Emotional Support Animals: An Overview of Practical and Legal Issues for Social Workers

Address correspondence to Sur Ah Hahn, Department of Social Work, Western Carolina University, 4121 Little Savannah Road, Cullowhee, NC 28723; e-mail: sahahn@wcu.edu.

Search for other works by this author on: Jennifer Hinton , Jennifer Hinton associate professor and recreational therapy program director, Western Carolina University , Cullowhee, NC Search for other works by this author on: Ann Hallyburton Ann Hallyburton associate professor and research and instruction librarian, Western Carolina University , Cullowhee, NC Search for other works by this author on:

Health & Social Work, Volume 45, Issue 4, November 2020, Pages 276–283, https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlaa024

13 December 2020 08 April 2019 Revision received: 24 July 2019 Editorial decision: 06 August 2019 06 August 2019 13 December 2020

Cite

Sur Ah Hahn, Jennifer Hinton, Ann Hallyburton, Emotional Support Animals: An Overview of Practical and Legal Issues for Social Workers, Health & Social Work, Volume 45, Issue 4, November 2020, Pages 276–283, https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlaa024

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Abstract

Limited literature exists to guide social workers in the effective and ethical use of emotional support animals (ESAs) in practice. This article deals with practical issues these professionals face in dealing with requests for ESA authorization. The article provides an overview of relevant U.S. regulations (as of mid-2019) governing housing, travel, workplaces, and higher education; examines the uses, efficacy, and special concerns regarding ESAs; and presents recommendations for the use of ESAs in social work practice. Ethical implications for social workers dealing with client assessment and ESA authorization are discussed. The authors also address the intrinsic nature of human and ESA well-being and its relevance to client-centered social work practice. In addition, the authors discuss opportunities for incorporating ESAs into social work education.

© 2020 National Association of Social Workers

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