NEWS RELEASE
September 18, 2003

Contact: Ann D Huston, ATRA Executive Director
Phone: (703) 683-9420

ATRA Approves New Chair for Research Foundation

Laurie Jake, CTRS 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. Jake, currently in private practice providing recreational therapy in the Phoenix area, has been actively involved with the American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation for several years and served as Vice Chair from 2002-2003. Glen, ‘GT’ Thompson, from Williamsport, PA will be serving as the new Vice-Chair. Jake and Thompson worked together previously, both having served as past presidents 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 among elderly clients. This past year the foundation provided funds for two new research grants (“Air mat therapy for the treatment of agitated wandering and aggression" and "The Effectiveness of a Recreational Modality (Tai Chi Chuan) in Enhancing Health Status and Reducing Health Care Costs in an Elderly Population.")

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, contact the ATRA National Office at (703) 683-9420.

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The American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation is a non-profit foundation established in 1992 by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA), the largest professional membership organization of recreational therapists in the county. The founding principles of the American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation are to develop and promote opportunities for education and research.