The Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) is an internationally recognized center for research and training in the varied facets of human-animal interaction across the lifespan.



IHAC is devoted to the education, clinical training and scholarly development of social work graduate students interested in:

-The myriad ways in which animals and people intersect across the lifespan and across various contexts,

-The ways that animal-supported experiences may be incorporated into efforts to promote human and animal well-being and reduce human physical and mental health problems,

-Encouraging and empowering people to gain understanding of the interrelationships among themselves, their families, and their communities, including the natural environment and its non-human inhabitants.

Housed in the University of Denver's Graduate School of Social Work, IHAC is a respected source of scientific and scholarly information on human-animal connections within the fields of social work and social sciences.