SPRING 2016

PTRS Newsletter

The Newsletter of the PA Therapeutic Recreation Society

Volunteers Needed

The PTRS Board of Directors is looking for some new volunteers to serve in our Professional Organization. We have a wide variety of positions available and your help and professional knowledge is needed!

PTRS is currently seeking to fill the following

Board of Directors positions:

Recording Secretary; Member-at-Large (2)

Behavioral Health Representative;

Veterans Affairs Representative

Please contact Anne Wieland today!

In This Issue

TR Institute

Theme Baskets & Scholarships

RT Licensure

Herb Gardens

2016-2020 PTRS Strategic Plan has been updated.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PTRS BRANCH PRESIDENT

by Anne T. Wieland, CTRS, MHA, PTRS President (2015-2017)

Hello. I hope each of you had an amazing winter filled with many recreational opportunities. I feel the spring and the summer are some of the best times to get out and explore the many parks and recreational events that Pennsylvania has to offer.

I am very excited about and I would like to encourage each of you to attend the 48th Annual Therapeutic Recreation Institute at the Double Tree Resort by Hilton, in Lancaster, PA from June 1st to June 3rd, 2016. Our theme this year is "TRI the Voice of YOUR Future." This year's TRI is all about ensuring your voice is heard.

Registration for the conference is available online and the hotel reservation deadline has been extended to May 15. Register today before it's too late!

The TRI Committee has worked very hard and is looking forward to making this year's TRI a great learning opportunity for Recreation Therapist, Activity Directors, and Allied Health Professionals at a great location.

The pre-conference is scheduled on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 and is going to be a great way to start off this year's TRI as it focuses on "Creating a Vision for Positive Leadership." Please note we need to have minimum of 10 participants registered to hold the pre-conference so do not delay register today.

The TRI will provide attendees with unique opportunities beyond just the primary goal of obtaining continuing education units. There is a no comparison to attending a conference in person versus an online course. The TRI will offer a great opportunity to network with peers, try hands-on learning, and form lasting relationships. We have secured a great room rate and I encourage everyone to come early or stay late.

We look forward to engaging you in professional relationships and meeting your professional interests. Make it a great day!

Sincerely,
Anne T. Wieland, CTRS, MHA
PTRS President (2015-2017)

"My goal is no longer to get more done, but rather to have less to do."
Francine Jay, Miss Minimalist: Inspiration to Downsize, Declutter, and Simplify

48th ANNUAL THERAPEUTIC RECREATION INSTITUTE

We are excited about this year's TRI: The Voice of Your Future on June 1-3 at the DoubleTree Resort in Lancaster, PA.

There are so many changes in today's healthcare, and we are the voice for tomorrow. This year's conference has many speakers that will give us the tools we need to have our VOICES be heard. We have keynote speakers such as Joel Weintraub to help us concentrate on techniques we can use to reduce stress to help prevent the burnout that everyone faces in healthcare today. In addition, we will end our conference with the inspiration and motivation from Dr. Jeff Witman which will remind us of why our Voices matter and why we should be heard.

We are concentrating on popular topics to meet different concentration areas such as rehabilitation, long term care, behavioral health, and veterans. There are sessions to create new interventions and make programs more meaningful such as the importance of technology, animals, and hobbies. Learn what steps you will need to take to have a facility dog or where you can take your Veterans to receive an equine-assisted activity program.
Have you ever wanted to take internship students, but you were not sure how to develop the program. Let Dr. Deborah Hutchins teach you the ABC's of an internship development program and assist our future therapists.

Heather Porter will be presenting on several topics including neuroplasticity interventions, building and using evidenced based practice in TR, and RT licensure updates.
We will have 4 sessions focused specifically on dementia care and several other sessions on different interventions through adventure recreation, gardening, science and music.
Please join us not only for the educational sessions but also for the socials. This allows us a chance to network with other recreational professionals from across our state. We have game nights and even PTRS's version of "The Voice" to make a fun filled week for everyone.
Please call or email the co-chairs with any questions.

Melissa Tomko, phone: 412-826-6505, email: mtomko@srcare.org

Jenny Hadfield, phone: 610-542-2021, email: jhadfield@beaumontretirement.com

AND THE WINNER IS...

AWARDS..DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS MAY 9, 2016
Submit your nomination TODAY!

I know there are many of you doing amazing things each and every day. We are creative, innovative, and cutting edge in our daily programming plans and ideas. Please take a minute to consider submitting for one of the many award areas PTRS has to offer, and take credit for all the wonderful programs that we do. Click here to view the Categories and review the two Scholarships.

Questions: Contact Haley Smith, CTRS, WellSpan Surgery and Rehabilitation Hospital at (717) 812-6100 or email Hsmith10@wellspan.org.

IS PROFESSIONALISM IMPORTANT IN TR PRACTICE?

by Brian Malcarne, PH.d

As you may know, to support the profession of therapeutic recreation in keeping job
competency expectations current, NCTRC periodically conducts and publishes a Job
Analysis Report. The Job Analysis project involves the collection of data from Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists to determine an overall importance rating for each item identified on a comprehensive inventory list of (1) job related tasks and (2) professional knowledge areas important for a therapeutic recreation practitioner.

The Job Analysis Study highlights the top ranked areas from both categories (i.e., job task and professional knowledge). The most recent 2014 Job Analysis indicated that the majority of the top ranked knowledge areas came from the Knowledge Domains of Assessment, Documentation, and Implementation. This is consistent with the competency expectations of a therapeutic recreation practitioner, especially concerning the use of practice skills aligned with the therapeutic recreation process of service delivery. Although still regarded as valuable, the Knowledge Domain of Advancement of the Profession was not as represented in the top rankings in comparison. However, the overall top identified knowledge area with the highest importance rating was actually from the Advancement of the Profession Knowledge Domain. It was the knowledge area of Professionalism.

For more information about NCTRC's job analysis study, please access NCTRC's 2014 Job Analysis Report.

THEME BASKETS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

by Becky Kandrac, President-Elect, PTRS

WOW, I can't believe it's that time of year to start thinking about selling tickets for the famous "Themed Basket" Raffle. The year seems to have gone so quickly!! As many of you know, the monies made from the theme basket raffle, go to support two scholarships offered by the PTRS organization: the Memorial Scholarship and the William P. Dayton Memorial Scholarship. Both of these scholarships offer a FREE TRI to the person being awarded the scholarship.

Every year, PTRS offers two different scholarships to its members, the Memorial Scholarship and the William P. Dayton Scholarship. The Memorial Scholarship Award is dedicated to the memory of all deceased PTRS members and their dedicated efforts to further Therapeutic Recreation as a profession. This scholarship provides registration to the Annual Pennsylvania Therapeutic Recreation Institute, covering educational sessions. Anyone who is a member of PTRS is eligible for this scholarship.

The William P. Dayton Memorial Scholarship Award is set aside for an outstanding student in the field of Therapeutic Recreation. This scholarship also provides a full registration to the Annual Pennsylvania Therapeutic Recreation Institute, covering educational sessions and room for the duration of the conference. Membership to PTRS is not required for this scholarship, and a partial membership is included.

In order to raise the money for these scholarships, we are in need of some donated theme baskets, gift cards, or free passes to sporting events. Please consider donating a theme basket or new prize that can become part of our "Basket Raffle". Many great prizes from previous years have been: Hershey Chocolate Baskets, Steelers or Eagle's Baskets, Pittsburgh Baskets, Heritage of Lititz Basket, Local Wine Baskets, Altoona Baskets- the possibilities are endless If you are willing to assist with a donation or if you have any questions, please contact Becky at bkandrac@masonicvillages.org or call 717-367-1121 x33646. Donations from all branches of the PRPS organization will be accepted.

The PTRS Board of Directors will also be sponsoring a special "Lottery/Gift Card Tree" Raffle for the price of the tickets being $5 each, with a limited number being sold! The monies raised from the sales of this raffle will go to reduce the PRPS building mortgage.
Thanks for your support, and see you at the TRI! And remember to bring along your address labels. It makes purchasing ticket much easier.

RT LICENSURE IN PENNSYLVANIA UPDATE

by Heather Porter

We have two bills in the PA legislature for RT licensure (House Bill 1761 and Senate Bill 1053). Both of these bills ask the state to license RTs in PA, which will require all RTs to possess the CTRS credential. During the month of April we ran a state-wide postcard drive asking Representatives and Senators to support RT licensure in PA. The postcard drive yielded 2,000+ postcards! The postcards will be delivered to Harrisburg sometime this month. Please continue to 1) contact your PA Representative and PA Senator via phone, email, or in-person, 2) explain the importance of RT licensure (800 people in PA are calling themselves RTs and are practicing as RTs without the proper credentials to do so -- this presents a high risk of harm to PA citizens), and 3) ask for their support of the bill.

HERB GARDENS

by Trey Coffman

Spring has finally sprung! The spring bulbs are coming in, trees are blossoming, and the grass is green. Working in a nursing community, you often hear from your residents of the gardens they kept in the past or those who may be looking for a new hobby. Because of gardening's numerous benefits and uses, it can open the door to endless enjoyment for your residents and team members.

Herbs can be grown anywhere and year round when indoors! Herb gardens can be done simply and in various spaces around your community such as: resident rooms, kitchens or dining rooms, or common areas. There is a variety of herbs that you and your residents can choose to grow. Each one has a different purpose, giving you, as the facilitator, various programming opportunities. One example, is to get together with your residents and plan to prepare a meal or snack using your newly grown herbs. Another possibility would be growing herbs that have a distinct smell or texture. These herbs can be used as sensory tools when working with your elders living with dementia or other ailments. There are many other uses for herb gardens, such as: helping to give residents a sense of purpose, offers opportunity to utilize motor and social skills, sensory interventions, and gives an overall sense of self-satisfaction. On top of it all, your residents will have FUN!

So, while you are trying to plan your next great idea for your residents, why not give an herb garden a try?

2015 TRI Sponsors

PTRS MISSION STATEMENT

To actively engage individuals committed to Therapeutic Recreation, and interested consumers, by supporting professional development, advocacy and resources.

This E-Newsletter is published quarterly. The editor is Becky Kandrac, you may submit articles to Becky at bkandrac@masonicvillages.org. Graphic Design by Emily Schnellbaugh, Communications Coordinator, PRPS. PTRS is a branch of the Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society, Inc.