Developing an Occupational Therapy Community/Client Wellness Program

Health promotion is gaining more recognition with the increase of chronic diseases worldwide and the growing elderly population in the United States. The World Health Organization (2011) places a particular emphasis on health promotion as well as preventative care. The role of occupational therapy fits directly with this emphasis. The American Occupational Therapy Association (2008) identified occupational therapy\u27s roles to include promotion of healthy lifestyle, use of occupation as a means to improve health and provide services to both individuals and populations. Problem: Although health promotion and prevention is well within the realm of occupational therapy, Flannery and Barry (2003) found that only 54 percent of occupational therapists reported involvement with health promotion. The most common barriers to health promotion included limited resources, lack of knowledge and structure, and the presence of role confusion (Flannery & Barry 2003; Casey, 2000). Of the 54 percent of occupational therapists who reported involvement with health promotion, none indicated community affiliation (Flannery & Barry, 2003). However, it was found that the community setting was the most appropriate for occupational therapists to implement health promotion. Methodology: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify if there was a need for training occupational therapists regarding community health promotion and prevention programs. Emphasis was placed on implementation and locating funding sources. Additional literature was researched to identify an appropriate theoretical basis regarding adult learning principles and strategies to ensure the appropriate delivery of information to the audience. Results: Developing an Occupational Therapy Community/client WeIlness Program workshop was designed to educate occupational therapists on the process of designing and implementing a community-based health promotion program. The workshop will also provide education on locating and accessing funding for such a program. The workshop is designed from a facilitator\u27s perspective so anyone could take the information and provide the workshop. Additional resources, information and learning activities are included and are based on Knowles\u27s (1980) adult learning theory