Companions for Courage Inc
Help make the sad things seem not so bad
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Through no fault of their own the child has endured some tough times. Someone they trusted hurt them. Today the child will sit in an unfamiliar room coming face to face with the person that harmed them while sharing their private story with strangers. This ordeal is extremely traumatic. Companions for Courage was created to help children in these stressful circumstances by providing therapy dogs to give comfort and courage.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Companions for Courage
Our volunteers and their therapy dogs help to give courage to child victims of abuse by escorting them into the courtroom where the therapy dog sits with the child in the witness box.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of Groups requesting our services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Companions for Courage
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
"Groups" are judicial circuit courts and youth detention centers.
Number of children who have had one volunteer the entirety of the case.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Companions for Courage
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We always try to keep the same team throughout the entire case.
Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Due to Covid our volunteer hours are way down for 2020
Number of trained volunteer dog-and-handler teams
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We endeavor to increase the number of teams in response to requests for services. Strict requirements limit number of team applicants we can accept.
Number of site visits by dog-and-handler teams.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Due to Covid most of our sites were closed.
Number of Depositions attended by Therapy Dog/Handler Teams
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Companions for Courage
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Companions for Courage (incorporated in 2012) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization serving Central Florida. Our group of volunteer handlers with their extraordinary therapy dogs provide support, encouragement, and comfort to children under unpleasant and uncomfortable circumstances. Children and young adults who present and listen to testimony during court proceedings and depositions; who participate in counseling sessions and interviews; and who must speak of other traumatic events benefit from the presence of our Companions dogs.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We are the only therapy dog organization approved to work with the 5th, 9th, 10th and 18th State of Florida Judicial Circuit Courts and Guardian ad Litems. The courts recognize that children are frightened to enter a courtroom alone, in the presence of strangers and the person who harmed them, and be asked to recount painful details of their traumatic experience. Our Companion dogs help them get through it. Companions for Courage never turns away an opportunity to help a child be courageous. All our services are free of charge.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The teams are registered with a national pet therapy organization. They are required to have actively worked as a therapy dog team participating in animal assisted activities, particularly with children, for a minimum of two years before joining Companions for Courage. Handlers undergo a background and finger print check upon application. The dog undergoes a behavioral assessment while the handler is subjected to a rigorous interview that incorporates protected, but actual, testimony by an abused victim. The dog and the handler must pass their respective assessment and interview before being invited to join our elite group. Our teams are covered by liability insurance. Handlers are required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Companions for Courage has been in operation since 2012 and continue to receive requests from new organizations and legal entities in Central Florida.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Companions for Courage Inc
Board of directorsas of 06/16/2021
Mrs Joanne Rittenhouse
Companions for Courage
Term: 2015 -
Mary Nardi
Companions for Courage
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Not applicable -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data