice Regarding Safety April, 2011 Since our inception, CanTRA has had high standards of practice regarding safety and professionalism and our primary concern in the development of any CanTRA sanctioned program or event is for the safety of all involved; clients, volunteers, instructors or horses. We recognize that Equine Facilitated Wellness, (or programs with a similar focus), is practiced in many countries and with many differing approaches to this therapy. However, the CanTRA vision for EFW is a one-on-one situation with a two person team of the equine and mental health/educational practitioner working as partners with one horse and one client (always wearing a riding helmet whether mounted or not). In no circumstances does CanTRA condone a situation where more than one unrestrained horse and/or more than one client are in an arena together at one time. |