(Bethesda, MD) -- The American Occupational Therapy Association
(AOTA), American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF),
and the National Board for Certification in Occupational
Therapy (NBCOT) today announced renewed efforts to collaborate
on strategic initiatives important to the long-term health
and direction of the occupational therapy profession.
Although the three organizations are independent and autonomous
with their own unique missions, they have agreed to work
in concert on matters of critical importance to the profession
and have established a working group called Occupational
Therapy Organizational Partners (OTOP). Comprised of the
elected presidents and chief executive officers of the organizations,
the group will meet on a quarterly basis to share information
to support joint strategic planning and to identify collaborative
initiatives.
Among the priority issues to be addressed by the working
group will be the growing need for evidence-based occupational
therapy research and ways to increase the application of
evidence in occupational therapy practice. The group has
held detailed discussions of the challenges facing occupational
therapy education and will undertake an analysis of the
capacity of the educational system to meet growing societal
need for occupational therapy services. Strategies for enhancing
leadership development within the profession also will be
explored.
Emphasis also will be placed on communications and awareness.
There are plans to develop materials for communication about
occupational therapy to the public and to various other
groups, including students, educators, practitioners, state
occupational therapy associations, regulatory boards, and
policymakers.
"In forming this group, we have an opportunity to
focus the collective energy and resources on issues that
will greatly impact the profession and the people we serve,"
said Ruth Ann Watkins, MBA, OTR/L, FAOTA, president of the
American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF).
"We all approach this with a renewed passion for the
profession," said Patricia Crist, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA,
NBCOT president.
"It is very important that these three groups work
together," said AOTA President M. Carolyn Baum, PhD,
OTR/L, FAOTA, especially as we set our sights on developing
a Centennial Vision for the profession.
Other participants include AOTF Executive Director Martha
Kirkland, NBCOT Chief Executive Officer Paul Grace, and
AOTA Executive Director Frederick P. Somers.
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA),
established in 1917, represents 35,000 occupational therapists,
occupational therapy assistants, and students of occupational
therapy. It is the national professional society for occupational
therapy, focusing on professional standard setting, advocacy,
public awareness, continuing education, and publishing.
AOTA is an advocate for the profession and for individuals
who can benefit from occupational therapy services.
The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is
a charitable, non profit organization created in 1965 to
advance the science of occupational therapy and increase
public understanding of its value. Using tax-deductible
contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations,
AOTF invests in a broad range of programs to promote excellence
in education and research to support occupational therapy
practice of the highest quality.
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy,
Inc. (NBCOT) is a not-for-profit credentialing agency that
provides certification for the occupational therapy profession.
NBCOT serves the public interest by developing, administering,
and continually reviewing a certification process that reflects
current standards of competent practice in occupational
therapy. NBCOT also works with state regulatory authorities,
providing information on credentials, disciplinary actions,
and regulatory and certification renewal issues.
Representatives from occupational therapy’s leading
organizations will work together to shape the future of
occupational therapy. From left: Paul Grace, Patricia Crist,
Ruth Ann Watkins, Martha Kirkland, Carolyn Baum, and Fred
Somers.
