Perspectives Winter/Spring 2018

36 Nova Southeastern University ersity Occupational Therapy Fort Lauderdale Students Build Community Connections to Promote Occupational Therapy in Mental Health By Carol Lambdin-Pattavina, Dr.OT, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, and Wendy Stav, Ph.D., OTR/L, SCDCM, FAOTA, Professor OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY has deep-seated roots in the mental health practice area, beginning in the early 20th century when the profession developed in tandem with the mental hygiene movement. Despite evolution of the practice area with deinstitutionalization of mental health facilities in the 1960s, concern for individual, community, and population-based mental health persists. The World Health Organization identified mental illness as a growing cause of disability worldwide, while the American Occupational Therapy Association named mental health as a key practice area in the 21st century. As services for individuals with mental illness shifted from medical model approaches in hospitals to community-based services, there has been a shift in the philosophy toward a recovery model. Occupational therapy incorporates the recovery model in mental health services by facilitating, supporting, and advocating for participation in community activities and life. To infuse this approach into the Master of Occupational Therapy Program in Fort Lauderdale, there has been an inten- tional addition of community-based mental health centers to the roster of fieldwork sites in the local area. Not only have these additional sites added to the depth of student learning, but collaborations with these sites have also contributed valuable occupational therapy perspectives and services to the clients served. One of the sites is the Nancy J. Cotterman Center, which serves survivors of both sexual assault and child abuse. One Master of Occupational Therapy student had the opportunity to complete her fieldwork rotation at the center, which added tremendous value to her learning experience. The Cotterman Center provides critical services and resources to survivors, including a crisis unit, forensic medical examinations, child protection teams, and a counseling unit. The nature of the work is extremely sensitive, and service providers must be acutely aware of the ramifications of such traumas. The Department of Occupational Therapy was thrilled when the center agreed to host its inaugural fieldwork student, Sarah Spreckelmeier. With guidance from NSU faculty members, Spreckelmeier was able to competently navigate a service area that can be extremely challenging and often leads to compassion fatigue. She collaborated with on-site therapists daily, provided education regarding occupational therapy, co-facilitated individual sessions, and made numer- ous recommendations to enhance the psycho-emotional security of the environment. Because her advocacy was so effective, she solidified an in- crease in the number of students who will be accepted at the center. Reflecting on the learning outcomes, Spreckelmeier said, “Not only was I able to apply my growing knowledge