Page 57 - 2021 A Year in Review

The therapy dog’s primary purpose is to interact with children who have been victims

of child maltreatment:

• Child abuse or child maltreatment is physical, sexual, or psychological abuse or

neglect of a child or children, especially by a parent or other caregiver. Child

abuse may include any act or failure to act by a parent or other caregiver that

results in actual or potential harm to a child and can occur in a child's home or

in the organizations, schools, or communities where the child interacts.

C.A.L.I. has been trained as an investigative tool to provide affection, emotional

support, and comfort, which will be utilized in the following:

• Interviews of children who are victims of physical/sexual abuse/ sex trafficking

• Interviews of children who have witnessed a crime where there has been a loss

of life, serious injury, or domestic violence to a family member.

• Hasbro Children’s Hospital’s Aubin Center medical examinations

• Forensic interviews

• Judicial testimony

The Therapy Dog continues to be utilized in the community and is routinely called

upon for the following:

• Cranston School Department vaccinations clinics

• Grand Jury appearances with victims of crimes

• West Warwick Police Peer Support Debriefing

• Visited 30 schools/daycares in Cranston and throughout the state

• Children’s Hospital visits

• Nursing Home visits

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Cranston Police Department Year in Review 2021