Faculty Position at Tennessee

I just received a reminder from Gene Hayes that the faculty position is still open at the University of Tennessee. Below I have listed Gene's contact information in case you wish to learn more about the position -- and I've posted the job announcement:

Gene's contact info:
Gene A. Hayes, PhD, CTRS
Professor
Exercise, Sport & Leisure Studies
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-2700
(865) 974-1288
(865) 974-8918 - Fax
ghayes1@utk.edu

Job Announcement:
THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
Knoxville, Tennessee

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Position: Assistant Professor (Recreation and Leisure Studies) in the Department of Exercise, Sport and Leisure Studies (nine month tenure-track position beginning August 1, 2008)

Qualifications: Required: Earned Doctoral Degree in Recreation and/or Leisure Studies with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation by time of appointment. The applicant should have a commitment to developing a research agenda that contributes to the mission of the program area. The ability to engage in interdisciplinary collaborative efforts; effective interpersonal and communication skills. Desired: University teaching experience; community service; and national certification as CTRS and/or CPRP.

Responsibilities: Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in therapeutic recreation and the required core, advise undergraduate and graduate students and develop a line of scholarly inquiry that results in refereed publications; pursue external funding to support research, conduct applied work with special populations.

University: Designated a Carnegie doctoral/research extensive university, UT is the oldest, largest and most comprehensive institution of higher education in Tennessee. Academic programs on the Knoxville campus enroll approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 6,000 graduate students. Detailed information about the University of Tennessee may be obtained by visiting the Web site:
http://www.utk.edu.

Application Process: The review of the applications will begin February 1, 2008 and will continue until the position is filled. Submit a letter of application addressing the required and desired qualifications as stated in the position announcement, a curriculum vitae, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references to the chair of the search committee.

Contact Person: Direct all correspondence to: Dr. Dennie Kelley, RLS Search Committee Chair, Department of Exercise, Sport and Leisure Studies. 1914 Andy Holt Avenue. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-2700. (865)974-3340.Fax (865) 974-8981

Southeast RT Symposium July 16 - 18

Thom Skalko sent this message regarding the Southeast RT Symposium from Pam Wilson to me. I'm passing it along on the RT Blog:

Just a reminder the Southeast Recreational Therapy Symposium will be held July 16 -18 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This year's Symposium is titled SRTS 2008: New Vision for Recreational Therapy Service Delivery and will feature over 40 sessions. You are invitied to visit the SRTS website at www.musc.edu/srts and submit a Call For Papers. We look forward to seeing you in Tennessee!

Pamela Wilson, SRTS Board Member

Time to be Advocate and for Faculty to Involve RT Students

Professor Thom Skalko sent out the following message to other RT faculty to share how he gets his ECU students engaged as advocates and to take action in support of the Meidicare Access to Recreational Therapy Act. I thought it was worth posting on the RT Blog.

But the information can also be used by professionals in recreational therapy as a model to submit their own communications with to their representatives. I would urge every RT professonal to contact his or her representative about the Medicare Access to Recreational Therapy Act.

Here is the information sent out by Thom:

Colleagues:

In the Fall, I sent out communications that I was using to engage my students in the advocacy process. We NEED your assistance in continuing the effort to solicit co-sponsors for HR 4248, The Medicare Access to Recreational Therapy Act of 2007. I have attached a copy of the act and an example letter. I have also attached a spreadsheet with key congressional representatives on the House Ways and Means and Energy – Commerce and Health Committees.

I implore and encourage you and your students to become active in the process to ensure access to recreational therapy services. It is a great educational tool and a wonderful way for students to realize what grassroots advocacy is about.

Here is my basic approach:
1. I offer extra credit for students to either write a letter to their US Representative using the template attached or, if they are not comfortable writing a letter, I offer them an opportunity to get extra credit by writing a 2 page paper on advocacy.
2. I introduce them to the bill and discuss the highlights. (Let me know if I can assist).
3. I then walk them through how to find their representative using my lap top (hands on when in a wired classroom).
a. Go to www.house.gov to find your representative.
b. Click on Representatives link (left hand side).
c. Click on your state or scroll through the state listings. They either need to know their district (on voter registration card) or they can pretty quickly click on each to see district information.
d. Most have a way to “Contact Your Representative”. Simply click and type in your request. They can cut and past from the letter attached. I post the letter on my class Blackboard site or can send via email. I am also attaching the letter I sent to my representative for his support as an example.
e. The student can do this in class if your classroom is computer usable or do it at home and bring in their letter for credit.
f.If students want to see who has signed on to the bill as a co-sponsor, you can go to www.thomas.gov , enter HR 4248, click on the bill and the “Congressional Record Reference”. You will see dates and you can scroll down to HR 4248 under each date (it will be highlighted) and see who signed on at each update.

Here is the example letter composed by Thom:

January 26, 2008

The Honorable [Your Congressman’s Name]
Member of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20515

Re: Request to Cosponsor H.R. 4248

Dear Congressman [Your Congressman’s Name],

I am contacting you regarding H.R. 4248, the Ensuring Medicare Access To Recreational Therapy Act Of 2007, which was recently introduced by Representatives Tauscher (D-CA) and English (R-PA). H.R. 4248 will help ensure that Medicare inpatients receive rehabilitation therapy services when such services are prescribed by their doctors and warranted by their health condition.

[Write a short paragraph describing who you are, where you live, what you do and where you work.]

Recreational therapy (RT) is recognized as a skilled healthcare service that restores, remediates, and rehabilitates functional capacity in persons with injuries, chronic illnesses and disabilities. It is provided by a certified recreational therapists and is prescribed and supervised by a physician as part of an inpatient facility’s treatment plan for individual patients. However, beneficiary access to recreational therapy services in inpatient settings throughout the country is very inconsistent largely due to a lack of clarity in

However, beneficiary access to recreational therapy services in inpatient settings throughout the country is very inconsistent largely due to a lack of clarity in CMS’s regulations and manual provisions. This lack of clarity has created the widespread misconception that recreational therapy services are not covered in inpatient settings of care, despite the fact that CMS has repeatedly stated that they are both covered and included in existing payment systems. This is a budget neutral bill that does not add new services or additional costs to the Medicare program.

Congress has repeatedly requested CMS to clarify its recreational therapy policy to providers, but while CMS has responded to every congressional inquiry stating that recreational therapy is covered and included in existing payment systems, CMS has not communicated this same message to fiscal intermediaries, facility administrators, treating physicians in these settings, and other relevant entities. As a result, many of them are misinterpreting CMS guidance and denying recreational therapy, often out of concern for potential liability for fraud and abuse.

Public, formal clarification by CMS of recreational therapy coverage and payment policy in these inpatient settings, as directed by H.R. 4248, is all that is needed to ensure that Medicare inpatients who need recreational therapy services receive appropriate access to these vital rehabilitative therapies.

Please cosponsor H.R. 4248 to ensure that Medicare patients have consistent access to recreational therapy services. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Action Alert on ADA Hearing

I just received an action alert from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law regarding a hearing on restoring the ADA act. I pass it on for your consideration and possible action:

Next Tuesday, January 29th at 9:30am, the full House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on the ADA Restoration Act (H.R. 3195). All members need to hear the powerful testimony.

If your Representative is a member of the committee (see list below), please call
and urge him or her to attend the hearing in 2175 Rayburn House Office
Building. And if you can, try to attend yourself.

Please tell your Representative that restoring Congress' original intent for the
Americans with Disabilities Act is necessary to create an equal playing field for
people with disabilities and stop disability discrimination in the workplace and
elsewhere.

House Education and Labor Committee Members
Democrats:
George Miller, Chairman (CA-07)* (202) 225-2095
Dale E. Kildee (MI-05)* (202) 225-3611
Donald M. Payne (NJ-10)* (202) 225-3436
Robert E. Andrews (NJ-01)* (202) 225-6501
Robert C. (Bobby) Scott (VA-03)* (202) 225-6501
Lynn C.Woolsey (CA-06)* (202) 225-5161
Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15)* (202) 225-2531
Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04)* (202) 225-5516
John F. Tierney (MA-06) (202) 225-8020
Dennis J. Kucinich (OH-10)* (202) 225-5871
David Wu (OR-01)* (202) 225-0855
Rush D. Holt (NJ-12)* (202) 225-5801
Susan A. Davis (CA-53)* (202) 225-2040
Danny K. Davis (IL-07)* (202) 225-5006
Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07)* (202) 225-2435
Timothy H. Bishop (NY-01)* (202) 225-3826
Linda T. Sanchez (CA-39)* (202) 225-6676
John Sarbanes (MD-03)* (202) 225-4016
Joe Sestak (PA-07)* (202) 225-2011
Dave Loebsack (IA-02)* (202) 225-6576
Mazie Hirono (HI-02)* (202) 225-4906
Jason Altmire (PA-04)* (202) 225-2565
John Yarmuth (KY-03)* (202) 225-5401
Phil Hare (IL-17)* (202) 225-5905
Yvette Clarke (NY-11)* (202) 225-6231
Joe Courtney (CT-02)* (202) 225-2076
Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01)* (202) 225-5456

Republicans:
Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, Ranking Member (CA-25) (202) 225-1956
Thomas E. Petri (WI-06)* (202) 225-2476
Peter Hoekstra (MI-02)* (202) 225-4401
Michael N. Castle (DE-At Large)* (202) 225-4165
Mark E. Souder (IN-03)* (202) 225-4436
Vernon J. Ehlers (MI-03)* (202) 225-3831
Judy Biggert (IL-13) (202) 225-3515
Todd Russell Platts (PA-19) (202) 225-5836
Ric Keller (FL-8) (202) 225-2176
Joe Wilson (SC-02) (202) 225-2452
John Kline (MN-02) (202) 225-2271
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) (202) 225-2006
Kenny Marchant (TX-24) (202) 225-6605
Tom Price (GA-06) (202) 225-4501
Luis G. Fortuño (PR)* (202) 225-2615
Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (LA-07) (202) 225-2031
Virginia Foxx (NC-05) (202) 225-2071
John R. "Randy" Kuhl, Jr. (NY-29) (202) 225-3161
Rob Bishop (UT-01) (202) 225-0453
David Davis (TN-01) (202) 225-6356
Timothy Walberg (MI-07) (202) 225-6276
Dean Heller (NV-02) (202) 225-6155

RT Lecturer Opening at ECU

Richard Williams of East Carolina University recently announced an RT lecturer position:

The faculty of the Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies at East Carolina University is please to announce a new lecturer position. Please forward the attached announcement to anyone who may be interested in this opportunity, and please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Richard Williams, Ed.D., LRT/CTRS
Search Chair
Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies
East Carolina University
williamsri@ecu.edu
(252)328-0019


EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE
DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE STUDIES

POSITION VACANCY: LECTURER IN RECREATION AND LEISURE STUDIES

_____________________________________________________________________________________
POSITION:
A 9-12 month (negotiable), renewable one-year term position in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies within the College of Health and Human Performance effective August 18, 2008.


RESPONSIBILITIES:
The person in this position will be primarily responsible for teaching courses in the core curriculum and providing administrative support in the facilitation of student practicum and internship experiences. The core curriculum includes those classes required of students in the department’s two interrelated B.S. degrees: Management of Recreation Facilities and Services and Recreational Therapy. In addition, academic advising, and professional service to the community, profession, and university are expected.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Master’s degree required with at least one degree in recreation and leisure. Ability to obtain a license as a Licensed Recreational Therapist in the state of North Carolina required. Professional managerial experience and experience teaching at the collegiate level are valued. The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable and enthusiastic about undergraduate teaching that relates to students in both degree programs. Strong organizational skills and experience in recreation and/or recreational therapy programming, collaborative partnerships, and distance education a plus.

RANK AND SALARY:
Lecturer. Salary commensurate with professional background and experience.

THE DEPARTMENT:
Recreation and Leisure Studies, comprised of fifteen full-time faculty members is one of three departments within the College of Health and Human Performance. The NRPA/AALR accredited curriculum has approximately 230 undergraduate majors within the Recreational Therapy and Management of Recreation Facilities and Services degree programs. The masters program offers a degree in Recreational Therapy Administration and a degree in Recreation and Leisure Facilities and Services Administration. Please visit www.ecu.edu/rcls

THE UNIVERSITY:
East Carolina University, the third largest institution in the University of North Carolina System, is located in Greenville, a vibrant college community approximately 90 miles east of the Research Triangle Park and 90 miles west of the Outer Banks and coastal resorts. A faculty of over 1,700 guide approximately 26,000 students enrolled in 104 Bachelor, 73 Master, 4 Specialist, 17 Doctoral, and 1 Medical Professional degree tracks. The University is a Carnegie Doctoral/Research university and consists of 10 professional schools, including the recognized Brody School of Medicine.

SCREENING AND APPLICATION:
Application screening begins February 26, 2008 and will continue until the position is filled. Send application letter, vita, and three letters of recommendation specific to the position to: Ms. Eileen McInerney, Budget Administrator, Belk Annex 1, Room 108, Greenville, NC 27858, (252) 737-1374, mcinerneye@ecu.edu, For specific questions concerning the position, contact Dr. Richard Williams, Search Chair, (252)328-0019; williamsri@ecu.edu

Action Alert from ATRA

ATRA recently send out this ACTION ALERT that I am passing along:
CTRSs Threatened in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

Background The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has given local authority to their contractors (also known as Fiscal Intermediaries and Medicare Administrative Contractors) to make local coverage decisions.

Current Issue The National Government Services Company, Part A Fiscal Intermediary has issued a Final Local Coverage Determination (LCD) that could be detrimental to the coverage of recreational therapy. The LCD removed Recreational Therapy (known in CMS regulations as Therapeutic Recreation) from the list of identified skilled rehabilitative modalities which can be used to meet the “3-Hour Rule” for Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Facilities (IRF). Even though Recreational Therapy (RT) can still be utilized to meet or assist in meeting the “3-Hour Rule” this LCD removed the clear reference to RT as an allowable therapy to meet this criteria.

ATRA Action ATRA issues this call to action for all Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRSs), other health care providers that support recreational therapy and the general public to object to this requirement in the final LCD.

To review the specific LCD, go to: http://www.ugsmedicare.com/providers/LCD/CONSOLIDTED_NGS/l25714_final_lcd_ngs.htm
National Government Services, as a Part A Fiscal Intermediary covers a broad range of states including:
Indiana
Illinois
Kentucky
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Michigan
Virginia
West Virginia
American Samoa
Vermont
Connecticut
Delaware
New York
Ohio
Wisconsin
California
Guam
Hawaii
Nevada

ATRA has prepared a draft response and encourage all interested individuals to mail a hard copy signed to the Dr. Tim Passmore, 186 Colvin Center, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078 or send an electronic version with electronic signature to tim.passmore@okstate.edu NO LATER THAN February 14th, 2008. (see attached draft letter). Your documents are vital and will be utilized in conjunction with other documents to file an appeal to National Government Services known as a Reconsideration Process which will require National Government Services to review the provide evidence and issue a formal response to the request for reconsideration of the issued final draft LCD for IRF. The request will ask National Government Services to add back RT back to the list of therapies identified in the final LCD which can be counted toward the “3-Hour Rule”.

ATRA Talking Points:
Ø National Government Service (NGS) consolidated 5 FIs to form the current FI NGS. Of those 5 FIs 3 had issued LCDs which included RT in the listing of therapies which could meet the “3-Hour Rule” – these documents will be provided to NGS as part of the Reconsideration Process.
Ø CMS has issued through various communications approval of the use of RT to meet or assist in meeting the “3-Hour Rule”. These documents will also be provided to NGS as part of the Reconsideration Process.
Ø JCAHO Definitions (January 2006)
Ø It is ATRA’s position that CMS and specifically the National Government Service identify Recreational Therapy in the list of therapies which may be counted toward the third screening criteria for IRF stays known as the “3-Hour Rule”.

Please email a copy of your letter to ATRA so we may follow up with the Mutual of Omaha. Please send your letter via attachment to Dr. Tim Passmore, 186 Colvin Center, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078 or send an electronic version with electronic signature to tim.passmore@okstate.edu
The deadline to this response is February 14th, 2008.

Use your personal stationary for your personal response. Please ask your administrators to submit a letter on our behalf using facility letterhead.

Time to Look at Ph.D. programs in RT!

I just read an article in the American Psychologist (Vol. 63, No. 1, 2008, pp.32-49). The title: "Doctoral Training in Statistics, Measurement, and Methodology in Psychology." The article was based on a national survey of university Ph.D. programs in psychology.

Findings revealed that Ph.D. students in psychology were not receiving the amount or level of training in stats, measurement, and research methods that they need to do quantitative work.

Reading this article made me wonder about Ph.D. programs in RT. Are our Ph.D. students getting the training in statistics, measurement, and research methods that they will need to become quality researchers and to instruct in quantitative methodology?

I really doubt that RT Ph.D. programs measure up to what are perceived nationally to be weak Ph.D. programs in psychology in terms of training in quantitative methodology. A few years ago I was asked to review a proposed new Ph.D. RT curriculum. This Ph.D.program required no statistics courses. I couldn't believe this and told the university that Ph.D. students needed at least a couple of stats courses. I doubt if the faculty at that institution paid any attention to my comments -- and as a result Ph.D. students in RT produced by at least one university may not have any training in statistics.

This leads me to two things I would like to see happen. First, I would hope that someone would do a survey of Ph.D. programs in RT to determine the quantitative methodology training requried of students. I hope it is better than I would guess it is! And, secondly, I would hope that universities producing Ph.D.s (There are 10 or less.)will form together nationally to lead graduate curriculum reform in RT.

What say you? Are you also concerned about the type of training our graduate students in RT are receiving? It is past time that faculty at Ph.D. granting institutions stand up and be counted! Where is the leadership?

ATRA's Employment of Lamar & Kelly is a Good Move

ATRA has distributed an announcement regarding employing the services of Lamar and Kelly Evans' Association Managment Systems (AMS). This should be a good move for ATRA. I got to know Lamar and Kelly when I was an ATRA Board Member and Officer and found them to be fine people with whom to work. The ATRA announcement follows:

We Asked, You Answered, We Listened...........

The ATRA Board of Directors is pleased to announce that a 2-year contract has been signed with Association Management Systems, Inc. (AMS). The transition of membership services will begin immediately but will take at least 60 days to complete. The ATRA Board, National Office Staff and AMS will work closely together to assure that the transition is as seamless as possible to avoid any disruption to membership services. Regular and timely updates on the transition will be forwarded to the members.

The decision to transfer membership services to an association management company was based on extensive research by the ATRA Board, recommendations from the Organizational Task Force and results from the recent SWOT Analysis performed by ATRA members. All of these sources indicate that by making this change ATRA will be in a better position to meet member needs. We Asked, You Answered, We Listened...........

The owners and managers of AMS, Lamar and Kelly Evans, are no strangers to ATRA. Those of you who are long-time ATRA members will recall that AMS managed ATRA Membership Services from 1986-2000 before ATRA operations were moved to the office in Alexandria, VA.

While ATRA operations were managed by the staff at the office in Alexandria very effectively, the ATRA Board is confident that a move back to an Association Management Company will allow the association to provide enhanced services to members in a more cost-effective manner. Members will not notice any changes in their services during the transition and will receive the personal contact that they have come to expect from the national office. In addition, services will be enhanced to include a long awaited electronic membership mall which will allow members computer access to all of their individual membership services such as conference registration, CEU information, membership renewals, and numerous other electronic services. As requested repeatedly by members, the ATRA website will be redesigned and enhanced over the coming months to make it more informative and user-friendly.

ATRA's national presence will be maintained during this transition and after it is completed. The State and Federal Public Policy issues which affect ATRA members and the profession will continue to be addressed at the state level and in Washington DC. These efforts will in no way be abandoned.

Once the transition of the national office from Alexandria, VA to AMS in Hattiesburg, MS has been completed, members will be notified. In the interim, if you have questions, please feel free to personally contact any member of the ATRA Board of Directors. See the ATRA web page for their contact information. Transitioning operations to AMS will afford ATRA the opportunity to enhance membership services and ensure that ATRA continues to represent our members, as well as promote the profession on local, state and national levels.

Join in with Your Comments

Thanks to Mike Sutherland for his comment regarding the January 10th post on the "CDARTA Online RT Store." It would be great to receive more comments on RT Blog posts.

Please do join in with your comments. I would be particularly interested in your reaction to today's other post regarding the use of the term, recreational therapist.

Recreational Therapist Preferred Term?

I am working on the 6th edition of my book, Therapeutic Recreation Processes and Techniques. In this new edition, I am considering using the expression recreational therapist rather than therapeutic recreation specialist.

Can you give me any advise regarding using recreational therapist rather than therapeutic recreation specialist? I welcome comments to this post!

Faculty Positions at Western Carolina

Peg Connolly recently sent out this notice about RT faculty position openings at Western Carolina University:

Western Carolina University (WCU) is pleased to announce the opening of two faculty positions in Recreational Therapy, one tenure-track position for Assistant or Associate Professor (go to https://jobs.wcu.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=51149) and one is a fixed term position for an Assistant Professor (go to https://jobs.wcu.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=51150.

WCU was the first accredited university in the country to offer a BS degree specifically in recreational therapy. The Degree includes 42 hours in Liberal Studies and 70 hours in the major including recreational therapy courses in foundations, client assessment, processes and techniques, physical disabilities, aging, administration, advanced methods, adventure-based therapy, and clinical internships. The recreational therapy degree program has been selected as one of four WCU programs to participate in the implementation of the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) which will re-shape education at WCU to promote integrated and synthesized learning in undergraduate education. The RT program places a strong emphasis on service learning in the region. Please visit http://www.wcu.edu/4632.asp.

WCU is a leading regional comprehensive university with career-focused studies at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Western offers small class sizes and personal attention from highly qualified faculty with a strong interest in their students’ success. Courses are available in Cullowhee, Asheville and online. WCU now provides an education to more than 9,000 students from 46 states and 39 countries. WCU is located in Western North Carolina's scenic Cullowhee Valley surrounded by the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge mountains.

For additional information contact: Peg Connolly, Ph.D., LRT/CTRS, Search Chair, School of Health Sciences at (828) 227-2481 or mconnolly@email.wcu.edu.

SIU has Grad Assistantships

I recently received information about graduate assistantships in RT at Southern Illinois University. SIU has a strong RT faculty (with Marjorie Malkin and Heewon Yang) and a long history in RT -- so the assistantships are something that anyone with interest in doing a master's degree should examine. In short, they provide a great opportunity!

My personal advise is for prospective students to contact Professor Marjorie Malkin to introduce themselves and to inquire about the assistantship opportunities. Her contact information is at the bottom of this post.

Here is the information I received from SIU:

Professor Marjorie Malkin has announced that Southern Illinois University has graduate assistantship openings available in RT. SIU has openings in August for 3 students and openings in May for 2-3 students who would work half time in adolescent substance abuse treatment programs or in a campus inclusive recreation
program.

Applications should be completed by early March.

Contact:
Professor Marjorie Malkin
Department of Health Education and Recreation
College of Education and Human Services
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
(618) 453-1864
mmalkin@siu.edu

Group Therapy Activities Site

Group Therapy Ideas & Themes is a website that provides descriptions of experiential activities to use within group therapy. If you haven’t looked at it, you may want to. RTs will find the site useful because there are many activities that can be used with RT groups.

Under five major categories, there are a number of excellent group activities listed and described. The five categories are:

1. Icebreakers, Warmups, Engergizers, & Disinhibitizers.
2. Trust and Relationship Building Activities
3. Exercises for Insight and Self-Awareness
4. Recreation Therapy Activities
5. Adventure Therapy & Wilderness/Nature Therapy

The address of the website is:
http://wilderdom.com/games/GroupTherapyIdeasThemes.html

CDARTA Online RT Store

I just discovered the Cincinnati Dayton Area Recreation Therapy Association (CDARTA) has an online store. I know, I know, you are asking yourself, “where has he been!?” But just in case you too have missed learning about this the CDARTA Online Store, I thought I’d prepare this post.

The CDARTA Online Store has a great variety of RT products including t-shirts and sweatshirts for adults and children, golf shirts, baby bibs, teddy bears, coasters, hats, tote bags, buttons, and magnets. You can even purchase a copy of a NCTRC exam study guide at the site.

You can get any number of things printed on the merchandise including: Recreation Therapy, Recreational Therapists put the FUN in FUNctional, and the CDARTA logo. Some neat stuff!

To check out the CDARTA Online Store go to http://www.charta_store.htm

Psych Opening for RT

Diane Baumann, M.S., CTRS, recently sent me this position opening. It is at her facility, Wellstone Regional Hospital. Diane is an outstanding RT so I would assume this opening would be a great opportunity for a young RT. Here is the information:

Wellstone Regional Hospital is seeking a full time CTRS or eligible to sit for exam. Wellstone is located in southern Indiana only 15 minutes from downtown Louisville, KY. It is a 100 bed private behavioral health care facility which serves acute child, adolescent, adult psych, and adult chemical dependency as well as residential child and adolescent.Wellstone is also in the process of remodeling one of the units for a geriatric psych population.

Wellstone Regional Hospital is part of Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. which owns or manages approximately 90 behavioral health care facilities/units throughout the US and Virgin Islands. Wellstone has three full time CTRS positions, a full time expressive therapist and a contract horticulture therapist. The facility contains two art rooms, a kitchen, gym, climbing wall along with some static elements, a green house and a large outdoor area.

The current position opening is with the adolescent population although there will be some crossover with other populations.

If interested, please contact Diane Baumann at diane.baumann@psysolutions.com, 812-258-1054.

Read Any Good Self-Help Books Lately?

The January, 2008, issue of APA’s Monitor on Psychology (Vol. 39, No.1, pp.26, 27)contains an article that I found interesting – and you may too. Written by Laurie Meyers, the article is titled “Recommended Reading: Psychologists Share the Contents of Their Self-Help Shelves.”

The article points out that 85% of psychologists recommend self-help books to their clients. But which books should be recommended?

The article answers this question by listing titles of self-help books used by selected psychologists. My personal favorites were those chosen by Simon Rego of the Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.

Rego’s selections generally follow principles of cognitive behavioral therapy. They include Addis and Martell’s “Overcoming Depression One Step at a Time: The New Behavioral Activation Approach to Getting Your Life Back.” This book’s focus is on doing activities that give clients pleasure and accomplishment, starting with earlier ones. Rego has stated that ‘It’s amazing how when you start doing something productive, your motivation will increase.” RTs will quickly recognize athat this quote could have come from one of them.

I really liked his selection of “Overcoming Depression….” Perhaps this is because it offers support for my Health Protection/Health Protection Model of RT practice. Certainly Rego’s comment that “Activity often precedes motivation, rather than follows it” provides strong support for the activity portion of my model.

Rego went on to name other self-help books he recommends including: “The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook: Proven Techniques to Overcome Your Fears;” “Overcoming Obsessive Thoughts: How to Gain Control of Your OCD;” and “The 60-Second Shrink: 101 Strategies for Staying Sane in a Crazy World.”

It would be fun to hear from RTs as to what self-help book they and their clients have found to be helpful. If you have any books you particularly like, I hope you will comment!

Faculty Opening at EWU

John Cogley of Eastern Washington University is retiring. John has contributed to the profession in many ways and will be missed. He recently sent me an announcement of a position opening for a professor in RT.

Assistant Professor of Physical Education, Health and Recreation
Therapeutic Recreation (Tenure Track)

Responsibilities: Eastern is a regional, comprehensive university that expects all faculty to demonstrate teaching excellence, professional growth and service to the university, profession, and the community. The candidate will teach undergraduate courses in Therapeutic Recreation, General Recreation and related areas. The successful candidate will serve as the advisor for all declared majors in the Therapeutic Recreation program, recruit majors, and meet accreditation and certification standards. The successful candidate is expected to develop and maintain strong community and clinical relationships, serve on Department, College and University committees, as well as maintaining an active role in the professional organization, develop a focused line of research and seek extramural funding for research or programs.

Starting date: September 2008

Qualifications: Earned doctorate in Therapeutic Recreation or related field, by starting date, required. Two years clinical experience as a CTRS; evidence of effective teaching and advising in higher education; evidence of scholarly activities in basic research, preferred. Preference will be given to candidates who can contribute to the teaching and research agenda of a multidisciplinary department that also includes physical education, community health, exercise science, and athletic training, and who have an interest in and potential for collaboration with university-wide multidisciplinary programs. The candidate must have a wellness lifestyle that reflects the philosophy of the PEHR Department. Certification as a “CTRS” through National Council on Therapeutic Recreation, required.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Please send letter of application, vitae, and three letters of recommendation addressing teaching and research abilities, samples of professional work (including any recent publications) to:
Office of the Dean, Attn: M. Dreis, College of Education and Human Development, 213 Martin Hall, Cheney, WA 99004-2422. (E-mail: mdreis@mail.ewu.edu; Fax: 509-359-4822)

If you have interest in the position, my advise would be to contact John Cogley to learn more. His contact information is:
Dr. John Cogley, Professor & Chair
PEHR Department
Eastern Washington University
200 Physical Education Bldg.
Cheney, WA 99004
(509) 359-2486 Office
john.cogley@mail.ewu.edu

Technologies Use by Students

Research on the views and ownership of various technologies was recently conduced with full-time college students by Eduventures. Results from this study should be of interest to RT faculty.

Among students responding to the question, which of the following devices do you currently own, 79% own a laptop compared to 49% who own a desktop; 30% own both.

The research also found that most students spend up to five hours a day on the Internet, with a fairly even distribution between personal and school use, and e-mail remains the most popular communication tool and the preferred method of contact for all school purposes.

The results somewhat surprised me in that I would not have thought that e-mail is still so popular among students. Was anyone else surprised by this?

From:
"Snapshot: Personal Electronic Devices Owned by Students," Campus Technology, 1/8/2008, http://www.campustechnology.com/article.aspx?aid=57155

Robb Retiring: NCA Position Open

The following memo was recently distributed by the National Center on Accessibility regarding the retirment of Gary Robb and the position opening with NCA:

After more than 28 years at Indiana University as the Director of Bradford Woods and the National Center on Accessibility, Gary Robb has announced his retirement for this upcoming May 2008. Gary has been a leader in the fields of outdoor recreation, accessibility and therapeutic recreation, working tirelessly to eliminate barriers and build communities where people with disabilities are accepted, valued and truly woven into the fabric of society. At Bradford Woods he developed what is now recognized as an international model in the delivery of therapeutic recreation, summer camp, environmental and experiential education. In 1992, he founded the National Center on Accessibility. Over the last 16 years, he has grown NCA into one of the premiere resources on accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities in parks, recreation and tourism. Gary has represented NCA on the U.S. Access Board’s Recreation Access Advisory Committee and Regulatory Negotiation Committee on Outdoor Developed Areas. He has served as NCA principle investigator on numerous research projects including the latest on Best Practices. He is one of the founding members and first president of the National Alliance for Accessible Golf. In addition, he has authored several articles and textbooks. Gary has made immeasurable contributions to our field. While he is retiring, we look forward to his continued contributions as a distinguished emeritus faculty in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Indiana University.

As a valued colleague, please be informed that a national search has been initiated to appoint a new Director of the National Center on Accessibility. The search committee is coordinated through the Indiana University Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Studies and the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands.

Information about the position and the application process is available on the IU Human Resources web site. See Bloomington campus > academic appointments: http://www.indiana.edu/~uhrs/employment/merged_index.htm

Or view it directly at http://www.indiana.edu/~deanfac/baalist.html

The position announcement is also included in the text below this message. [The NCA Director position has a university classification of Academic Specialist, an IU faculty position.]

We ask that you forward information on the position vacancy to your constituents including perspective candidates you believe can make a valuable and long lasting contribution to the National Center on Accessibility. Please note that the deadline to apply is January 26, 2008.

In the meantime, please be assured we are committed to providing the quality of services that you have come to expect from NCA including the availability of technical assistance and new training programs. We have launched two national studies on surfaces (trails and playgrounds) and have several projects online involving park accessibility assessments, planning and design review. We do not anticipate this search to have any impact on the delivery of NCA services. Certainly, the search process is likely to be more than a challenge. However, we view this as an opportunity to begin a new chapter for NCA where we will continue to work together and grow to best meet the needs of the field advancing toward full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life.

Sincerely,
Ray Bloomer, Director of Education & Technical Assistance
Jennifer Skulski, Director of Marketing & Special Projects

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VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

DIRECTOR

NATIONAL CENTER ON ACCESSIBILITY

Indiana University is seeking applications for a Director for the National Center on Accessibility. This position is an appointed non-tenure track faculty member with the title of Academic Specialist – Director of the National Center on Accessibility.

This position is responsible for managing the National Center on Accessibility (NCA), a center affiliated with the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands in the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies. The Center is national recognized and an important part of Indiana University.

Qualifications:

Minimum of a M.S. in park, recreation or related discipline with 10 years experience in accessibility and disability in the parks and recreation field. A doctoral degree is desired.

Significant experience in working with national, state and local agencies focusing on accessibility and disability in the parks and recreation field. Knowledge of accessibility standards and disability studies as a recognized national leader in accessibility in recreation, parks and public lands is strongly desired.

Responsibilities:

Accountable for focused and entrepreneurial budget management including oversight of all sponsored research and service grant and contract development;

Manage multifunctional teams in the creation of park, recreation and related accessibility plans of park systems, park units and other programs management consulting, training and policy development for NCA partners;

Manage and promote national partnerships under general supervision of the Executive Director of the Eppley Institute for Parks & Public Lands, with federal, state and private agencies (e.g. National Park Service and others);

Maintain relationships with all Indiana University units, teaching and assistance in academic functions including committee membership and related contributions;

Travel required including some weekends and week long trips to partner locations occasionally serving as trainer and on-site expert for NCA national educational courses and visits.

Submit a letter of application, resume and supporting materials by 1/26/08 to:

Stephen A. Wolter
Executive Director, Eppley Institute for Parks & Public Lands
Indiana University Research Park
501 N. Morton Street, Suite 100
Bloomington, IN 47404

812.855.7083

sawolter@indiana.edu

Directory for People with Disabilities

Norma Stumbo recently sent out a notice on the ATRA Educators listserve regarding a resource titled The Complete Directory for People with Disabilities. The directory provides the latest products and services for people with disabilities.

Some of the topics included in the Directory are: camps and travel groups; assistive devices; employment and education programs; and conferences and shows.

To learn more go to http://www.greyhouse.com/disabilities.htm

Position Opening in Indy

Heather Sedletzeck, CTRS, has announced the following opening:

RT Solutions, Inc. is seeking a CTRS for a full time position serving Marion (Indianapolis) and the surrounding counties. We are a company which provides home based Recreational Therapy services exclusively. We pride ourselves on providing the best services possible to the clients we serve. RT Solutions serves clients with developmental disabilities throughout the life span.

Salary range for this position is $30-$40K per year. Mileage stipend and Medical Insurance available. This position offers a flexible schedule and the opportunity to utilize your therapeutic skills to the fullest!

For consideration, e-mail HeatherCTRS@bizma.rr.com with a letter of interest and a resume.

Heather J. Sedletzeck, CTRS, President
RT Solutions, Inc.
812-917-4529
812-878-6872
www.rtsolutionsinc.com