Everyone Is on the Behavior Team: How ASPCA’s eLearning Platform Broadens and Deepens Behavior Knowledge for Shelter Personnel

Abstract

The ASPCA is committed to the evolution and expansion of behavioral care for homeless animals. The organization disseminates knowledge and research through its Learning Lab, an educational program focused on integrating science-based behavioral care into all aspects of animal sheltering. As the Learning Lab program has evolved, the ASPCA has developed free eLearning resources to reach even more shelter professionals and continues to develop a national network of partner organizations that share learnings and best practices. The coursework centers around a core idea: Everyone Is on the Behavior Team. According to the ASPCA, this means that all staff and volunteers should feel responsible and empowered to support animals’ behavioral health in straightforward, actionable ways. More than 10,000 participants across more than 600 animal welfare organizations nationwide have sought the ASPCA’s expertise through in-person workshops, live panel discussions, and online courses focusing on animal behavioral health.