Green Chimneys: The Evolution of a Nature-Based Program

Join The Institute for Human-Animal Connection as we host Green Chimneys for our winter quarter research seminar, sponsored by CBR Youth Connect. This event will not be recorded.

Since 1947, Green Chimneys has operated an education and therapeutic program for children with special needs on a farm surrounded by nature and hundreds of animal species. For over 20 years, Kristin Licardi (Chief Clinical Officer) and Michael Kaufmann (Vice President of Nature Based Programs) have worked to continually adapt and evolve best practices for the current student population and a large number of farm animals, equines, dogs, and wildlife.

In this seminar, learn how research data gathered over a decade-long relationship with the Institute for Human-Animal Connection informs the current program and strategic directions at Green Chimneys. We will consider how the concept of “social license to operate” has brought about new ethical challenges and has deepened the focus on animal welfare in this therapeutic program. Kristin and Michael will share perspectives and illustrate how theory and practice inform each other in a model program that continually strives to improve.

Learn more about the speakers:

Kristin Licardi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Hunter College School of Social Work graduate with over 30 years of experience in behavioral health services for children and families. Mrs. Licardi began her early career in direct care in several mental health settings before settling in at Green Chimneys Children’s Services in Brewster, New York where she has worked for the past 25 years. She held the Director of Social Services position for 17 years, where she directly impacted the programs and services provided to children and families and trained clinicians, direct care staff, educators and parents. For the past two years, she has overseen all clinical services at the agency as Chief Clinical Officer. Mrs. Licardi has adapted and facilitated various training curriculum for the agency, including trauma, trauma-informed care, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), suicide and non-suicidal self-injury, and threat assessment. She has presented at professional conferences including the Association of Children’s Residential and Community Services (ACRC), the Leir Foundation Trauma Conference, and keynote for the University of Binghamton’s Let Us Dream Conference.

Michael Kaufmann is the Vice President of Nature Based Programs and Director of The Sam and Myra Ross Institute at Green Chimneys. He directs all aspects of the nature-based therapeutic/educational programs. The Institute is dedicated to education, advocacy and research on the human connection to animals and the natural world. He serves on the board of the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO), is an advisor to the International Center for Anthrozoology, Norway, is on the advisory council of TAT Center for Human Animal Interaction, Vienna, Austria, Advisor to The Canadian Institute of Animal-Assisted Interventions, serves on the editorial board of People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice, and is on the editorial board of the magazine GREEN CARE, Switzerland.

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