A Pioneering Model for Trauma-Informed Youth Care in New England
Vermont Business Magazine This fall, the Vermont Permanency Initiative (VPI), a residential treatment program in Bennington for youth who have experienced complex trauma, will open a dedicated on-site equine facility—making it one of the only integrated programs of its kind in New England.
This new addition transforms VPI’s equine work from an off-site activity into a fully embedded part of daily programming for youth ages 11–21. With a focus on both equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) and equine-assisted learning (EAL), the initiative reflects VPI’s commitment to experiential, trauma-responsive care.
“This on-campus facility reflects a major step forward in how we provide consistent, integrated support to our youth,” said Paige Canalini, LICSW, Executive Director and Clinical Director of VPI. “These sessions offer safe, non-verbal opportunities for connection, reflection, and growth—whether we’re supporting emotional regulation or building practical life skills.”
Unlike traditional therapy models, EAP involves structured sessions with a licensed clinician and incorporates trauma-focused practices. EAL, by contrast, emphasizes communication, responsibility, and problem-solving through farm-based learning. Together, they provide a powerful toolkit for youth development and healing.
Designed with therapeutic goals in mind, the new facility includes open pastures, a stable, and a riding ring—each space intentionally built to foster trust and engagement between participants and horses.
“This is about more than horses,” added Canalini. “It’s about giving youth the space to discover their strengths, build confidence, and reconnect with a sense of safety. For many of our youth, this will be the first time they experience that kind of steady, healing relationship.”
VPI’s equine programming is tailored to adolescent girls and gender-expansive youth in a residential, public-sector treatment setting—an approach unique within the Northeast.
The facility is scheduled to open in Fall 2025, with programming beginning immediately afterward.
For more information, visit www.vermontpermanencyinitiative.org.
Source: Bennington, VT (May 12, 2025)—Vermont Permanency Initiative
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