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Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

  • 1.  Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-09-2025 08:20 AM

    Updated 9/15/25 at 2:15 pm - Recording now available to watch on-demand!

    Enter here for a chance to win the September Community Conversations giveaway after watching live or on-demand.

    Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund. 

    We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, September 15, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community," a presentation by @Jenna Topper, City of Sacramento Front Street Animal Shelter's Homeless Outreach and Assistance Program Coordinator. 

    In the Homeless Outreach and Assistance Program (HOAP) at Front Street Animal Shelter in City of Sacramento, they have learned that valuing and practicing trauma-informed care is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing commitment. This session will share how the HOAP team works to support people experiencing homelessness and their pets by meeting them where they are, building trust, and prioritizing equity in access to care. Together, we will reflect honestly on the challenges of practicing trauma-informed care within an already strained shelter system, and the ways we are still learning and striving to do better. Attendees will leave with practical insights into how centering trauma-informed care can strengthen relationships, preserve the human-animal bond, and create more compassionate, sustainable outreach models. 


    Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month!     Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

    Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

    🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
    We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

    Looking forward to being in community with you! 


    #AccesstoCare
    #CommunityPartnerships*
    #Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
    #EducationandTraining
    #FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
    #PetSupportServices*

    ------------------------------
    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
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  • 2.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-15-2025 12:05 PM

    Thanks to our speaker, @Jenna Topper, and everyone who joined us today! 


    We would love to hear from you in response to today's reflection question: How might your current outreach or service approach change if building trust was prioritized over immediate outcomes?



    ------------------------------
    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
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  • 3.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-15-2025 02:16 PM

    Lasting results- meaning pushing for an immediate outcome usually is meeting the "in the moment" need, but if we can take a step back to look at the bigger picture, earn someone's trust to tell us more for us to assist as well learn from. This can help an individual make a bigger step forward for themselves, for their pet, and even those helping see the bigger issue to make bigger results (or preventative changes). 



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    Cassie Boyle
    CAP Clinic Supervisor
    St Vincent dr Paul
    AZ
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-27-2025 11:10 AM

    I think it's about learning in the moment and being responsive and intentional versus just being reactive without regard for others. In the short-term, we learn to be human with each other but I think we learn soft skills that enable us to collaborate and communicate better. In the long term, I think the possibilities are endless - trust, relationships, and real conversations that support each other and all the animals as well. In a community that is so fast paced, it's easy to forget the emotions involved. Things move so quickly and it's easy to forget or ignore the emotions, I think there needs to be a balance of logic, understanding, and emotions to build long-lasting relationships more effectively.



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    Kendra Swindler
    Grants Lead
    RESCUEDohio
    OH
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-15-2025 12:13 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat: 

    "Do you have a free Training resource you would recommend for Unconscious Bias, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to offer to our staff members?" - @Debra Drexler



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    Community Conversations
    Community Conversations Committee
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
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  • 6.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-17-2025 11:59 AM

    https://www.nonprofitready.org/unconscious-bias-training

    https://www.nonprofitready.org/unconscious-bias-training


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    Susin Garcia
    Founder
    Straytegies
    NY
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-22-2025 10:31 PM

    https://learning.theaawa.org/products/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-training-opportunities

    Hi Debra, I would recommend checking our DEI trainings through Association for Animal Welfare Advancement! :) 



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    Jenna Topper
    Homeless Outreach Coordinator
    Front Street Animal Shelter
    CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-15-2025 12:14 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat: 

    "If/when you encounter a dog is in a very bad situation, are you able to remove the dog?" - @Debra DeVries



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    Community Conversations
    Community Conversations Committee
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
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  • 9.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-22-2025 10:32 PM

    This is a great question. In a circumstance where we may see a pet in a "bad situation", our HOAP team would first inquire with the Owner if it is perhaps a lack of resources or knowledge that may be contributing, to which we would try to work with the Owner to understand expectations and offer what support we can to get them there. In a circumstance where we've already attempted to inquire and offer support, and the concern evolves to potential neglect or cruelty, we would notify our Animal Control Officer team to respond accordingly. Our HOAP team does not cease animals, though, in some cases, we can assist with Owner Surrenders if it's requested/agreed upon by the Owner that it's the best outcome for the pet. This is where motivational interviewing skills would help supplement the need to ever involve Animal Control. In most circumstances, we do not get involved with law compliance issues unless the relationship we have with the Owner is particularly helpful in navigating a hard situation or if our services can directly support the Owner in reaching compliance. Happy to talk about this more if you are interested!  



    ------------------------------
    Jenna Topper
    Homeless Outreach Coordinator
    Front Street Animal Shelter
    CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-15-2025 12:15 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat: 

    "You said you saw increased positive outcomes. What was your strategy pre-HOAP?" - @Drew Domalick



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    Community Conversations
    Community Conversations Committee
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
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  • 11.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-22-2025 10:32 PM

    Hi Drew, our strategy pre-HOAP was a combination of a few different offerings that we still have to the present - Free Community Vaccine Clinics to support access to preventative care for ALL community members, Vet Funding assistance program with our Non-Profit "Friends of" org to prevent owner surrenders cause by financial burden, and lastly, Owner Surrenders for medical treatment with intent to return to owner if/when medically cleared. Our HOAP program really allowed us to be more proactive and intentional with our efforts, which helped build trust, the key ingredient to long-term successful outcomes with the community we serve. 



    ------------------------------
    Jenna Topper
    Homeless Outreach Coordinator
    Front Street Animal Shelter
    CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-15-2025 12:15 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat: 

    "I'm curious about if you observe and/or have interactions with people who are using and how does your staff navigate this? Does your staff have any best practices for this? Do you get trained on using Narcan?" - @Christina Veloz



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    Community Conversations
    Community Conversations Committee
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-22-2025 10:32 PM

    Great questions. We are currently working with our city to formalize Narcan training internally with the team. With that said, while it's not embedded as a formal training yet, members of our team have been independently trained, and we always have Narcan available and have had to use it before for drug intoxication in pets. We are exposed to folks using or interacting with folks who have used. In these circumstances, we make it clear that we are there for the pet and not there to judge. If people want to share about substance use as it may relate to their pet, we will engage, but otherwise, we make sure it's clear that we are not concerned about what people are doing unless it comes at a safety risk to themselves, their neighbors, their pets, or our staff. In circumstances where a pet may have consumed drugs, we would engage more directly about drug usage purely for the pet's best interest (Ie, inquiring with Owner about type of drug so we can inform the vet). In circumstances where someone may be wanting drug rehab support or withdrawal support, I would direct them to the appropriate people services accordingly. These are obviously complicated situations -  would be happy to talk more on the nuances of this via phone! 



    ------------------------------
    Jenna Topper
    Homeless Outreach Coordinator
    Front Street Animal Shelter
    CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-15-2025 03:44 PM
      |   view attached

    Thanks to the 125+ people and paws who joined us on today's Community Conversations call! The recording is now available to watch on-demand. Below you'll find a recap of today's call and the resources shared. 

    Call Recap

    Welcome from hosts


    Question of the Day: What does "meeting someone where they are" mean to you-whether in your work, your community, or your personal life?

    • "It means meeting them without applying our own inherent biases - not judging them, but trying to see the world through their eyes." - Kansas Humane Society
    • "To me it means, understanding their emotional state -- being empathetic." - Ann McCague
    • "Nonjudgemental listening, and shaping our communication to the next step for them today" - Mike Moore
    • "Meeting someone where they are" means to attune to someone else's experience and listening deeply to them." - Sharon Vincuilla
    • "Talking to people with empathy." - Drew Domalick
    • "Trying to help them without judgement; listening even if they disagree and trying to help the best you can within their comfort zone to start" - Katy Herman 
    • "Not expecting someone to be operating how you think they should be, but what makes the most sense for them and their circumstances" - Kristina Knutson
    • "Having an open mind and approach to how you interact and help someone else" - Megan Winansq 
    • "Understanding their needs and emotions even if you don't agree with them. Knowing that your experience is not universal and that everyone is coming from different places.." - Amber Eby
    • "Respecting them even if they have different experiences." - Katy Herman 
    • "Getting to know the person, background, needs, knowledge." - Katrinka Ruk
    • "Great question. For me, it's not putting my beliefs or opinions on them - listen and let the other person tell you what is going on." - Allison Cardona
    • "Acceptance and communication for their situation without trying to change anything." - Tresba Rivera
    • "Understanding where they are coming from and the abilities that they currently have. Not where they were in the past, not their potential, but their current capacity." - KaDee Andreasen 
    • "Relating to people in the environment that they are in so you can relate to them on their level." - Ernest Hagan
    • "I'm a social worker by day, so meeting someone where they are is a core principle meaning to be understanding of an individual and going at their pace. In rescue, it has a similar meaning to me to hold the space with an individual as we assist in educating people on rescue and fostering." - Victoria Begler
    • "Recognizing challenges and listening nonjudgmentally and address problems as they are not as we think they should be." - Kristen Petrie
    • "Having empathy to understand where they are, not judging, listen and help how you can so they understand to give them options." - Debra Drexler
    • "Taking the time to slow down and have a conversation with someone to get to know them better - build on a relationship - to know what their experiences are, where their interests lie and help them connect at the point that they are most comfortable." - Patti Denny
    • "Meeting people where they are at....listening and hearing what motivates them and what brings them purpose without non judgement. Everyone has a story." - Christina Veloz
    • "Stepping back and understanding the person in front of you- we are all human regardless of the pieces." - Cassie Boyle
    • "Being open when meeting people, listening first." - Sharon Fletcher
    • "Be kind.  Don't judge." - Mary Ippoliti-Smith
    • "Understanding people are doing the best they can with the information they have, be curious." - Shelley Joaquin
    • "I'm really big at meeting people where they're at. I'm on the board at a crisis pregnancy center and people often don't realize that just taking the time to listen to someone and help them out at the stage they're currently in goes such a long way." - Hannah Blackwelder
    • "Meeting someone at work or animal rescue means automatically liking them right off the bat because of like-minds. A more relaxing start of communication." - Marion Barbato

    National Updates

    • Return-to-Field: Saving the Lives of Community Cats: This Saturday, Sept. 20 @ 2:00PM ET. Learn RTF policies, program mechanics, controversies, and how to combine RTF with TNR to reduce cat populations. Presented with Neighborhood Cats. Register here.
    •  Team Okanogan Animal Rescue and Greater Good Charities for Big Fix 4.0 - September 25-28 in Rural Washington state. Washington's largest FREE spay/neuter, vaccination, and microchip clinic! Over four days at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds, we'll provide vital services to 1,000+ cats and dogs, helping to reduce pet overpopulation and improve animal welfare in our community.
    • Maddie's Community Conversations Giveaway:  Now you can enter for a chance to win up to  $10,000!  Enter here for a chance to win.  Open to all who are watching live or on-demand! Be sure to enter each week you attend! You must be registered in Maddie's Pet Forum to enter. 
    • Maddie's Pet Forum Monthly Giveaway: Maddie's Fund® is giving away a $3,000 grant each month to one lucky Maddie's® Pet Forum member. You'll automatically be entered to win each month when you start a new discussion, reply to a new post.  https://maddies.fund/mpfmonthlygiveaway.
    • We would love to hear from you! Have an idea for Maddie's Community Conversations? Interested in hosting? Have a topic or speaker you would like to hear from? Let us know on Maddie's Pet Forum via the Community Conversations Suggestions discussion thread. Or, you can contact us directly by emailing CommunityConversations@maddiesfund.org. 
    • The celebration continues on Maddie's Pet Forum! In honor of Maddie's Fund's 30th anniversary, we're giving away $1,000 every other month, for engaging on a special anniversary-related post on Maddie's Pet Forum beginning August 1, 2025. Simply comment on this thread during August & September and you will be entered to win.

      #ThanksToMaddie


    Presentation: Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community  

    Highlights from the Chat

    • "These considerations are so important to connect with people. They can be a bridge to listening." - Lisa Pearce
    • "Love all the tangible examples of meeting people where they are - sitting on the ground, driving to their camps, calling out the windows - it's so literal!" - Amber Eby
    • "This information is powerful and a testament to your intentionality in building relationships and including everyone. " - Patti Denny
    • "Excellent idea re: microchipping and establishing an "extended family"!" - Debra DeVries
    • "Awesome job, Jenna!! You really know your stuff!!" - Christina Veloz
    • "Individuals are experts on their own lives! - Staycee Dains
    • "As a person with lived experience of homelessness and very negative interactions with animal welfare folk, this is so encouraging to see a major paradigm shift in the way vulnerable people are treated. Thank you." - Wanda Miller
    • "I love that this program helped us rehome an "unadoptable" dog - VERY protective - to another HOAP client who needed a protective dog to keep her safe from SA and other violence that she is likely to experience as a woman experiencing homelessness. Thank you, Jenna." - Staycee Dains
    • "Care is in Community. Beautifully said. Thank you!!" - Wendy Montanez
    • "Thank you for such a lovely, well-organized presentation on a much-needed topic." - April King
    • "Incredible content. 💜 As one who came from the human side of social services, I applaud your connecting the dots to benefit people and pets." - Lisa Pearce



    ------------------------------
    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: Community Conversations - 09/15/2025 - Meeting Pets and People Where They Are: Practicing Trauma-Informed Outreach in Sacramento's Unhoused Community

    Posted 09-17-2025 02:53 PM

    This is a really important topic, for so many reasons.  Clearly we should be sensitive and empathetic to those humans we are interacting with and/or trying to assist, but it occured to me that just as important is that while I'm not an animal behavioral specialist, I've certainly witnessed and observed that animal behavior is very much in tune with their human.  When you have a person in crisis, their animal is likely stressed and agitated as well -- and doesn't necessarily mean that they animal has behavioral problems.



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    Ann McCague
    Board Member
    Animal Protection Society - Friday Harbor
    WA
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