Veterans are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than members of the general community. PTSD can be a debilitating disorder that negatively impacts quality of life, physical functioning and general wellbeing. However, effective psychological therapy and other treatments are available.

In recent years, psychiatric assistance dogs have emerged as an effective adjunct therapy for veterans with persistent PTSD. These specially trained assistance dogs can support veterans to recover by detecting distress and performing specific tasks to help alleviate symptoms. Since 2019, DVA has provided eligible and suitable veterans with access to assistance dogs through the Psychiatric Assistance Dog (PAD) Program. As part of this program, the veteran is matched with an assistance dog, and both veteran and dog are trained so they can achieve the veteran’s clinical recovery goals together. The bond and partnership between veteran and dog are regularly checked as are their ongoing health, safety, and wellbeing.

DVA engaged AHA to develop an evaluation framework and an accompanying 5-year implementation road map to guide future evaluations of the PAD Program.

Our development of these documents was informed by:

• a rapid literature review
• a document review and gap analysis
• a review of the program logic
• stakeholder consultations.

The evaluation framework and implementation road map will enable DVA to determine whether the PAD Program is delivering the expected outcomes and to identify opportunities for program improvements.