Recretion Therapy, One of the Fastest-Growing Professions
Natural Highs
The Art of the Quilt

Recreation Therapy: One of the Thirty Fastest-Growing Professions in the U.S.

The following text is a summary of some texts on the www-pages of the Academy of Leisure Sciences http://www.eas.ualberta.ca/elj/als/index.html and www.eas.ualberta.ca/elj/als/alswp5.html Academy of Leisure Scienses esittelee itsensä sivuillaan näin: "Since its origin in Athens in 386 BC, the Academy has signified a place of study. But "Academy" also refers to a group of people dedicated to learning. The Academy of Leisure Sciences is such agroup. Although the life of philosophic leisure characteristic of the first Academy continues toelude us, that life is nonetheless our central interest. Just as the first Academy was founded todeepen understanding and appreciation of the Muses, that, too, is our interest." (http://www.eas.ualberta.ca/elj/als/alsintro.htm)

Unlike many of their classmates, those being graduated with college degrees in recreation therapy are able to find positions in their chosen profession. Recreation therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is projected to be one of the thirty fastest growing professions during the decade of the 1990s. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the recreation therapy labor force will grow from 26,000 today to 35,500 by the year 2000. This is a projected growth rate of 37%.

As in other health-related professions, the demand for recreation therapists is due in large measure to the growing number of Americans living to an advanced age, technological advances in health care that enable individuals to survive severe illness, disorders and traumas, and greater societal concern for the mentally ill and persons addicted to drugs or alcohol. Another factor in the growth of recreation therapy is increased professionalization, reflected by a new national certification program administered by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.

Diane Williamson, a recent graduate in recreation therapy from Indiana University, received job offers from three different agencies upon graduation. Within the first six months she was in the field, four other agencies contacted her about positions with them. "I am happy in my present position," said Ms. Williamson, "but it made me feel good to know that others were interested in me and that opportunities were available." Ms. Williamson works on a mental health unit within a general hospital where she uses activities as a form of goal-directed treatment for psychiatric patients. Activities her clients take part in include table games, arts and crafts, sports, expressive arts, outdoor recreation, stress reduction exercises and field trips into the community.

In addition to being goal-directed, therapeutic activities are carefully selected by clients with the guidance of the recreation therapist in order to provide meaningful opportunities that may produce mastery experiences and feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. Patient goals gained through active participation in these activities include increasing fitness, managing stress, developing social and leisure skills, building self-esteem, and learning how to express feelings appropriately.

The recreation therapist begins his or her work with every client by conducting an assessment of the client's health status, needs and strengths. Next, a plan of action is developed to meet goals and objectives that flow out of the initial assessment. The planned intervention is then implemented, during which time the recreation therapist carefully observes the client's participation. These observations serve as a basis for evaluation of client progress that is documented in the client's record. Modifications are likely to be made in the client's program as changes are noted in the client's performance.

Each recreation therapist's job differs according to the setting in which he or she is employed and the type of patients or clients within the setting. Recreation therapists work in a variety of clinical sites including general hospitals, children's hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, physical rehabilitation centers, drug rehabilitation centers, centers for persons with developmental disabilities, nursing homes and community mental health centers. Within such clinical settings, recreation therapists usually work in concert with other health care professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and other helping professionals, as members of interdisciplinary teams.

Community-based recreation therapists are employed in such settings as community park and recreation departments, public school programs, group homes for persons who are developmentally disabled or mentally ill and adult day care programs for persons who are elderly or mentally ill. Job prospects are expected to remain good within traditional clinical settings, such as hospitals and rehabilitation centers. The greatest growth, during the present decade, is expected in community-based programs as community residential facilities and day care programs are expanded for persons with developmental disabilities as well as for those with problems in mental health.

While hiring requirements vary, entry-level positions commonly call for a baccalaureate-prepared staff with degrees in recreation therapy, or therapeutic recreation. Many nursing homes, however, still employ non-degreed staff or staff with associate degrees as activity directors. Master's-prepared recreation therapists serve as master clinicians or occupy supervisory or management positions.

Salary ranges vary according to degree and experience. Starting salaries for baccalaureate-prepared recreation therapists generally are in the range of $18,000 to $25,000. Those with master's degrees command a few thousand dollars more than those with bachelor's degrees and those with associate degrees tend to make a few thousand dollars less. In 1988, the median salary for experienced therapists was about $27,600.

In the USA, two national organizations exist for recreation therapy or therapeutic recreation. They are the American Therapeutic Recreation Society, P.O. Box 15215, Hattiesburg, MS 39404-5215, and the National Therapeutic Recreation Society, 2775 South Quincy Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22206-2204.

Sources:
http://www.eas.ualberta.ca/elj/als/index.html and www.eas.ualberta.ca/elj/als/alswp5.html

Natural highs

The following ideas of natural highs - recreational things that help you to refresh and enjoy life - have been copied of an e-mail that I got from a friend of mine. You know the e-mail message that come from a friend who has got it from a friend etc. This message really has something to say!

Moonlight and beautyfull scenery - one source of recreation.

And this is the message, which you can forward to your friends:

The message was received and copied here by Saija Honkala

The Art of the Quilt

Marler, Ruth. 2001. The Art of the Quilt. PRC Publishing Ltd

The Art of the Quilt is a book by Ruth Mahler, published by PRC Publishing Ltd on 2001. First she tells us how people first got into quilting in America, and how it was developed from what it was then to what it is today. Then she describes popular techniques used in quilting. The text is accompanied by pictures of some beautiful works of quilt art. There is also some information on quiltin all over the world in the book.

The hand takes you back to the cover page
of our CuRec - Cultural Recreation bulletin.