Pediatric Facility Dog Handler & Clinical Support

Cincinnati Children's; United States; On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; 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 pediatric care, supporting therapeutic goals and staff wellbeing.

The role, initially housed in the Child Life Program, will transition toward Spiritual Care, requiring flexible, interdisciplinary collaboration and adherence to animal welfare and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Experience in pediatric behavioral health or trauma-informed care.
• Strong interpersonal and de-escalation skills.
• Experience with animal-assisted interventions or facility dog programs.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate goal-directed patient interactions that support emotional regulation, anxiety reduction, and engagement in care.
• Partner with behavioral health clinicians to integrate the dog into care plans where appropriate.
• Apply trauma-informed practices in all patient interactions.
• Conduct structured staff support rounds and provide stress-reduction interventions.
• Collaborate with leadership on staff wellbeing initiatives.

Skills

Pediatric behavioral health

Trauma-informed care

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Divinity, Psychology, Social Work

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 pediatric care, supporting therapeutic goals and staff wellbeing.

The role, initially housed in the Child Life Program, will transition toward Spiritual Care, requiring flexible, interdisciplinary collaboration and adherence to animal welfare and safety standards.