NEWS RELEASE
November 6, 2002

Contact: Laurie Jake, ATRA Communications Coordinator
Phone (480) 460-1525 or
Ann D Huston, ATRA Executive Director
Phone: (703) 683-9420

Local Resident to Chair Foundation

Past ATRA President Diane Etzel Wise was recently appointed to head the efforts of the American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation. She will be serving as the Chair of the Foundation for the upcoming year. Etzel Wise currently serves as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Therapeutic Recreation Program at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, MO. Etzel Wise has been actively involved with the American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation as a founding member since 1991 and served as Vice Chair from 1995-1997. Laurie Jake, from Phoenix, AZ will be serving as Vice-Chair. Etzel Wise and Jake worked together previously, both having served as past president of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association.

The American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation (ATRF) is dedicated to advancing the field of therapeutic recreation and improving the quality of therapeutic recreation services through the sponsorship of efficacy research grants. Past grants have studied a variety of areas including the effectiveness of aquatic therapy and using recreational therapy interventions for preventing falls. This past year the foundation provided funds for two research grants

The American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation is a non-profit foundation established in 1992 by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA). The founding principles of the American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation are to develop and promote opportunities for education and research. Priority consideration is given to efficacy research projects related to topics that provide evidence as to the effectiveness of recreation therapy interventions, and that examine outcomes and cost effectiveness of recreation therapy protocols.

Gifts to the American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation support the advancement of the recreational therapy profession. For more information, please contact Laurie Jake, CTRS, ATRA Communications Coordinator at (480) 460-1525 or the ATRA National Office at (703) 683-9420.