LEARNING THROUGH UNDERSTANDING
At the Y, we strive to create a space where everyone feels supported and valued. Our staff and childcare team work hard to help young people understand that each person’s experience is different — and that kindness and patience go a long way.
Jordyn Pope, Director of Childcare at Northwest Valley Family YMCA, is passionate about helping children recognize that some challenges aren’t always visible.
“You may not see them, you may not understand them, you may not know it… but everyone is a human being, and everyone has something they carry.”
Jordyn brings her own personal experiences to her role, offering a unique perspective that encourages empathy and awareness. With her service dog, Phoenix, by her side, she’s helping to lead important conversations in ways that are engaging and accessible for children and families alike.
What is a Service Dog?
Jordyn and her service dog, Phoenix, are a one-of-a-kind team — helping others understand what a service dog is, the kinds of tasks they can perform, and why it’s important to treat these dogs with respect and care.
Service dogs are trained to assist with specific medical needs, and getting one isn’t easy. The waitlist can be several years long, and the cost can reach up to $40,000 due to the high level of specialized training required. These dogs are more than companions — they’re working animals trained to complete tasks that support a person’s daily life.
For example, service dogs might:
Retrieve specific items on command
Alert someone to a medical episode before it happens
Remind someone to complete important daily routines
Phoenix, the beloved service dog at Northwest Valley Family YMCA, is trained to help Jordyn in some incredible ways. She provides calming pressure during anxious moments, recognizes early signs of distress, and can even act as an alarm clock when needed. Each of these tasks supports Jordyn’s daily well-being and helps her stay on track.
Another key difference? Service dogs are trained for one person — they’re not meant for general emotional comfort or interaction. That’s why Jordyn teaches others, especially kids, how to respectfully behave around service dogs. No petting, no distracting, and no questions like, “Why do you have a dog?” — those kinds of interactions can interfere with the dog’s ability to help.
It’s also important to know that service dogs have legal access to public spaces so they can remain with the person they’re trained to support. While they don’t need a visible badge or certificate, the handler is expected to carry relevant documentation, including proof of training and any necessary medical records.
Most people don’t realize that distracting a service dog while it’s working can be a serious offense — in some cases, even a federal one. That’s why part of Jordyn’s mission is education: helping others, especially kids, understand the proper way to interact with service animals and why their focus is so important.
Service Dog Lessons
One of the first things you’ll notice when walking into Northwest Valley Family YMCA (aside from our smiling front desk staff, of course) is a poster letting everyone know there’s a service dog in the building.
For Jordyn, that poster does more than inform — it lets parents know their children will be learning about service dogs and the important roles they play. Most of all, it reminds everyone that Phoenix is a working dog, and that she should never be interrupted, petted, or distracted while doing her job.
Jordyn has found all kinds of creative ways to teach children about service dogs — including storybooks, coloring pages, and live demonstrations of Phoenix’s tasks. Her goal is to help kids grow up with more awareness, empathy, and understanding.
“Knowing that I’m teaching children to be kind, thoughtful, and supportive of others — that means everything to me. I’m helping them carry lessons into adulthood that many people don’t get the chance to learn. We don’t always see what someone else might be going through, but we can choose to treat each other with care.”
Together, Jordyn and Phoenix help spark meaningful conversations and open minds — reminding us all that every person has their own story, and everyone deserves compassion and respect.
The Y Impact
Jordyn currently teaches service dog lessons at her home branch, Northwest Valley Family YMCA, and is working toward expanding the program across additional branches throughout the valley.
Looking ahead, Jordyn hopes to grow into a leadership role where she can guide staff in working with youth who have unique needs and help create an environment where everyone feels better equipped to understand and support one another.
She’s also encouraged by how conversations around personal well-being are becoming more open and hopes to keep moving those efforts forward.
“It’s just a lot easier and kinder if we treat everyone as our friend.”
“The Y changed the trajectory of my entire life, not just my career”, Director of Childcare Jordyn Pope.
To learn more about our childcare programs, visit our website.
Rebecca Varney, Community Relations Coordinator, Valley of the Sun YMCA, striving to tell your #WhyTheY story.
