Join us tomorrow, October 21 at 11AM PT/2PM ET for the latest Maddie’s Community Conversations, “Meeting People Where They Are: Building a Community-Based Pet Support Program” with Meg McAdam, founder and president of Human and Pet Initiative (HAPI). She will share what HAPI has learned about building trust, developing partnerships, and creating a practical outreach model that helps keep people and their pets together—and pets out of shelters.

Many families who love and care for their pets are separated from animal well-being and veterinary resources by barriers that have little to do with their willingness to provide care. Transportation, cost, housing instability, communication challenges, and simply not knowing where to turn can make even existing resources inaccessible.

Human and Pet Initiative (HAPI) takes a community-based approach to closing those gaps. Through regular outreach in Oakland’s homeless encampments, transitional and supportive housing, and marginalized communities, HAPI brings preventive care and pet resources directly to people while building relationships that allow the organization to identify needs, connect families with existing services, and provide follow-up and continuity over time.

Key Takeaways:

• Having resources available doesn’t mean people can access them. Effective intake prevention requires understanding and addressing the barriers that keep people from getting the help they need.
• Consistent community presence builds relationships that make prevention possible. Meeting people where they are and returning over time allows organizations to identify needs earlier, provide follow-up, and connect families with resources before a crisis results in surrender or separation.
• Small organizations do not have to provide every service themselves. Strategic partnerships with shelters, veterinary providers, and human-service organizations can expand access dramatically when someone takes responsibility for connecting the pieces and providing continuity.

This webcast has been approved for CAWA and NACA continuing education credit. All registrants will receive an email a day after the webcast with information on on how to access a certificate of attendance.  And don’t forget, Maddie’s Fund will be awarding up to $10,000 in grants each month!

Register now for Community Conversations.