The Compassionate Carefarm Coalition is dedicated to training individuals and communities in the implementation and expansion of a community-based care model based on the Regenerative Health Social Model (RHSM: Cacciatore & Gorman, 2016). This model, an alternative to the current 'mental health' (and other) systems, is designed to support individuals and families facing psychological and emotional distress while simultaneously caring for farmed animals rescued from harm. Through environmentally conscious care programs, we teach and foster the transformative power of nature, human-animal connections, and compassionate support, providing safe, peaceful spaces for healing, reflection, and renewal.
The RHSM—defined by Cacciatore (2019) as “a place where the biological, emotional, spiritual, and social self encounters opportunities for renewal through health, emotional safety, and compassionate connections within and between species and the earth." The RHSM emphasizes community practices focused on self-awareness, mindfulness, and compassion-focused care. By engaging these practices, we help both humans and animals reconnect with their true selves and experience healing through support and compassion. Founded by the MISS Foundation’s Selah Carefarm, the Compassionate Carefarm Coalition carries forward the legacy of the world’s first carefarm for traumatic bereavement, featured in Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry's docuseries "The Me You Can't See" (episode 4), and was established in 2016. Serving tens of thousands of individuals in their darkest hours, we are committed to guiding and empowering coalition members to implement and adapt the RHSM model across diverse communities around the world. This model pushes back against the current systems of care which we believe are harming more than helping. Importantly, our work does not medicalize or pathologize traumatic stress, psychological distress, or bereavement experiences. Rather, we provide supportive care that helps people- and animals and the planet- build the emotional muscle they need to cope with adversity or catastrophe.
The Compassionate Carefarm Coalition envisions a world where the healing power of nature, human-animal connection, and compassionate support create a global network of carefarms dedicated to nurturing emotional and psychological well-being for all. Through the widespread adoption of the Regenerative Health Social Model (RHSM; Cacciatore, 2015, 2020, 2017), we aim to empower communities around the world to provide transformative care for individuals and families navigating trauma, grief, and hardship—while simultaneously caring for nonhuman animals rescued from harm and the earth. We envision a future where every person, regardless of their life challenges and catastrophic loss, has access to a safe and supportive space that fosters emotional safety, promotes well-being, and nurtures compassionate connections. By integrating awareness, mindfulness, and compassionate care practices, we create environments where both humans and nonhumans can heal together, reconnecting with their true selves and the earth. Our coalition is committed to training and mentoring leaders, facilitating a global movement of carefarms that embrace the principles of RHSM to help restore hope, dignity, and healing for all beings. Together, we will cultivate spaces of renewal, compassion, and community, creating a world where compassion happens not just within individuals but across species and ecosystems.
Member organizations of the Compassionate Carefarm Coalition stand apart from other care farms, farms, and ranches. Each organization has completed our comprehensive educational training and committed to following our evidence-based model, grounded in scientific research published in peer-reviewed journals. These carefarms have dedicated themselves to fostering compassion for people, animals, and the planet. Each carefarm in our coalition serves a specific population. For example, the Selah Carefarm, just outside Sedona, Arizona, serves those who are traumatically bereaved.