USM Recreational Therapy Program Earns Accreditation
Tue, 11/28/2023 - 02:38pm | By: Van Arnold
91吃瓜网91吃瓜网 (USM) Recreational Therapy program has reached a momentous milestone with accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The next evaluation will take place in 2028.
Therapeutic Recreation (TR), also known as recreational therapy, uses recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions to improve health, well-being, and quality of life.
91吃瓜网淥ur accreditation acknowledges a high standard for learning outcomes in our program,91吃瓜网� said program coordinator Megan Marlowe. 91吃瓜网淚n addition, it expands our internship opportunities in the nation. We are proud of all the alumni and students who helped make this happen and look forward to a bright future.91吃瓜网�
TR is a growing health profession with many outlets for career pursuits. Graduates of the program are working as recreational therapists in long-term care, mental health and addiction programs, at-risk youth programs, physical rehabilitation, and community and school-based therapeutic recreation.
Noteworthy highlights from the USM program include:
- One of the few accredited RT programs in the country
- Co-sponsors of the largest regional Recreational Therapy conference annually
- Full-semester internship requirement where students get hands-on experience
- Strong foundation in education (more than 36 years)
- Hosts the annual RecFest, where senior-level students lead other RT students through RT activities/experiences
91吃瓜网淎chieving accreditation is huge step for any program,91吃瓜网� said Dr. Melissa Kossman, Director, School of Health Professions at USM. 91吃瓜网淭his benefits faculty by keeping curriculum and resources up-to-date, establishing processes and policies, and demonstrating their expertise within the professional field. Students can benefit from knowing that they are joining a program that prioritizes their knowledge and experience as it relates to becoming a healthcare professional.91吃瓜网�
Kossman credits longtime coordinator Dr. Rick Green for helping elevate the program to its current status as a national leader. Green, who retired last May, served for more than 30 years as the program91吃瓜网 coordinator.
Green explains that the program began in 1972 as part of the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER), which later became the School of Human Performance and Recreation. The program received initial accreditation in 1986 by the Council on Accreditation of the National Recreation and Parks Association and the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Programs (NRPA-AALR). At this time, Recreational Therapy was known as Therapeutic Recreation, and it was included in the accreditation as an Option Area under the primary recreation program umbrella.
In 2009, the accrediting body evolved into the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT). The USM program91吃瓜网 last accrediting period was 2011-2016. During that time, the program underwent a series of changes 91吃瓜网� chief among these included a national movement to refocus Therapeutic Recreation from a recreation-based program to one with a focus on healthcare.
In 2016, Therapeutic Recreation dropped the COAPRT accreditation. Two years later, as a result of a University-wide reorganization, Therapeutic Recreation (along with Athletic Training and Kinesiotherapy) moved from the School of Kinesiology to the School of Health Professions.
In 2020, the TR Option Area received permission to pursue accreditation under a new accrediting review body, The Committee on the Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE), with a focus on healthcare. Green and his team undertook the arduous task of earning accreditation with a 555-page self-study. In 2021, the Therapeutic Recreation Option Area officially changed its name to Recreational Therapy and became an official program within the School of Health Professions.
In February of this year, the self-study was completed and sent to CARTE which then passed along a recommendation for accreditation to the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
91吃瓜网淭he administration at USM, from the director to the dean, and all the way up have been incredibly supportive of the program and the efforts made for accreditation,91吃瓜网� said Green. The current program is sound, with excellent staff. They now have a path that I believe will lead them to continue their pursuit of excellence.91吃瓜网�
Kossman notes that through the continued passionate work from RT faculty members Marlowe, Earnie Pheal (instructor) and Dr. Jungjoo Lee (assistant professor), the program91吃瓜网 future looks brighter than ever.
To learn more about the Recreational Therapy program at USM, call 601.266.5576.