Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to all RTs from the RT Blog!

Recreational Therapy Foundation Winner Announced

From the fall issue of the RTI Newsletter:

"RTI MEMBER WINS SLOGAN CONTEST"

RTI Founding Member David Austin learned at the ATRA Annual Conference in Indianapolis that he was the winner of the slogan contest held by the Recreational Therapy Foundation. His winning entry was: “Support Research: The Foundation for Practice.”

The Recreational Therapy Foundation is a research and educational foundation that supports grants to advance the recreational therapy profession. For information go to www.recreationaltherapyfoundation.org

Conference at Sea a Success

From Allyson Dedic, CTRS,Director of Therapeutic Recreation,Whitehall Boca Raton:

The 1st Annual TR “Conference at Sea” was a HUGE success! There were 28 attendees from all over the country who earned up to 12 hours of CEU’s during the trip. We visited Freeport Grand Bahamas and Nassau Bahamas (unfortunately the seas were too rough to visit the private island so sessions were moved to that day!). Each night the attendees gathered at the “Crossings” dining room for a wonderful 4 course meal and the presenters had a special night at “Cagney’s Steakhouse”. Over the course of the week, attendees participated in activities such as karaoke, dancing, casinos, live entertainment, cabaret shows, and hanging out on the outside ship deck. New friendships were made and the networking opportunities were priceless!

We are beginning to plan for the March/April 2012 “Conference at Sea” now!!! Although the cost may seem expensive, but if you break it down it works out to be less than $100 a day per person which includes all of your meals!!!

If you are interested in attending or presenting, please contact Allyson Dedic adedic@whitehallboca.com

Faculty Position at Pittsburg State University

From Chuck Killingsworth at Pittsburg State University via ATRAnet:

Hi, colleagues! I think that I may have mentioned this previously (if so, I apologize for the redundancy!), but wanted to make sure that interested parties are aware of my move to a Phased Retirement program beginning in the fall semester of 2012. As a result of this, our Department (Health, Human Performance, and Recreation) will be seeking to hire someone to teach several of the courses that I have been teaching, especially in the area of Therapeutic Recreation, and the individual must be TR Certified as our program has that Option in the Accreditation of our Recreation Degree.

Our department chair is requesting that this position be filled with a full-time, tenure-track faculty member. Interested parties should have completed a doctoral degree or be ABD and willing to complete her/his doctoral program by June 1st of 2013. If you and someone you know might be interested in this position, please contact Dr. John Oppliger, Chair, HHPR Dept. either via phone (620-235-4665) or email (jopplige@pittstate.edu).

Position Openings in Missouri

from the Recreation Therapists of Indiana comes this job announcement:

Ranken Jordan a Pediatric Specialty Hospital currently has 2 new fulltime positions and one part time position available in the Pediatric Health Related Services Department. The fulltime positions are weekend shifts - Friday through Monday. The part time position includes a 12 hour shift on Saturdays and 3 evenings a week. We are looking for a Certified Recreation Specialist with experience in a pediatric medical setting. To learn more about Ranken Jordan – please visit our website: www.rankenjordan.org

If interested in applying - send a cover letter and resume to : angielantz@rankenjordan.org

Kathleen Sachs
PHRS Manager
Ranken Jordan – A Pediatric Specialty Hospital
11365 Dorsett Road, Maryland Heights, Missouri 63043
tel: 314.872.6422| fax: 314.872.6501 |
www.rankenjordan.org

Upcoming ATRA Mid-year in Baltimore

From Mike Sutherland and Thom Skalko:

ATRA Mid-Year is in Baltimore, February 26-28, 2012. It is a great opportunity to learn more about the policies that effect recreational therapy practice and an opportunity for RTs to get engaged in securing their own welfare. The conference will include content on state licensure.

ATRA is also exploring the integration of pre-cons to open additional opportunity. I highly recommend the conference tl all. It is a great learning experience.

Exercise Good for Asthma Patients

MedPage Today reported on preliminary research that found physical training programs involving aerobic exercise benefit patients with asthma. The exercise programs in the study had sessions of 20 minutes 2 times weekly. Activities included swimming and running.

Opening at St. Joseph's College

There is a Full-time Tenure Track faculty position open at St. Joseph’s College, Patchogue, L.I., NY

Faculty: Full-time Tenure Track
Institution: St. Joseph’s College, Patchogue, LI., NY Campus
Department: Recreation and Leisure Studies
Posted: October 11, 2011
Application due: Open until filled- Review of applications will begin February 1, 2012

The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at St. Joseph’s College invites applications for a Tenure Track position in Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Services Management beginning August 2012. The Department is interested in candidates who can contribute to the excellence of our academic program through their teaching, research, and service. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include college retirement, medical and life insurance plans.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Full time tenure track position to teach courses in the area of Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Services Management;

Provide academic advising to undergraduate students in Recreation and Leisure Studies

Assist in the coordination and build upon the current internship program

Moderate the Recreation Club

Participate in department and campus-wide service activities

ACADMENIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will possess the following qualifications:

Doctoral degree (ABD & Masters considered) with at least one graduate degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies

Must possess current C.T.R.S. certification and be eligible for renewal

Demonstrated excellence in teaching

Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively with students, faculty, staff, and professional practitioners

Demonstrated knowledge of COAPRT-NRPA accreditation requirements; and

Active participation in professional societies

APPLICATION INFORMATION

A complete application will include the following: Cover Letter, Resume/Curriculum Vitae, Three letters of reference, Official transcripts of earned degrees, and a completed St. Joseph’s College application, which can be downloaded from St. Joseph’s College website.

Contact and Application Information:
Karen Cahill
St. Joseph’s College
155 W. Roe Blvd.
Patchogue, NY 11772
kcahill@sjcny.edu

Faculty Position Opening

Thanks to Marieke Van Puymbroeck, Ph.D., CTRS, here is an announcement on a faculty position at Longwood University:

Position:
Assistant or Associate Professor of Therapeutic Recreation
Institution:
Longwood University
Location:
Virginia
Employment Level:
Tenured, tenure track
Website:
http://www.longwood.edu/
Category:
Health/ medicine, Kinesiology/ exercise physiology/ physical education, Recreation/ leisure studies
Employment Status:
Full-time
Salary:
Commensurate with experience

Position Open in Evansville, Indiana

From Jessica Decker Puntney comes this announcement:

In case anyone is interested, there is a full-time position open at Deaconess Cross Pointe in Evansville, IN. It is a Monday through Friday day shift position working primarily with an adult mental health population. A Bachelor's Degree in recreation, music, or art therapy is required; experience in adult mental health preferred. If you are interested, please send a resume to Jessica.Puntney@deaconess.com.

Western Carolina RT Program is Accrediated

From an article in the recent ATRA Newsletter:

The Western Carolina University Recreational Therapy Program was accredited by Commission for Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(CAAHEP) in July 2011.

Austin Receives IU's Endwright Alumni Award

Article from recent ATRA Newsletter:
ATRA Founding Member, Past-President, and Distinguished Fellow, David Austin, has been selected by Indiana University’s School of Health,Physical Education, and Recreation to receive the John R. Endwright Distinguished Alumni Service Award. The award was presented at a dinner on September 23, 2011, to honor Austin and other alumni award recipients.

IU has adopted term Recreational Therapy

*******************************
From Marieke Van Puymbroeck, Ph.D., CTRS the RT Coordinator at Indiana University:

I am pleased to report that the change in the name of our major to RECREATIONAL THERAPY at Indiana University has been approved at the campus level!

Have a great day,
Marieke

Go4Life Program from National Institute on Aging

It was announced yesterday that the National Institute on Aging, within NIH, has initiated its Go4Live campaign to encourage older adults to take part in physical activity. The website is www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life

The website provides specific exercises to do and other information to help older adults to exercise.

Reformation of the HP/HP Model

I've been working on a paper on a reformation of my Health Protection/Health Promotion Model. Hopefully, the paper will soon be published. I'll let you know when it is out.

I will be doing a session on my reformation of my model at the RTI Conference to be held in Bloomington in November. I'll do another educational session on implications of my revised model for practice.

ADHD Awareness Week

October 16 - 22 is ADHD Awareness Week. Go to the National Institute of Mental Health website for more information on ADHD.

CTRA Conference Call for Papers

From Shelley Smith,Program Committee Chairperson CTRA 2012:

The Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association (CTRA) 2012 Conference Planning Committee is pleased to announce that the Call for Papers is still available! Deadline for submissions is November 19th, 2011. If you have any questions about the Call for Papers, please contact
CTRA2012ProgramPlanning@gmail.com We ask that you please consider submitting a proposal and share this information with all Colleagues in your areas!

CTRA 2012 will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia from June 13-15, 2012. For more information about the Conference contact CTRA2012@gmail.com or join our Facebook group (CTRA 2012 - Halifax, N.S.). We look forward to seeing you there!

p.s. I've spoken at CTRA. Great people. And Halifax is a wonderful place to visit. DRA

RTI Conference Program is Out

Thanks to RTI president Marieke Van Puymbroeck, Ph.D., CTRS the program is out for the RTI Conference to be held November 17-18, 2011,in Bloomington at the Bloomington Hospital. I thought the program looked strong and I'll plan to share information on it on future RT Blog posts.

Sunday is Deadline for RTI Hotel Rooms

The deadline for reserving a hotel room in our room block at our room rate for the November 17-18, 2011 conference in Bloomington is THIS SUNDAY!

Hotel Information
Courtyard by Marriott
www.marriott.com/bmgcy
812-335-8000 Courtyard by Marriott, Bloomington
Rate: $99.00+ tax single & double *this rate only good for the first 20 rooms!

Rec Therapy Ranked High!

Fresh off the ATRAnet listserv....Money Magazine ranked RT 9th among the "Best Jobs ot Save the World".

Ready, set, mentor

According to the October, 2011, issue of the APA Monitor, for the third year its popular speed-mentoring program was a success at the APA Conference.

Mentors are positioned throughout a room and they meet for 12 minutes with small groups of early career psychologists and graduate students. The mentors discuss the biggest challenges they faced in their careers and how they met these challenges. Also, they address mentees’ questions. At a signal each 12 minutes mentees rotate to the next mentor.

I’ve seen a similar (“speed dating”) technique used where practitioners met with researchers to discuss the practitioners ideas for research and to discover common interests.

Perhaps such “speed dating” formats could be employed at RT conferences. I think RTs would have fun with it and it could pay off in mentoring programs and in gaining ideas (and possible collaboration) for field based research.

Get in Hotel Room Reservations for RTI Conference

From RTI president Marieke Van Puymbroeck, Ph.D., CTRS comes this:

Hi RTI members-
Hope you are enjoying the beautiful fall. I wanted to let you know that the deadline for reserving a hotel room in our room block at our room rate for the November 17-18, 2011 conference in Bloomington is THIS SUNDAY!

The hotel details are:
Hotel Information
Courtyard by Marriott
www.marriott.com/bmgcy
812-335-8000 Courtyard by Marriott, Bloomington
Rate: $99.00+ tax single & double *this rate only good for the first 20 rooms!

Don’t wait to reserve your room!**
Please state you are with Recreation Therapists of Indiana

Have a great day!

IU's HPER now School of Public Health - Bloomington

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education today approved the name change from the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER) to Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington.

Faculty/Brockport State University

Description of Duties:
1. Teach in the undergraduate curriculum core and concentrations, particularly the Therapeutic Recreation concentration
2.Teach in the graduate curriculum
3.Supervise students in field work experiences at both the undergraduate and graduate levels
4.Advise master's theses and projects
5.Perform departmental, school and college service
6.Assume leadership roles in departmental, school and college committees
7.Maintain a record of scholarship

Required Qualifications:
1.Terminal degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies or related discipline (ABD candidates must earn their doctoral degree within 6 months of hire)
2.Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), or eligible for acquisition of CTRS credentials within 6 months of hire
3.Potential for success in teaching, scholarship and service
4.Evidence of cultural competence and ability to effectively interact with culturally diverse populations

Preferred Qualifications:
1.Earned doctoral degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies or related discipline at time of appointment
2.Evidence of ability to teach in the Recreation Management and Tourism Management concentrations
3.Evidence of ability to integrate technology into teaching
4.Professional experience working with individuals with special needs
5.Successful college-level teaching experience
6.A record of scholarly productivity

Apply online at: https://www.brockportrecruit.org. Please attach a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and statement of teaching philosophy. Please address all required qualifications in cover letter.

Posting Dates: Immediately - Open until filled. Best consideration date: November 1, 2011.

Official transcripts from all institutions attended showing highest degree earned are required.
All positions are subject to final budgetary approval.
To learn more about The College at Brockport, visit our Web site at: http://www.brockport.edu.

Interview with Temple RT Students

I was interviewed, by telephone, today by four RT students from Temple University. The students were well prepared, asking any number of questions.

We talked about a variety of things, including my professional background, RT history,and my Health Protection/Health Promotion Model, as well as the Reformulated Health Protection/Health Promotion Model that should be published shortly.

I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with future RTs. With students like the ones I spoke with today, our profession will be in good hands in the future.

Conference at Sea Still Has Openings

From Allyson Johnson Dedic:

A few openings came up for the "conference at sea"!!! IT IS NOT TOO LATE AND PRICES ARE STILL CHEAP! The cruise leaves next week from Miami and is going to 3 islands in the Bahamas! You can earn up t0 12 hours of CEU's!!!

Email me at adedic@whitehallboca.com

October is National Depression Awareness Month.

Clinical Supervision Video, 22 Others Free

Seeing the recent ATRA announcement on clinical internship supervision training, reminded me that a video on clinical supervision is one of 23 RTV videos that are available via streaming at no cost from the Indiana University Library at https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/handle/2022/3378

RT Position in Indiana

From Heather Sedletzeck, DT, CTRS:

RT Solutions, Inc. is seeking a CTRS to work part time in Vigo and Clay counties with potential to expand in to surrounding counties. We provide home based treatments to individuals with developmental disabilities throughout the life span. Treatments will occur in the individuals home and community settings.

For more information, e-mail Heather at heatherctrs@bizma.rr.com

New ATRA Board

Here are the newly elected members of the ATRA Board:
Diane Skalko - President-Elect
Lisa Morgan - Treasurer
Audra Gibson - CAC Chair-Elect
Tim Passmore - Member-at-Large
Mike Sutherland - Member-at-Large

Of course, Vicki Scott, M.S., CTRS, is the new ATRA President.

Peds Journal Seeking Research Articles

The International Journal of Pediatrics is seeking research articles on physical activity and children with disabilities. The deadline is November 1,2011.

Go to:
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijped/si/fpa/

MI Awareness Week

October 2 - 8 is Mental Illness Awareness Week.