Rhinebeck Rotary Club Pleased to Host Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie
On Monday, December 5, the Rhinebeck Rotary Club was pleased to host David Crenshaw and Lori Stella of the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie. The Children's Home of Poughkeepsie is a community-based, non-profit agency dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk children and their families in the Hudson River Region.
David Crenshaw, who is the Clinical Director of the Children’s Home, discussed the importance some animals can have in helping reduce some levels of stress in children. This can be particularly important when it comes to enabling children to talk about difficult and sensitive issues in therapy sessions as well as in the courts. The Children’s Home in Poughkeepsie, in particular, uses a golden retriever named Ivy to help comfort its children. Ivy, as seen in the picture above, is the sister of another more famous golden retriever named Rosie. If you recall, Rosie made NYS history in May of 2011 by being the first dog allowed to comfort a child witness while giving testimony in a criminal trial. She has the training and temperament to go to court with a child should the need arise and is considered a part of the Clinical Staff at the Children's Home and works under the direction of Dr. Crenshaw.