Rancho Cordova is home to a truly innovative form of recreational therapy- bird therapy. Located in Rancho, but serving the greater Sacramento Valley, Child in Flight offers recreational therapy to schools, teen programs residential programs, and occasionally in private homes, all with the help of our feathered friends. The program is strongly focused in recreational therapy and behavior modification for people with disabilities, though they also go to local elementary schools to introduce students to what the birds do.

The head volunteer (as the program in completely run by a volunteer staff of 6) is Barbie Mares. Barbie has been a fan of birds for years but realized the healing power interacting with birds could have after a friend brought her mentally disabled child that had some behavior concerns to her for some play time with her cockatiel. In time, there was a complete turn around in the child as her anger and aggression faded away. From this, the Child in Flight program was born. When asked what about the birds is so effective, Barbie replied “The birds are very calming for kids with disabilities. Birds have no opinions, no judgments of the kids”. The birds are able to provide a safe place where children can just be children and over time gain confidence and control. What started as a part time hobby has blossomed after 3 years into a very full time program as more families and schools are realizing the benefits of bird therapy.

Because people have a little less money this year, especially with the holidays around the corner, Child in Flight is feeling the pinch like everyone else. The program is run by volunteers and Barbie provides the upkeep for the 300 birds in the program. The volunteers are often already active in the field of behavior therapy, so passion for the program is not lacking. Barbie is always on the look out for new birds to add to the program and reminds us that the birds are specially trained to be working with the groups they do. The therapy birds go through a 3 month quarantine where they spend the first couple weeks getting used to new people and new surroundings then the next couple months are spent learning to be comfortable with the many machines, equipment and loud noises that are often heard on the job.

Child in Flight is happy to have guests at many of their sessions and recommends that families, schools and groups that are interested should contact them if they are interested in sitting in on a session. This might not be appropriate for everyone in need of recreational therapy, but the program has seen amazing results in the lives of many people. The program is free, though donations in the form of bird food, toys or monetary donations are always accepted. For more information or to make an appointment to sit in on a session, call Barbie at 916-247-2596.