July 2019 by Karen Walsh, CAWA, LVMT, CFE, Director of Animal Relocation, ASPCA

Audience: Executive Leadership, Shelter/Rescue Staff & Volunteers, Veterinary Team

Video Length: 48:28

A daily challenge for animal welfare organizations is creating and keeping a productive team of staff and volunteers. Constant turnover damages the integrity of the organization as highly trained individuals burn out and are replaced over and over. Learning to assess and identify the symptoms of compassion stress in self and others is a crucial management tool.

Recognizing compassion fatigue triggers and early warning signs is crucial so that intervention is possible before another valued team member is lost. Creating organizational rituals that build and support coping skills plays a key role in creating a culture of compassion satisfaction.

During this two-part workshop, viewers learn how to measure the negative and positive effects of working in a mission driven caring profession. Utilizing the PROQOL (Professional Quality of Life) as the measurement tool for both short-term and long-term well-being assessment, the viewer learns how to balance work and play to help themselves and their team become healthy, productive and effective.

This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

View Part 1 of 2.

About Karen Walsh

Karen S Walsh, CAWA, LVMT, CFE is the Director of Animal Relocation for the ASPCA and the former executive director of the McKamey Animal Center in Chattanooga, TN. She graduated from Blue Ridge in Virginia with a degree in veterinary technology and has achieved designations as a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator and a Certified Compassion Fatigue Educator. Karen has held leadership positions in both veterinary and animal welfare organizations and was appointed to serve on the Tennessee state Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. Karen lives in Tennessee with her husband, Tom, their four children and a menagerie of furry and feathered family members on their small, but beautiful farm.