Calm Companions: A Mindful Partnership for Arizona Youth
Calm Companions: A Mindful Partnership for Arizona Youth
Gabriel’s Angels is proud to announce a successful pilot of Calm Companions: Integrating Mindfulness into Pet Therapy, an innovative new collaboration developed with Mindfulness First.
Originally, teachers were nervous about students missing class time this close to state testing. Now they are so excited to see their students go to the sessions because they are seeing the impact on reducing stress and anxiety for the students and that they have the tools they need to manage big emotions. When staff drop in to watch, they have only positive things to share about it.
– Principal Sean Hannafin
A New Approach to Healing for Arizona Youth
This new collaborative approach with our partners at Mindfulness First blends the proven benefits of pet therapy with trauma-informed mindfulness practices. Designed specifically for youth in Arizona schools, Calm Companions addresses a critical and growing need: supporting the emotional and mental well-being of children who are facing adversity, stress, or trauma.
Through Calm Companions, Gabriel’s Angels’ volunteer Pet Therapy Teams – each consisting of a therapy animal and their human companion – are paired with a trained Mindfulness First facilitator to co-lead weekly group sessions. These sessions combine calming animal interaction with evidence-based mindfulness activities that help children regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and build resilience.
Real-Life Impact: Moments of Connection and Growth
The Calm Companions pilot has already shown meaningful impact for Arizona youth – both emotionally and behaviorally.
One student in the group with Volunteer Nicole and Therapy Dog Luisa shared that her brother didn’t believe she saw a dog at school every week because dogs aren’t allowed at school. Mr. Rodway, the school social worker, invited the brother to join the session.
Once inside the mindfulness room, the young student revealed he was having trouble earning his daily behavior points – a challenge that often affected his school experience. Fully embracing the core strengths of the program, Nicole and the group went through an impromptu mindfulness-based problem-solving activity. The older students began encouraging and mentoring the younger brother, offering advice and support. The moment became a powerful demonstration of peer empathy, leadership, and emotional safety – all anchored by the calming presence of little Luisa.
Moments like these reflect what facilitators have consistently observed throughout the pilot: students are learning to connect, regulate, and reflect. Opening each session with mindfulness helps students shift out of their busy day and become more present, and the introduction of pet therapy adds emotional warmth and relational connection, making the content more memorable and meaningful. The integration of Gabriel’s Angels and Mindfulness First lessons created a cohesive, adaptable framework that could flex to meet the unique needs of each group.
In fact, many students began applying the program’s tools outside of class – bringing mindfulness techniques to moments of stress or recalling weekly lessons during times of emotional challenge. 70% reported they use the social-emotional skills they learned either every day or a few times a week. The program’s emotional impact was clear: students became more open, confident, and connected as a direct result of participating.
“For me, it was a whole new experience working with pets and pet therapy like that. It brought so much to the students…and to see them interact with the animals and all of those amazing team building and activities that Gabriel’s Angels did was just really special.”
– Andra Prager, Mindfulness Coach with Mindfulness First
Building Trauma-Informed Capacity
Gabriel’s Angels has also been hard at work enhancing our internal capacity by integrating trauma-informed care training across our team of staff and volunteers. This ensures every participant in our pet therapy programs, including the Calm Companions program, receives thoughtful, compassionate support grounded in understanding the effects of trauma.
“We are deeply grateful for those who have supported making this visionary partnership possible. Calm Companions represents an exciting step forward in how we serve Arizona’s youth – by surrounding them with tools, support, and relationships that foster healing and long-term well-being.”
– Gabriel’s Angels CEO Melissa Steimer
We believe that combining the unconditional love of a therapy animal with the calming skills of mindfulness creates something powerful – and thanks to generous grant funds from supporters like the Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona, we’re bringing that power to more children across Arizona.
