THERAPEUTIC FACILITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Browse Search

Rochelle Callis CRPD Therapeutic Recreation Program Final Report and Recommendations September 8, 2017 page 8 minimum" in any service area, from teens to seniors, to aquatics to conservation, and we would expect the same CRPD approach to programs and services for people with disabilities. The District is not compelled to offer aquatics, sports, or community centers, for example, but instead has chosen to do so because residents want aquatics, sports, and community centers. That same logic applies to the CRPD Therapeutic Recreation Program. Professional Preparation Professional preparation programs at universities and colleges recognized the need for employees who know both disability and recreation. The developers of curricula heard from their graduates in parks and recreation management that it was difficult to find qualified employees. In response, universities across the United States began therapeutic recreation programs. in fact, a relatively large and popular program existed at California State University — Northridge. The University eliminated that curriculum in the 2000's. Six California institutions remain to meet the current demand for professional preparation in therapeutic recreation. Those California universities are San lose State, CSU -Sacramento, CSU -East Bay, CSU -Chico, CSU -Long Beach, and CSU -Fresno. The diminishing number of therapeutic recreation curricula is problematic. The number of universities with these programs has dropped by more than 50°x6 in the last fifteen years. That makes it more difficult for a park district to find and retain qualified therapeutic recreation personnel. California created a professional therapeutic recreation credential. The California Board of Recreation and Park Certification does issue a Recreation Therapist Certified Certificate. This credential certifies "an individual is qualified by education and experience to conduct, and administer therapeutic recreation services." Other comparable professional credentials are the national Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential, administered by the nonprofit National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). Both the RTC and CTRS credentials require similar coursework, internships, and knowledge, and both are voluntary credentials. Typical Therapeutic Recreation Program Successes While not every community-based therapeutic recreation program is alike, there are many similarities. In this section, we attempt to identify those similarities. This is not to be mistaken for a review of comparably sized therapeutic recreation programs; that occurs later in this report. Most therapeutic recreation programs have existed since the 1980's or 1990's. Almost all of these agencies operate as a division or program of a city or county parks and recreation department, or as a division or program of a special purpose park district like CRPD. A notable exception are the many THE W -T GRorj DBA RECREATION ACCESSIBILITY CONSULT ,C ONE SOURCE. INFINITE SOLUTIONS.