Pediatric Facility Dog Handler & Clinical Assistant

Cincinnati Children's Office of Academic Affairs and Career Development; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Cincinnati Children’s is seeking a Clinical Assistant/Facility Dog Handler for Pediatric Behavioral Health to integrate a professionally trained facility dog into care settings and support patient goals. The role emphasizes trauma-informed interventions and collaboration with the Child Life Program.

The candidate will ensure animal welfare, maintain documentation, and participate in staff wellbeing initiatives while working across interdisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Divinity, Psychology, Social Work, or related field.
• Experience in pediatric behavioral health or trauma-informed care.
• Strong interpersonal and de-escalation skills.
• Experience with animal-assisted interventions or facility dog programs.
• Experience supporting staff wellbeing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Clinical & Therapeutic Support: Facilitate goal-directed patient interactions that support emotional regulation, anxiety reduction, and engagement in care and therapy.
• Partner with behavioral health clinicians to integrate the dog into care plans where appropriate.
• Apply trauma-informed practices in all patient interactions.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

De-escalation skills

Trauma-informed care

Animal-assisted interventions

Staff wellbeing support

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Divinity, Psychology, Social Work, or related field

Job description

Cincinnati Children’s is seeking a Clinical Assistant/Facility Dog Handler for Pediatric Behavioral Health to integrate a professionally trained facility dog into care settings and support patient goals. The role emphasizes trauma-informed interventions and collaboration with the Child Life Program.

The candidate will ensure animal welfare, maintain documentation, and participate in staff wellbeing initiatives while working across interdisciplinary teams.