Therapy dogs help incarcerated parents build confidence, parenting skills and hope for homecoming
By Pedro Rivera
Click here for updates on this story
VALHALLA, New York (WABC) — A therapy dog is helping incarcerated parents at the Westchester County Department of Corrections build parenting skills, manage stress, and prepare for life after incarceration.
The “Parenting, Prison and Pups” program combines parenting education with visits from therapy dogs, creating what organizers say is a judgment-free environment where participants can work on communication, conflict resolution, and emotional well-being.
Inside the Valhalla facility, participants practice problem-solving and compromise while interacting with therapy dogs like Annie, a black dog who has quickly become a favorite among the women in the program.
Amanda Oropeza, an incarcerated resident and mother of three, said the dogs have helped her manage anxiety.
“She’s just so sweet,” Oropeza said of Annie.
“I have a lot of anxiety, so they do help me a lot,” she said.
Oropeza said the dogs provide comfort during emotional moments and help participants stay engaged in the classes.
“They’re very good therapeutic dogs. If you have anxiety or anything, they come up, and you can pet them and love them,” she said.
The program began nearly a decade ago as a passion project and has grown into a rehabilitation effort focused on strengthening parenting skills.
“What do they want and what do the women need?” said Kimberly Collica-Cox, the program’s director. “They want a dog program but what they needed was a parenting program.”
Collica-Cox, a distinguished professor at Pace University, partnered with therapy dog organizations across the tri-state area to bring the concept to life.
She said research tied to the program has shown improvements in participants’ self-esteem and parenting knowledge, along with reductions in stress and depression.
Pace University students also take part in the classes, gaining firsthand experience working with justice-involved participants.
“The women here are very into becoming better mothers,” said Pace senior Alanie Ruiz. “And I think for me that’s what’s so inspirational, just to know that they do want to do better and are doing their best to do better.”
The 14-course program is open to eligible parents with a child or grandchild under 25, regardless of their offense.
Corrections officials say the goal is to create long-term benefits that extend beyond the jail’s walls.
“You can really save a generation,” said Nory Padilla, first deputy commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Corrections. “This is a mother that can go back, become a parent, become a mother, and be there for their children.”
Collica-Cox said the program is also about recognizing the humanity of those participating.
“What you learn is we are all human beings, and we all have different paths that we have traveled, but that people want to make a change,” she said.
For Oropeza, the lessons are simple but valuable.
“You can never not learn enough,” she said.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.