Introduction

In a crowded hotel room in 1983, a group of dedicated recreational therapy professionals met and decided to form an organization solely dedicated to the advancement of recreational therapy that would in fact enhance the quality of services provided to persons with disabilities. Nine years later visionary members of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association developed a Foundation to further advance the work of the Association through research, education, and promotion of projects to perpetuate the important work of the profession.

The Challenge

Healthcare is rapidly changing. The focus has shifted from traditional acute care hospitals to outpatient clinics and day treatment centers. As a result of these changes the recreational therapy profession is challenged to achieve the best possible patient outcome within the most cost effective means.

Over the past 30 years, Recreational Therapy has grown from a small group of dedicated professionals to an estimated 36,000 (U.S. Occupational Outlook Spring, 1992). Those entering this profession require special knowledge and expertise to provide the treatment interventions and leadership that will result in improved functional outcomes for consumers of recreational therapy services.

There is an increased demand for research and education particularly in areas of:

o Efficacy research
o Outcome validation
o Consumer education
o Publications
o Standards of Practice
o Continuous Quality Indicators
o Professional Ethics
o Protocol Development
o Scholarship

The Response

The American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation is a non-profit foundation established in 1992 by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA), the professional membership organization of recreational therapists that currently has more than 2,500 members. The founding principles of the American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation are to develop and promote opportunities for education and research. The Board of Trustees of this new organization will reach out to fellow practitioners and other supporters of recreational therapy services for the purpose of seeking individual gifts to fulfill the funding needs that enable the success of these professional services.

The Opportunity

In 1991, the Board of Directors of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association adapted the strategic plan and prioritized the establishment of the Foundation for the attainment of five major goals:

o The development of the "Recreational Therapy Research Fund" to award grants annually to Recreational Therapists conducting research in specified areas of practice such as physical disabilities, psychiatry and long term care.

o The development of scientifically based treatment protocols for five major disability groupings.

o The publication of significant literary and professional texts and journals on critical issues such as recent research findings and continuous quality improvement methods.

o The awarding of educational scholarships for students to attend professional recreation therapy conferences and forum.

o The funding of research to examine outcomes and cost-effectiveness of various treatment modalities and other recreational therapy interventions.

In this national climate of restriction of services in healthcare, the future of recreational therapy depends on the efficacious delivery of services to consumers by qualified and competent professionals. The American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation will help to achieve these goals and further the development of the recreational therapy profession.

We who believe most earnestly in the benefit of recreational therapy services will be given the opportunity and privilege to invest in its future.

January 12, 1992