Jan Ruff's Colleagues at Animals as Natural Therapy
Jan Ruff's Contact Details
360-671-3509
Bellingham, Washington, United States
Animals as Natural Therapy
Jan Ruff's Company Details
ANT is a non-profit providing mental & behavioral health services to at-risk youth and veterans in Bellingham, WA, through animal-assisted experiential learning and equine-facilitated therapy. Our mission is to create a more resilient and healthy community by empowering participants with the social and emotional skills they need to thrive. Our animals, including horses, dogs, goats, chickens, rabbits and a llama, help teach leadership, trust-building, clear communication, boundaries, emotion regulation, self-awareness, and more. Founded in 1999, ANT has grown to serve over 400 youth a year, along with veterans , seniors, and community members. ANT's equine-based experiential methods are highly effective in helping overcome many personal challenges in areas such as impulse control, anger management, attachment, PTSD, grief and anxiety. ANT's programs successfully aid in preventing school drop outs; avoiding repeated incarcerations; circumventing gang, prostitution or drug involvement; and preventing suicide attempts.Many youth coming to ANT are being raised by grandparents, extended family, foster parents, or adoptive families because of unstable home lives, to parental mental disorders, addictions, and incarcerations. Some live in shelters or on couches. Many of the families struggle with dysfunctional and abusive relationships, unemployment, and sporadic housing. Nearly 90% of our participants need financial assistance to attend our programs. As a 501(c)3 non-profit, ANT operates on a secluded 10-acre farm in Bellingham, WA. Over the past two decades, ANT has touched the lives of thousands of children and adults in our community and beyond.