MiOTA Member Newsletter

Hello MiOTA members,

Thank you for your membership! Your ongoing support of the association allows us to continue to

support efforts to protect and promote occupational therapy in the state of Michigan. As you know, we

have made great strides to support the interstate compact act to facilitate licensure across the state

lines with other states in the compact. The progress we made to support the status of these house bills

has required an enormous amount of effort and hours from your association volunteers. This is

especially important for many licensees where companies cross state lines, or a person is moving to a

new state or even a military spouse moving due to a relocation. A big thank you to our Advocacy

Committee led by Denise Hoffman and our lobbyist Bret Marr. Also thank you to all of you who

connected with your local representative encouraging support of the bills.

Also, a bit about membership! Look for invites to our “social” events and educational webinars. These

events are opportunities for each of you to invite a non-member occupational therapy practitioner to

participate so that they can experience our association. Remember if the guest joins within 24 hours of

the event they get a 25% discount on their inaugural membership.

As you review the Membership Report, you will see our membership numbers continue to be strong.

However, we have opportunity as a good number of our membership comes from students versus

practitioners in the state. I thank the faculty who support student engagement through membership. A

very small percentage of our practicing occupational therapy practitioners are members of MiOTA. As a

member speak to your colleagues about membership and invite them to a webinar or chapter meeting

so they can see the value of membership.

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Cathleen Johnson, OTD, OTRL, FMiOTA, FNAP

Leader of the Executive Committee and Co-Director for Membership

MiOTA recently received a donation of $500 from the Michigan Society of Hand Therapists. Thank for your support and partnership!

"Collaboration Between Occupational Therapy Practitioners and Elementary School Educators to Support Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" by Emily Scannell, Tom Scannell, and Karen Jacobs was recently published to Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics. Access the article through this link: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/JNABY2SAKPJSEKYCGUJ3/full?target=10.1080/01942638.2023.2277740

Shanna Haver, a recent graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint's occupational therapy

doctorate program, Class of 2023, is on a mission to make sailing more accessible. Combining

her passion for the water with her occupational therapy background, she conducted research at

the Downtown Sailing Center in Baltimore. This organization focuses on building self-esteem

through sailing and offers adaptive sailing opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

During her time at the center, Shanna was inspired to create a dock that offers a barrier-free

experience for individuals who use wheelchairs. Recognizing the need for greater accessibility,

she has developed the SeAccess Autonomy Concept Dock and has applied for a provisional

patent. Shanna's innovation earned her first place in the UM-Flint Office of Economic

Development's UMake the Change Student Innovation Competition.

Shanna Haver strongly believes that providing individuals with access to leisure activities can

have a profound impact on their quality of life. Her capstone research at the Downtown Sailing

Center conclusively demonstrated the positive influence of sailing on participants' overall quality

of life.

In line with her commitment to sharing these insights, Shanna has been actively presenting the

results from her 14-week Pilot Study. Additionally, she is diligently working on a manuscript for

publication in the esteemed American Journal of Occupational Therapy medical journal, further

highlighting the significant positive outcomes of her research.

Shanna's dedication to inclusivity extends beyond her innovative dock. She is building a

research team to conduct a study on the impact of the SeAccess Autonomy Dock. The study will

be carried out through a 3-year grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent

Living, and Rehabilitation Research, in partnership with Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns

Hopkins Hospital. This initiative seeks to maximize the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in

society through technology development and research. Shanna's work exemplifies the

transformative power of occupational therapy and its potential to create positive change in the

community.

In addition to her inventive work, Shanna is currently a grant coordinator for the Downtown

Sailing Center and is preparing for her occupational therapy board exam at the end of the

month.

https://news.umflint.edu/2023/11/07/um-flint-occupational-therapy-alum-working-to-make-sailing-more-accessible/

Emily Lupton, Occupational Therapy Student

I am in the last eight weeks of my Masters of Occupational Therapy program at Eastern Michigan University. I am currently completing my second Level II fieldwork placement at Life After Incarceration: Transition and Reentry which provides occupational therapy services for those who are currently or formerly incarcerated (https://www.lifeafterincarceration.com/)

I truly love occupational therapy. EMU’s OT program has pushed me to expand my comfort zone and explore new passions. In 2022, I was accepted to speak at MiOTA’s Annual Conference on sex/sexuality as an ADL. At the MiOTA Annual Conference in 2023, I presented my research on the benefits of the clubhouse model and the development of work skills for those with chronic TBI with my research team under Nichole Garcia, OTR/L (https://www.marctherapies.com/). We also presented this work at the EMU OT’s Spelbring Lectureship and Conference and The Brain Injury Association of MI’s Annual Conference. If you would like more information on either of these topics, please reach out at elupton@emich.edu.

To be cliché, I pursued occupational therapy because I like to work with people and help them. Honestly, I didn't have a good grasp of what OT was until completing my first semester of graduate school. Now I spend most of my time explaining what it is to others. I remember reading a Slagle lecture my first week of school and feeling the excitement warm my body as I realized I had made the right decision to switch from pursuing engineering to pursuing OT. In her 1993 lecture, Florence Clark said Occupational therapy practitioners help people live life to its fullest-no matter what. This foundational idea drives me.

Outside of my life as a developing OT, I work as a river day camp and programs director for the parks department in the city of Ann Arbor. I thoroughly enjoy all things kayaking, kids, and sunshine and have the opportunity to teach river programs including adaptive and senior kayaking trips. I am a huge board game enthusiast and frequently gather friends and family to share a good time.

As a final note, I would like to express the importance of being an MiOTA member. As all practitioners know, there is always work to be done with regards to advocating for our profession. Connections through MiOTA provide us not only with community and resources but also with information on how policy is affecting our practice and how to make a difference. If we want to continue to grow as the powerful and necessary profession we all know to be occupational therapy, we must continue to advocate like the wellbeing of those we serve depends on it because it does.

If you would like to be highlighted or would like to nominate a MiOTA member, please email us at website@miota.org.

Amber graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2015 and recently completed their Leadership Certificate Program. Amber started her career working in Skilled nursing (SNF), assisted living (ALF) and independent living facilities (ILF), and Outpatient Home Care. Since then, she has taken on a non-traditional role as a Care Coordinator, completing SNF utilization review/management for multiple health plans; recently transitioning into a leadership role.

She says, “The senior population is near and dear to my heart and I feel in my current role I can advocate for the patient, provider, and also represent the health plan to help bridge the gaps in care across the care continuum”.

Outside of work, Amber enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband have two busy boys. Amber also enjoys baking with her kids, crafting, gardening, event planning/decorating, being outdoors, and staying active.

Amber chose Occupational Therapy as her career pathway in high school after seeing immediate family members work with Occupational Therapists to regain their independence. She has always been passionate about caring for others and helping individuals explore opportunities to live their best quality of life.

Amber has volunteered her time as a member of the MiOTA Advocacy Committee since 2021. She decided to join the Advocacy Committee to support the profession she loves and grow as a professional. Her work on the Advocacy Committee has assisted with creating Lobby Day/advocacy infographics, hosting live webinars for MiOTA, and advocacy sessions at conference. Amber has enjoyed volunteering for MiOTA and the networking opportunities it has provided. She has appreciated learning from fellow Advocacy Committee members and encourages anyone interested to volunteer.

Happy Occupational Therapy Month to all our members and to all Occupational Therapists.

If you would like to be highlighted or would like to nominate a MiOTA member, please email us at website@miota.org. (Attn: Ray Roche)

The 2024 annual fall conference will be held at beautiful Boyne Mountain Resort October 18 to October 20, 2024. Our Keynote presenter will be Paul Artale. Discounted room rates will be available for a two-night minimum. We received a great response for the call for papers. Thank you to all who submitted presentations this year. All accepted presenters have been notified. We are always interested in having new or returning exhibitors at conference. Let us know of companies that you would us to invite to exhibit this year at Boyne Mountain Resort. Companies can also find information regarding being an exhibitor by visiting the MiOTA website.

For any questions, feel free to contact the conference planning committee at: conference@miota.org.

Seeking delegate and alternative delegate for the Special Education Advisory Committee through the Michigan Board of Education. MiOTA has been a valued member of this committee and we recognize Karen Tibbs, and Robin Pegg in their roles as delegate and alternative delegate respectively.

This opportunity provides occupational therapy to have a voice with the Michigan Board of Education while also focusing on serving the consumers of special education and occupational therapy.

Please contact Cathleen Johnson, Leader of the Executive Committee for the application via email at director@miota.org. If you have questions about the roles please contact either Karen Tibbs at mati.ktibbs@gmail.com or Robin Pegg at administration@miota.org

This is a great way to support MiOTA, the profession, and the students in need of special education.

SIS groups provide opportunities for MIOTA members to come together for discussion on areas of practice. The following SIS groups are looking for someone to lead or co-lead the sessions. Groups meet at least annually, but can meet as often as possible.

Geriatrics

Mental Health

Telehealth Reimbursement

Diversity

Rehabilitation

Groups meet at least annually at the annual conference in the fall, but can meet as often as they'd like to. SIS groups fall under the leadership of the Communications Director and must be members of MIOTA. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Holly Grieves at website@miota.org or Robin Pegg at administrator@miota.org.

Hey MiOTA members,

We are seeking chapter leaders for Flint, Lansing, Northwest, and Western chapters. A chapter leader

supports a “regular” meeting of the members of the chapter. Chapters can meet live or via a webinar.

Many chapters use the meeting to talk about clinical practice. Sometimes a chapter will have a guest

speaker. Professional Development Units (PDU) are provided to participants. The chapter leader is

responsible for emailing participants an invitation, securing a speaker or identifying a topic of discussion, track attendance, and submit attendance to the MiOTA office so that participants can receive a PDU certificate.

Please consider taking on this leadership opportunity. If you have a colleague who would like to share co-leadership that is an option as well.

Robin Pegg administrator@miota.org or Holly Grieves website@miota.org if you are interested.

MIOTA is looking for someone to scan and upload past paper documents to the MIOTA Google Shared Drive, please contact Cindy Klinger an finance@miota.org if you have the skill and are interested in volunteering.

Jessie Fredell, COTAL and Katrina Carrigan, OTRL become co-leaders of the Northwest Chapter.

Meet Jessie:

Jessie Fredell COTA/L has worked her entire career since 2011 with the geriatric

population in the Northwest Michigan region between the skilled nursing facility setting and home care setting. She has been in the home care setting for the majority of her career and takes pride in being able to assist local residents in overcoming challenges whether temporary or chronic within their own environment. In her free time, Jessie enjoys spending time with friends and family. She is married, they have a dog and enjoy riding the trails in their Jeep, kayaking down the river, and going on camping trips. Jessie attended her first MIOTA conference in 2021 and is looking forward to serving the Northwest Chapter with co-leader Katrina Carrigan, MS OTRL.

Meet Katrina:

Katrina started her career in occupational therapy as a COTA in 2011, then progressed to getting her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Saginaw Valley State University in 2019. Katrina has spent 12 years of her career working with the geriatric population in skilled nursing facilities. After graduating with her Masters, she accepted the role as director of rehab in a skilled nursing facility which she held for three years. Since February of 2023, she has been working with the geriatric population in the home health care setting within Northern Michigan.Outside of work, Katrina has been married for 16 years and has 2 children, ages 11 and 14. She enjoys

traveling with her family and spending time crafting. Katrina first became a member of MIOTA in 2018 and is looking forward to serving the Northwest Chapter as co-leader.

Dear OT's, OTA's, and students,

HB 4169 and HB 4170 (Compact Bill increasing access to OT services) has PASSED THE HOUSE on April 30th!!! This is wonderful news and we cannot thank each and everyone of you for advocating, attending events, and writing to your house representatives. Your efforts and time made a difference and the PT association publicly acknowledged all of the efforts by MiOTA which helped to get their compact bills passed through the House as well.

Next steps, our work is not done. The bills will now go to the Senate Health Policy Committee, then the Senate and finally the governor's office, pending our continued advocacy. Please reach out to your senator by June 15th to share the following message about the compact. We have focused the past two years advocating with the house so we need to share the information with the senate. To find your state senator: Look up a senator.

FYI, Attached is a list of the house representatives who supported the compact vote and those who did not. Please send your house representative an email to thank them for their support AND please send Representative Julie Rogers(JulieRogers@house.mi.gov) and Representative Doug Wozniak DouglasWozniak@house.mi.gov a special thank you email for all of their endless work the past two years and the main sponsors of these two bills, they have truly worked above and beyond.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Representative_______________,

I am a licensed occupational therapist in Michigan, and I work in (indicate the setting you work in). For the past two years, the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association has been working with the National Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact advocating for the Occupational Therapy Compact bill HB 4169 and HB 4170. The Occupational Therapy Compact is needed to help bridge the gap in areas where individuals do not have access to occupational therapy by granting the privilege of out of state occupational therapists to service in these areas of shortages. Additionally, the Occupational Therapy Compact will help those Occupational Therapists moving into Michigan to start working immediately under the Compact while they are waiting for their Michigan Occupational Therapy license to be processed (which can take months).

Occupational therapy practitioners work with individuals across the life span who may experience a condition or injury that may impact their independence with meaningful everyday activities. For example, infants who are born prematurely may have challenges with eating and may require occupational therapy to work on developing safe eating skills, however without occupational therapy services the infant may need to use a feeding tube as an alternative to eating. Another example of need is individuals who sustain work injuries to their hands, often will require custom splinting and exercises to facilitate range of motion and hand function. Without occupational therapy services, the individual may lose range of motion and function impacting their employment and financial stability. Lastly, individuals who sustain a stroke often require occupational therapy to provide and educate the individual on adaptive equipment so they can bathe, dress, and cook safely in their home. Those individuals who do not have access to occupational therapy are often placed in skilled nursing homes because they do not have the equipment and training to safely return home. The Occupational Therapy Compact can meet these needs and close the gaps so all Michigan residents have access to occupational therapy services when or if the need may arise.

There are 28 other states who have passed the compact with another 7+ states pending legislation in 2024. Currently, our bordering states Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio have passed the Occupational Therapy Compact and Illinois has pending legislation. Thank you again for your support as a sponsor of the Occupational Therapy Compact. . For additional information on the compact: https://otcompact.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Final_OT-Compact-Legislators-Fact-Sheet_Feb-2024.pdf

Kind Regards,

Provide your name and credentials and contact email

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you again for all of your time advocating, it made a difference!! For any questions, please contact MiOTA: advocacy@miota.org

Kind Regards,

Denise Hoffman, OTD, OTRL, BCP, FMiOTA

MioTA Advocacy Director

advocacy@miota.org

Updated Legislation

HB 4504 - Health occupations: physical therapists; physical therapy licensure compact; enact. Amends 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.1101 - 333.25211) by adding sec. 16188. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4505'23
Status: Referred To Committee On Health Policy (5/7/24)

HB 4505 - Health occupations: physical therapists; licensing process; modify to incorporate physical therapy licensing compact. Amends sec. 17801 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.17801) & adds secs. 17820a & 17820b. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4504'23
Status: Referred To Committee On Health Policy (5/7/24)

SB 749 - Appropriations: supplemental; appropriations for multiple departments and branches for fiscal year 2023-2024; provide for. Creates appropriation act.
Status: Placed On Order Of Third Reading With Substitute (s-2) (5/7/24)

1. Occupational Therapist Volunteers are needed! The Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) OT Board is looking for an Occupational Therapist with experience in behavioral health, specifically substance abuse and recovery, to serve on LARA’s Health Professional Recovery Program (HPRP). HPRP was established by the Legislature over twenty years ago as part of a disciplinary reform effort. The HPRP is a confidential, non-disciplinary program designed to assist licensed or registered health professionals recover from substance abuse/chemical dependency problems or a mental health problem. More information about the HPRP can be found here: https://hprp.org/. Contact Bethany Burge, MiOTA’s Liaison to the OT Board at office@miota.org

2. NEW Certification Renewal Activity through NBCOT: Competency Assessment Units (CAUs) The May 15, 2024 Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists meeting included a presentation from NBCOT representatives. Visit https://www.nbcot.org/ for more information about the new NBCOT Navigator. The digital platform offers skill competency assessments for various practice related domains and up to 36 licensure renewal credits for at no additional cost to certified OTRs and COTAs registered with NBCOT.

3. Michigan is one step closer to joining the national Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact! The OT Board is monitoring the progress of the OT Licensure Compact Act as it moves through the State Legislature. Two bills have favorably passed the Michigan House of Representatives and is under review of the Health Policy Committee within the State Senate. Keep an eye out for a Call to Action from the MiOTA Advocacy Chair in this newsletter and upcoming email announcements to support this effort!

4. The next OT Board meeting is scheduled for August 13, 2024 at 10:00 AM. Good news! The OT Board meetings are open to the public in-person, and now, via Zoom! The meeting link is included within each OT Board meeting’s agenda which are posted here: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/hp-lic-health-prof/ot/board/occupational-therapy-board-meeting-agendas-and-minutes

5. Do you have regulatory questions related to how to obtain or maintain your OTR or OTA license in Michigan? Contact Bethany Burge, MiOTA Liaison to LARA’s OT Board at office@miota.org

Stay safe, be well, & have a good day,

Bethany Burge, MS, OTR/L, CNP, CAPS

A Message from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Financial and Insurance Services:

Dear Health Care Provider,

Nationwide, Medicaid beneficiaries will once again have to renew their coverage starting this year to comply with federal legislation. In Michigan, annual eligibility renewals will begin in June 2023. It is important that you are aware of this federally required process because it has the risk of leaving some of your patients without health insurance.

As a health care provider, you can play a role in helping your patients stay informed and covered, and we are asking for your help. If you have Medicaid beneficiaries as patients, please consider asking them to do the following:

• Make sure their address, phone number and email address are up to date at Michigan.gov/MIBridges. They can also call their local MDHHS office. If they do not have an online account for MI Bridges to access their Medicaid case or report changes, they can sign up for an account. They can also locate organizations that can provide local help by searching for community partners.
• Report any changes to their household or income by visiting Michigan.gov/MIBridges or by calling their local MDHHS office.
• If they receive a renewal packet, make sure to fill it out, sign the forms, and return it by the due date with any proof requested. If they do not complete and return the renewal, they may lose Medicaid coverage even if they are otherwise eligible.

If one of your patients receives notice that a member of their household is no longer eligible for Medicaid or MIChild benefits, it is important that they know they have options for alternative health insurance, including no and low-cost coverage, and they should take quick action to avoid a lapse in coverage. For more information about options, including purchasing a low- or -no-cost health plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace, they can visit Michigan.gov/StayCovered. To help you communicate with your patients, a toolkit is available online that includes a flyer, sample newsletter articles, and more.

For patients with questions about purchasing a health plan on HealthCare.gov, they can visit Michigan.gov/HealthInsurance, or call the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) at 877-999-6442, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information about changes to food assistance and Medicaid benefits connected to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency can be found at Michigan.gov/2023BenefitChanges.

As a health care provider, you know that having health insurance is critical, not just for when people are sick or hurt, but also to help them stay healthy and afford the care they need. Thank you for taking these steps to make sure your patients are aware of the actions they need to take to stay covered so they can protect themselves and their families.

Thank you to all of those who attended the Diversity & Black OT Caucus Special Interest Section meeting during the MiOTA Fall Conference this year!

If you’re interested in joining this SIS please take a moment to take a quick survey and share your availability to meet: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/98JMXCN (Or scan the QR Code below).

The Standards of Practice for Occupational Therapy states that an occupational therapy

practitioner is knowledgeable about evidence-informed practice and applies it ethically and

appropriately to provide occupational therapy services consistent with best practice approaches

(AOTA, 2020). MiOTA’s Research & Education Special Interest Section is committed to

connecting clinicians with current evidence to help support practice. In our effort to connect

practitioners with the evidence, the Research & Education SIS has started sending monthly

emails with a summary of current research on various topics. The first email arrived in your

inbox in September and focused on fall prevention to help raise awareness of Fall Prevention

Awareness Week and occupational therapy’s role in fall prevention. October’s email focused on

mental health coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Week, Suicide Prevention Screening

Day and World Mental Health Day. November is Diabetes Awareness Month and November’s

email focused on occupational therapy’s role in diabetes management. December’s Research

Bytes will focus on occupation as a universal human right. If you missed any of the emails you

can find the Research Bytes on the MiOTA website.

Scholarly practice, also referred to as evidence-based practice, involves accessing, appraising,

using, and applying the knowledge base of the profession or discipline in one’s practice

(Zaccagnini et al. 2020). AOTA’s Knowledge Translation Toolkit is another great resource with

helpful information about how to find evidence and document evidence-based practice. Tips on

ways to maximize one’s time when gathering and reviewing evidence includes, using systematic

reviews when available, using clinical practice guidelines, and collaborating with students and

universities to assist with collecting evidence and conducting evidence reviews. Tips for

incorporating research evidence into clinical practice includes, utilizing terminology from the

published literature in daily documentation and adding the citation, if specific protocols or

interventions are used, referencing clinical practice guidelines when available, and using high

quality evaluations and outcome measures with good psychometric properties. The Knowledge

Translation Toolkit also has information about how you can become an evidence-based

champion where you work by creating an evidence-based practice committee or by starting a

journal club. If you don’t want to start your own journal club, the Research & Education SIS will

be starting a journal club. Stay tuned for more information about this opportunity to learn more

about the evidence and earn PDU’s.

AOTA and MiOTA are valuable resources to support you in your practice. If you have a topic

you would like to see covered in the MiOTA Research Bytes, if you would like us to get a

research article for you or if you would like a copy of the articles referenced in any of the

Research Bytes emails please contact one of the Research & Education SIS Co-chairs. Jayne

Yatczak jyatczak@emich.edu Katie Garvey kgarvey2011@gmail.com or Regina Parnell

ad9049@wayne.edu

If you are a student looking for a volunteer opportunity, the Research & Education SIS would

welcome your help in writing more in-depth summaries on current research topics in OT.

AOTA (2021) Standards of Practice, The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Vol.

75(Supplement_3), 7513410030

Zaccagnini M., Bussières A., West A., Boruff J., & Thomas A. (2020). Features of scholarly

practice in health care professionals: A scoping review protocol. Can J Respir Ther. 10;56:38-

41.

As a profession with origins in mental health treatments and as a qualified mental health

provider, occupational therapy has tools and a scope of practice to raise awareness,

screen clients, recognize mental health issues and address them at many levels.

In 2020, the second leading cause of death for US children age 10 to 14 was suicide. 70%

of youth in juvenile detention centers were diagnosed with a mental health disorder. The

state of Michigan ranked 35 th nationally for prevention and access to mental health care

for youth. Occupational therapists can play a role in improving these outcomes.

Arbesman, Bazuk and Nochajski conducted a systematic review of mental health

interventions for youth (ages 3 to 21) in 2013. Included interventions from 2003-2012

included some not delivered by occupational therapy. Using a public health model, the

authors found that interventions including peer and social interaction, teaching

compliance with adult directives, social rules and norms, and requiring participation in

productive or task focused behavior resulted in children being more likely to successfully

participate in school, home and community activities. In the public health Tier 1,

targeting a universal, whole population, OTs can focus on wellness and health promotion

through after school programs to develop social skills or facilitate an anti-bullying

program, including parent education, improved playground supervision and classroom

management techniques. Other areas of health promotion include stress management,

health literacy, prevention of back injury and childhood obesity as well as yoga. In Tier 2,

focus is on prevention or reduction of incidences and seriousness of problem behaviors

for those children who are at risk for behavioral issues. The potential clients include

children with learning disabilities, ADHD, intellectual impairments or developmental

delays and teenage mothers. Social and life skills programs that improve life skills,

practice conversation turn taking, initiation of social interaction, and self-management

help to decrease problem behaviors. Mother infant interactions are improved through

development of parental attitudes and knowledge, and working on mealtime

communication. Using play, leisure and recreation, play groups for abused and neglected

children improve play skills, self-esteem, positive feelings and reduce solitary play. In

Tier 3, OTs may focus on children with mental illness, ASD, or severe behavior

disorders. Teaching self-management strategies and social behavior can lead to greater

social competence. Friendship skill groups improve social interaction and reduce

difficulties. Using video modeling improves children with SMI peer interaction and on-

task behavior. Music related activities improve non-verbal and verbal communication

skills. The systematic review shows the importance of social interventions for promoting

and sustaining mental health in youth. The relationship of mental health promotion and

socialization is supported and carried forward in a recent report issued by the Office of

the Surgeon General.

The 2023 report, The Epidemic of Social Isolation and Loneliness: The U.S. General’s

Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connectedness and Community, calls for

“immediate awareness and action”. In 2016, only 30% of Americans reported that they

could reliably trust others, down from 45% in 1972. The average time spent alone has

increased to 24 hours per month. As of 2020, the amount of time 15-24 year olds spend

with friends in person has decreased 70% over 20 years. Those at greatest risk include

those with poor physical or mental health, disabilities, financial insecurity, living alone,

single parents, younger and older populations, and those living in rural areas. Social

isolation and loneliness increases the risk for depression and anxiety, and social isolation

is the strongest and most reliable predictor of suicide ideation, attempts, and lethal

suicide behaviors. In contrast, connectedness has positive influences on health indicators

like blood pressure, cardiovascular reactivity, and oxidative stress. Strong perceptions of

community belonging and social cohesion lead to improved health. The Surgeon

General’s office calls for a national strategy to strengthen social infrastructure in local

communities, enact pro-connection public policies, mobilize the health sector, reform

digital environments, and deepen our awareness and knowledge of the importance of

social connection as a health and well being priority. Occupational therapists can screen

and assess for social support and loneliness and address these issues individually with

clients, finding ways to strengthen existing supports and new ways to connect with

others. OT practitioners can help to design physical and social settings in the community,

which are inclusive, accessible to all, and structured to facilitate interaction well.

Thinking about digital connections, occupational therapy professionals can help

implement adaptive technology, train clients on use, and become knowledgeable of

software and hardware that promote connection to introduce and try with clients. As a

profession, occupational therapy practitioners can advocate with lawmakers and power

brokers to minimize harm from disconnection and promote community ties. In practice

and training, they can research and gather evidence of the importance of social

connection and belonging to improve and sustain health and well-being. Developing

innovative, effective interventions can further demonstrate how important they are as

contributing factors to mental health.

Arbesman, M., Bazyk, S., & Nochajski, S. (2013). Systematic review of occupational therapy

and mental health promotion, prevention and intervention for children and

youth. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67:6, p. 120-130.

Office of the Surgeon General of the United States (2023) Our Epidemic of Loneliness and

Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social

Connection and Community.

https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf

If you are interested in reading the full articles or report, please contact me at

kgarvey2011@gmail.com to request a copy.

OTA: Elizabeth (Eva) Anderson, Grand Rapids Community College

Eva Anderson (she/her) is an Occupational Therapy Assistant student at Grand Rapids Community College with plans to graduate in 2024. She served as the 2023 President of the GRCC Chapter of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) which enabled her to serve not only the organization and members, but also the local community through a variety of community outreach projects. In addition, she was able to initiate and lead her cohort to receive GRCC’s first ever award for 100% Academic Program MiOTA Membership at last year's MiOTA conference, where she volunteered as a Student Ambassador.

She hopes to center her OTA career in the pediatric field and has a special interest in finding creative ways to successfully integrate retained primitive reflexes to help kids become as successful as possible as they live, learn, and play. Motivated by her experience and interest in mental healthcare, she has also developed a passion for promoting the integration of trauma-informed care practices into all care as a means to more effectively support every individual, even those who are not yet ready or able to openly acknowledge their experiences.

Eva would like to express to her immense gratitude for being awarded the 2024 OTA Student Scholarship and to encourage other students and new grads to get involved early and experience first-hand the welcoming educational and professional space that MiOTA is, regardless of specialty or experience. She can't wait to meet you at the next conference!

OT:

Kallen Wolfer - Western Michigan University

Bio: Kallen Wolfer is a second year OTD student at Western Michigan University- Grand Rapids. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Movement Science. During her gap year between her undergraduate and graduate program, she was a paraprofessional at Empower U, a transition school for adults aged 18-26 with developmental disabilities. During that time, she fostered a love and appreciation for her students and occupational therapy. She will be returning to Empower U for her Capstone Project and Experience, focusing on increasing student engagement in health promoting behaviors. She is currently undecided on what population/setting she would like to work with. Rather, she wants to explore the multitudinous opportunities OT has to offer during her level II fieldworks and as a new graduate.

Kallen was the event coordinator on her SOTA board and organized events that helped support the Grand Rapids community with her fellow OT students. She additionally was a MIOTA student ambassador at the 2024 MIOTA fall conference where she learned a great deal about our incredible profession. She immensely enjoyed returning to Mackinac Island for the conference where she used to be a Mackinac Island Honor Scout. When she is not in school, she can be found working as a barista at her hometown coffee shop, working as a student assistant for the WMU OT faculty, swimming and playing water polo, and most importantly, walking her 11 year old corgi, Zeus.

Kallen is deeply grateful and honored to be selected for this scholarship and looks forward to supporting MIOTA's endeavors in the future.

THANK YOU to the MiOTA Student Scholarship Committee:

Sara Clark, Chair

Mary Ellen East

Kim Pace

Angie Smith

MCCN is a networking community for all MiOTA student members to share any information, stories, or impactful situations that you have recently experienced that you think would benefit the occupational therapy student community’s growth toward continuous learning.

The MCCN allows a student to share any information from a personal or professional experience, or simply any material that is based within the occupational therapy profession – including any intervention approaches that you have recently identified, an assessment that would benefit a specific population or diagnosis if implemented, or new, evidence-based research that an OT student could integrate into their fieldwork practice.

MiOTA appreciates any expertise, recognition, or awareness that our members could share with the occupational therapy community. Below is a further list of ideas that could be included in the MCCN, featured in a MiOTA newsletter and on the website!

• Lightbulb moments – a particular realization or something you know now that you wish you would have known before entering the profession or fieldwork, or as a student transitioning into the new grad status

• Any way that you have created some structure/method to navigate the occupational therapy process more easily, and how you implement that method into your practice

• Level I, Level II fieldwork experiences, including preparation advice, what assessments and interventions strategies that you used in your specific fieldwork setting, etc.

• NBCOT study tips/resources

• OT program survival tips

• AE recommendations - where to buy, in what setting(s) would you recommend AE to a client?

• Continuing education opportunities!

• Discount resources – websites to find discounted OT textbooks, adaptive equipment, OT gear, etc.

• OT groups to join – associations, study groups, podcasts, etc.

• New evidence-based practice, new research within OT that an OT student could apply within their fieldwork setting

• Book suggestions outside of textbooks – novels, memoirs, etc. that could help a student see from an individual’s perspective within a specific clinical diagnosis/condition

If you have any questions or you would like your post to be featured on the MCCN and to our MiOTA members, please email Cydne Johnson at cydne.c.johnson@wmich.edu.

Dear pediatric provider/future provider:

My name is Gabrielle Jones, and I am Occupational Therapy Doctorate student from Western

Michigan University. I am conducting a research study to better understand the current

knowledge, role, and confidence of pediatric providers (primary care pediatricians, OT, SLP,

BCBA) and respective pre-professional students, regarding utilization of the updated CDC

developmental milestones and developmental surveillance.

This is an anonymous electronic survey, that will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. To

be eligible you must have access to internet in order to complete the electronic survey.

Eligibility Criteria - Professional Practitioners:

 Self-identify as having a current license to practice in the state of Michigan

 Engage in at least one of the following within the last 6 months in relation to a child’s

development from ages birth to 6 years old:

o Developmental surveillance, Developmental screening, Diagnosis, Evaluation for

treatment (including creation of treatment plan), Treatment provision, Patient

education, Referrals, Follow-up

Eligibility Criteria – Students:

 Currently enrolled at Western Michigan University in one of the following programs:

o Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Pathology, or Applied Behavior

Analysis/BCBA

Exclusion Criteria – Students:

 First year students

If you are interested, I have attached the anonymous survey consent form to this email with the

link to the survey. No names or emails will be collected when completing the survey. There is no

compensation for participating, although participants may contribute to a growing research base

in developmental surveillance with the potential to inform future clinical practice and training in

developmental surveillance and utilization of the CDC developmental milestones.

If you have any questions, please contact Gabrielle Jones (student investigator) or Dr. Michelle

Suarez (primary investigator).

Gabrielle Jones – gabrielle.a.jones@wmich.edu

Dr. Michelle Suarez – michelle.a.suarez@wmich.edu

Hello!

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Cameron, and I am reaching out to you on behalf of the members of Occupational Therapists for Environmental Action. We are currently conducting a research study on occupational therapy educators’ role in addressing environmental sustainability and climate change in education and practice, and we believe that your unique perspective and experiences would make a valuable contribution to our work.

The primary objectives of this research are:

1. To identify OT educators’ perspectives on incorporating content on climate change and environmental sustainability in entry-level OT and OTA curricula.

2. To determine how ACOTE-accredited and developing entry-level OT and OTA degree programs currently address climate change and environmental sustainability in their curricula.

Participation in this study will involve an anonymous online survey designed to collect quantitative and qualitative data regarding occupational therapy educators’ perspectives on climate change and environmental sustainability in their curricula. The survey will also gather demographic information to better understand the contextual factors. The survey should take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the survey using this link: https://survey.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6MC0MYtjsKQ0Efk

Thank you for considering being a part of our research. Your contribution could play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the role of OT education and climate change. If you would like more information before participating, please feel free to contact our project lead, Audi Santos, OTD, OTR/L:

Principal Investigator

Audi Santos, OTD, OTR/L

ausantos@salud.unm.edu

(505) 272-8454

May 31, 2024

Income: Budget: $130,630.00

Actual: $28,771.49

Expenses: Budget: $128,860.00

Actual: $42,751.12

Net Income: ($13,979.63)

Thank you for your membership. It goes a long way towards offering annual conferences and paying for our lobbyists. Our lobbyist is doing a great job for Michigan's Occupational Therapist's.

As the finance director, I am looking to mentor someone for the finance director position. If you have an interest in administrative work, are good at keeping track of finances and are looking for an opportunity to become involved in MIOTA, please contact me at Finance@MIOTA.org. I'd love to talk to you about this great opportunity!

Cindy Klinger, BA, COTAL, FMiOTA, MIOTA Finance Director

Happy Spring MiOTA Members. On behalf of the membership committee, THANK YOU so much for your membership and support. We have continued to grow our numbers this year and that would not be

possible without each of you!

We are continuing to focus on reaching out and providing education around the state about the benefits

of being a MiOTA member. Please invite us to attend an event or even a lunch meeting (virtually or in

person.) We are always available to answer questions that anyone has about membership so please

don’t hesitate to reach out.

The membership committee is also planning quarterly Membership Drive- PDU Events during the year.

Please keep an eye out for an invitation and additional details via Email and the MiOTA Website. These

events will be for both Members and Non-Member so please think of a few friends or colleagues that

are not MiOTA members you can invite to join the event. We are also offering a special 25% discount for any Non-member that joins MiOTA within 24 hours of all events/webinars throughout the year.

Our next Virtual Social Event topic will be released soon. We are working on a date for this event and an

invitation will be sent out as soon as possible.

We also want to HEAR FROM YOU about exciting NEWS, Promotions, Anything OT related that is

happening with YOU, Colleagues, friends or in your clinic.

We hope everyone has a wonderful Spring and Summer!! Thank you so much for your support!!

-Sonny Grendel (MiOTA Membership Co-Director) sonnykay12@gmail.com

SAdvocacy Updates:

The COMPACT PASSED THE HOUSE COMMITTEE April 30, 2024. Congratulations to everyone who has contributed by attending Lansing Lobby Day over the past 2 years, met with representatives, sent emails and called your representative, it made a significant difference. Next, the bill will move to the Senate Health Policy Committee and the Senate which we hope will occur mid summer. Your voice is still needed to increase awareness and advocate for the bill with members of the Senate. Please send your Senate representative an email to ask for their support on HB 4169 and HB 4170. Here is a sample email template you can use to send to your Senator today. Here is a link to find your Senator and their contact information: https://senatedems.com/find/

Email Template:

For the past two years, the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association has been working with the National Occupational Therapy Compact Commission advocating for the Interstate Compact bill HB 4169 and HB 4170 and has passed the House in April 2024! The Occupational Therapy Compact is needed to help bridge the gap in areas where individuals do not have access to occupational therapy by granting the privilege of out of state occupational therapists to service in these areas. Additionally, the Occupational Therapy Compact will help those Occupational Therapists moving into Michigan to start working immediately under the Compact while they are waiting for their Michigan Occupational Therapy license to be processed (which historically has taken months to process interfering with qualified providers entering the workforce).

Occupational therapy practitioners work with individuals across the life span who may experience a condition or injury that may impact independence with meaningful everyday activities. Adults may experience a disruption in their self care skills, vocational abilities, home management, driving, socialization, financial management, and / or community integration. Children may experience difficulties with self care, developmental milestones, eating, learning, self regulation, and socialization. The scope of occupational therapy may include addressing areas such as motor, sensory, cognition, and mental health through rehabilitation, education, environmental adaptations, and / or accommodations. The Occupational Therapy Compact can meet these needs and close the gaps so all Michigan residents have access to occupational therapy services when or if the need may arise.

There are 28 other states who have passed the compact with another 7+ states pending legislation in 2024. Currently, our bordering states Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio have passed the Occupational Therapy Compact and Illinois has pending legislation. I am asking for you to consider the need for the residents of your community and Michigan and vote in support of the Occupational Therapy Compact. For additional information on the compact review this information: https://otcompact.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Final_OT-Compact-Legislators-Fact-Sheet_Feb-2024.pdf

Kind Regards,

(provide your name and credentials, i.e. OT, OT student)

(provide your contact email)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BY LAWS UPDATE

For the past year, the MiOTA ByLaws committee has met monthly to review and draft ByLaws updates needed to meet the changes within our profession, health care, academia, and our society. ByLaws are the governing document for the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association, to ensure equitable transparency and consistent protocols are followed to foster a professional organization for occupational therapy practitioners and students that supports networking, continuing education, and advocacy. The Bylaws were amended in 2005 and 2010, however are currently outdated and require attention to meet and align with the current climate of occupational therapy in the state and nationally. The ByLaws can be located on the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association website under the tab "About" and then "Official Documents", or through this link: https://www.miota.org/docs/BYLAWS_OF_MiOTA.081410_-_CLEAN..pdf

The Bylaws include the following information:

• Purpose and scope of the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association
• Membership categories
• Overview of Dues
• Description of the board positions and responsibilities (Executive Board and Association Board)
• Description of meetings and voting rights
• Description of the Chapters, Committees and Special Interest Sections

MiOTA is based on volunteers to fulfil leadership and committee positions and to unify a collective voice for the profession and the consumers in the state of Michigan. The MiOTA ByLaws committee includes representation of Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants who are working in settings across the lifespan which brings diverse perspectives to the discussion and proposed language changes in the current ByLaws. The PROPOSED ByLaw changes will be available to review by the end of the summer and will be presented formally at the Annual Meeting at the MiOTA State Conference in October for membership vote. Please take the time to review the current ByLaws and submit any feedback on recommendations for changes, and then please review the proposed ByLaw changes that will be released late summer and provide any feedback. Your voice does make a difference and is highly valued in this process to bring MiOTA ByLaws current to guide the Association with professionalism, diversity, and equity.

Please submit any comments to: advocacy@miota.org

Auto No-Fault, Update

The Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault (CPAN) and supporters gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday November 14th, 2023 for a final advocacy effort of the year. This day marked the last day of the legislative session of the year, and session will return mid-January. The current bills, SB 530, 531 and 575 were passed in the Senate in mid-October. SB 530 to revise limitations on charges; SB 531 to cross-reference to amended section of the insurance code; SB 575 to cross-reference in the insurance code, amend section to reflect elimination of referenced definition. CPAN hopes that the legislature will make solving the crisis a priority in 2024.

Stay up to date: https://protectnofault.org

Paige Natke, OTD, OTRL

Member-At-Large

New Leader

Nancy Hock, OTRL became the new leader of the Communications Committee as of the Fall Conference replacing Holly & Robin. Holly & Robin will still be working behind the scenes.

Certificate Portal

MiOTA is now using Simple Cert to provide you with a portal where you can access your certificates for attending PD events. If you attend a MiOTA sponsored event or meeting that provides PD credits, after the meeting you will receive your certificate via email from Simple Cert. You will also receive login information so that you can go back and access any/all of the PD certificates you have received since we began the service.

Member newsletters will go out 4 times this year: January - April - July - October. These newsletters are full of information about upcoming events and important information related to occupational therapy practice, certification, and licensure.

Nancy Hock, OTRL

Communications Director

Holly Grieves

website@miota.org

Robin Pegg

administration@miota.org

Midwest Hand Therapy

Shelby township location

Part time opening Tuesday/Thursday/Friday

Experience in hands and splinting required

Contact Jen Maiani at 586-532-0803 if interested

Broad River Rehab is Growing!

BRR has a part-time COTA opening in Plainwell, MI.

Part Time Benefits Include:

• Competitive wages
• PTO
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Company Paid CEUs
• Mentorship program for all new graduate or new to the SNF setting

Broad River Rehab is a knowledgeable and compassionate employer, owned and operated by therapists.

For more information, contact:
Whitney Deck
at 864-313-0770 or
wdeck@broadriverrehab.com

There are many opportunities to advertise through MiOTA. Go to our website and in the dropdown box titled “About Us” find the Advertise with Us dropdown. Advertise your jobs, company, research study, or event through MiOTA.