Conference Update

We are offering an early bird discount for members only. The fee is $285 if you register before January 31.

  

Thank you to all who attended the PA Greenways & Trails Summit.

If you have not filled out the online survey, please do so now by clicking here.

Your response is greatly appreciated. 

RT Licensure in Pennsylvania

There are over 700 "certified" Recreational Therapists (RTs) in Pennsylvania. Although certification ensures that basic competency of skills are met, it doesn't protect the public from harm. In the eyes of the law, "certification" is optional. This means that individuals who are not certified as a CTRS are still allowed to practice. In order to prohibit people who are not certified from practicing (and subsequently reducing the risk of harm to citizens), RT needs to be licensed.

Utah, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and New Hampshire have RT licensure and many other states have developed RT licensure bills that are under review (e.g., New York). Both NCTRC and ATRA support RT licensure and are providing licensure help to states. An "RT Licensure Coordinator" has been identified in every state to lead the effort for their state. In Pennsylvania, Dr. Heather Porter at Temple University is the RT Licensure Coordinator. Under her direction, an RT Licensure Committee for PA was formed and the committee is working hard to move this agenda forward.

What we need YOU to do:

1. Fill this survey: If you are a CTRS who lives in Pennsylvania, complete the RT Licensure Survey here.
2. Sign the petition: Go here and electronically sign the petition for RT Licensure in PA. It only takes about 30 seconds to do this. Then, send this link to all of the people on your contact lists (family, friends, co-workers, Facebook friends and colleagues) and ask them to sign the petition. Politicians will not support this bill unless they hear from the people that this is wanted. Every time someone signs this peti-tion ALL of the PA Senators and Representatives will receive an automatic email alerting them that another person has signed the petition. WE NEED LOTS OF SIGNATURES! THIS IS IMPORTANT!
3. Send an email to Rep. Sabatina: Representative John Sabatina has already stepped up in support of RT licensure in PA and has requested a bill to be drafted. Send an email to Rep. John Sabatina simply saying "thank you for supporting RT licensure in PA" (jsabatina@pahouse.net). THIS IS IMPORTANT! The more words of "thanks" he hears, the harder he will work for us.
4. Join the RT Licensure email list: Send Dr. Porter an email at hporter@temple.edu indicating that you would like to be periodically updated about RT licensure in PA (indicate your full name and preferred email address in the body of the email). Your name will then be added to the RT Licensure Update email list.

Fall Membership Meeting

Thank you to everyone who helped with the Outside Work Day at the PRPS Office.  Special thanks to John Mikowychok, Judy Houck, Rob Lewis, Chris Lessig and Scott Thomas. You all did a great job!

PRPS Training

Certified Playground Safety Inspector Course  

December 2-4, 2013 - Greater Plymouth Community Center, Plymouth Meeting

Other Training