Crisis Canines of the Midlands was founded with a vision of helping to coordinate and fund the training, care, equipping, certification and deployment of Crisis Response K9 teams in the state of Iowa. Training is specialized for the First Responder world – ready to respond with little to no notice, providing a calm, comforting presence in the face of intense emotion, grief, and even chaos. Through fundraising efforts, agencies are often able to implement a new Crisis Response K9 team at little to no cost to their department, relieving the budgetary limitations that often play into a decision about adding such a valuable resource. Once certified, these specially trained teams of First Responders and their canine partners are capable of serving at many levels, from providing peer support for other First Responders, to responding to critical incidents within their communities or across the state, providing aid to the individuals or groups of people in the aftermath of crime, casualty or disaster, and educating their communities about the importance of mental wellness.