Statement of IVVAAS® Institute:
Institute of Education and Research in AAS, IVVAAS® Institute (Institut vzdělání a výzkumu v AAS, IVVAAS®) is an independent association of professionals from various fields relevant to Animal Assisted Services (AAS)—services provided with the assistance of animals (known in the Czech Republic as Zootherapy).
The IVVAAS® Institute believes that only the combination of science and knowledge with empathy and intuition can serve as a driving force for purposeful—and thus comprehensible—inter-species contact, interaction, or coexistence between humans and animals
The IVVAAS® Institute envisions a society in which humans and animals engage in close cooperation based on respect, knowledge, and a sense of responsibility.
The long-term objective of the IVVAAS® Institute project is primarily protecting users of Animal Assisted Services (AAS) and therapeutic animals. These two groups cannot influence the quality of the service or its consequences, and their roles are essentially not of their own choice—it is therefore the responsibility of AAS Intervenors and educational organizations to fully assume accountability
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What is the IVVAAS® Institute?
It is an authorizing entity that sets standards for authorization to perform AAS activities (in compliance with Czech laws and legislation, especially the rights of patients, clients, pupils, animals, and Czech standards in educational processes).
It authorizes educational programs and teams (AAS Intervenors) that meet quality standards at two levels (assistant and therapist).
It serves as a communication partner for Czech legislation.
It grants validating status to other entities for education in the field of AAS.
It grants authorization to competent individuals to carry out professional activities within the field of Animal Assisted Services (AAS).
It is the founder of the Professional Chamber of AAS Intervenors (KAAS) and the AAS Code of Ethics.
What is not the IVVAAS® Institute?
is not an educational institution.
is not an association of other organizations.
is not a provider of AAS.
The IVVAAS® Institute is authorized to confer licensing status as follows:
AAS Therapist (Certified Therapist in Animal Assisted Services) – CAASTh® (Expert – independent professional)
AAS Assistant (Certified Assistant in Animal Assisted Services) – CAASAs® (Volunteer – works under the supervision of a professional)
CAASTh (Certified Animal-Assisted Services Therapist) is a prestigious certification for professionals engaged in Animal-Assisted Services (AAS) at an expert level, providing independently delivered services—such as education, therapy, kynology intervention (KI), and related professional practices. This status attests to a high level of education and professional competence in the field of AAS, qualifying the holder for independent professional practice.
CAASAs (Certified Animal-Assisted Services Assistant) is a prestigious certification for professionals working in Animal-Assisted Services at a professional level under the supervision of a coordinator or a specialist responsible for service users. This certification applies specifically to methods of activation and play in animal-assisted services (AASP, AAG). The status confirms a high level of competence and professional qualification in the field of AAS within a supervised framework.
In the Czech Republic, these certifications are affiliated with the Institute of Education and Research in Animal-Assisted Services (IVVAAS®). Holders of these certifications are entitled to publicly present their status by using the respective abbreviation in conjunction with their name.
(For example: PhDr. Jana Nováková, CAASTh; Jana Nováková, CAASAs)
Furthermore, within the framework of Honorary Membership of KAAS CZ and SK (the Chamber of Animal-Assisted Services of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic), the honorary designation CAASTh, h. (Honorary Animal-Assisted Services Therapist) may be awarded for exceptionally significant contributions leading to the development, advancement, support, and representation of the AAS field.
The designation is always granted with a clearly defined professional role and scope of practice.
Institute of Education and Research in AAS (IVVAAS® Institute) defines the AAS Code of Ethics:
Definition of AAS
AAS is a field of Animal Assisted Services, in which the primary focus is on supporting the user of AAS and their objectives—competently, purposefully, safely, consciously, and ethically, both towards the user and the therapeutic animal.
Purpose
a) The AAS Code of Ethics is addressed in particular to:
Entities that educate, test, or examine AAS teams
Entities that bring together AAS Teams (AAS Intervenors) and provide AAS services
Directly to AAS Intervenors—the actors in AAS services (AAS Therapist, AAS Assistant)
b) The AAS Code of Ethics applies five core competencies of a professionally qualified AAS Intervenor:
Competence in interaction with humans—with the service users (e.g., client, patient, pupil), especially a broad spectrum of communication forms, cooperation, play, accompaniment, support, training, educational interventions, motor, sensory, educational, and social activation, etc.
Competence in welfare, safe, respectful, and purposeful cooperation with the animal—with the therapeutic animal, especially communication understandable to the animal with feedback, understanding the emotions and needs of the animal applied in practice, and principles of learning and perception of the environment and situations (ethical, modern animal training and guidance) applied in AAS practice, etc.
Competence in the ability to cooperate and collaborate with other participants in the AAS process—professionals, coordinators, key workers, parents of children, etc., and leading other AAS Service teams—especially the ability for non-confrontational and constructive teamwork, transfer of competencies, acceptance of roles within the team, purposeful team communication, etc.
Personal competence: personality, health, and safety—empathy, self-reflection, health fitness (sensory, physical), psychological fitness without psychiatric burden, integrity, motivation for lifelong learning
Ownership/contractual relationship to the therapeutic animal, which is competent for AAS practice—species and depth of domestication, age, health status, physical maturity, psychological maturity, emotional maturity, innate aptitudes, acquired behaviors, acquired tools—socialization, development, training for AAS practice
IVVAAS® Institute established:
The Chamber of AAS Professionals of the Czech Republic and Slovakia
(KAAS CZ and SK)
(AAS Professional = AAS Intervenor)
Objectives:
To create a platform for the development and oversight of a professional approach to the field of AAS—including the establishment of the “AAS Intervenor” profession.
To bring together professionals in the field.
To build on professionalism, competencies, quality, and responsibility within the discipline.
To be a proud and respected professional organization and to defend the professional interests of all employees and volunteers in the field of AAS.
To enhance the quality and safety of AAS practitioners, clients, and therapeutic animals in the process of AAS, both in volunteer service and in contracted employment (part-time, full-time).
To be a respected and open partner for negotiations with state authorities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, professional bodies, and educational institutions.
Conclusion
The IVVAAS® Institute is an authorizing entity—setting standards.
The IVVAAS® Institute may issue an Authorization Certificate for educational programs in the field of AAS.
The IVVAAS® Institute may grant licensing status (CAASAs® and CAASTh®) to AAS Intervenors.
The IVVAAS® Institute defines the AAS Code of Ethics.
The IVVAAS® Institute manages the professional Chamber of AAS Professionals of the Czech Republic and Slovakia (KAAS CZ and SK).
The IVVAAS® Institute supports international relations in the field of AAS.
Who is behind the project "Institute of Education and Research in AAS (IVVAAS®)"?
IVVAAS® Working Group – contact: [email protected]
in particular Petra Konečná, Andrea Tvrdá, Nikol Hillová, Jaroslava Bicková, Barbora Janoudová, Petr Sluka, Michaela Dědková, Miloš Hájek, Libor Konečný, Nela Navrátilová