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NCTRC e-News
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification
Protecting and Promoting Since 1981
Welcome to NCTRC e-News
Happy New Year from NCTRC!
January/February 2023
CTRSs to Celebrate Recreational Therapy Month: February 2023
The purpose of Recreational Therapy Month is to increase the awareness of the profession and the incredibly important role that recreational therapists play in promoting health and well-being.
During Recreational Therapy Month, CTRSs and their agencies often host activities, lectures and presentations, career days, adaptive sport events, workshops, receptions, information booths, and open houses. Proclamations, press releases, articles and public service announcements are also great ways to enhance the awareness of the CTRS® credential during Recreational Therapy Month.
NCTRC offers an array of promotional materials for use at your agency during Recreational Therapy Month or any other time, to help promote the CTRS credential and recreational therapy services. All NCTRC promotional materials can be downloaded in PDF format from the NCTRC website.
State, provincial, regional, and national, therapeutic recreation associations offer promotional items via their respective websites to enhance awareness of the profession and the Recreational Therapy Month celebration.
NCTRC Certification Standards Update
Certification Standards provides important information for the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist® and New Applicants. The NCTRC Certification Standards are updated periodically. Candidates are responsible for making sure they have the most current information and that they meet the current standards when they apply for certification. Please read the NCTRC Certification Standards, published January 1, 2023, thoroughly. If you have any questions about the NCTRC certification process or the information contained in the NCTRC Certification Standards, please contact NCTRC at (845) 639-1439 or send an email to nctrc@nctrc.org.
NCTRC Welcomes New Board Members
As a result of the NCTRC Board of Directors election that took place online from November 1 to November 30, 2022, NCTRC is pleased to announce the addition of the following newly elected Board members: Holly A. Eichner (Ohio) and Shaeron Michelle King (Virginia).
- Holly A. Eichner, Ph.D., CTRS-BH resides in Toledo, Ohio. Holly earned a Master of Education degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a concentration in
Research and Measurement and a certificate in Peace Education from the University of Toledo. She is currently Program Director and Associate Lecturer for the University of Toledo Recreational Therapy undergraduate program and a contingent Recreation Therapist at Promedica Monroe Regional Hospital on the behavioral health unit. Her responsibilities as Program Director and Associate Lecturer include development of lectures, assignments, projects, and examinations to ensure quality learning within the Recreational Therapy department; Clinical and Internship Coordinator; oversight of curriculum and accreditation, graduate assistantship supervisor, recruitment, and community outreach.
- Shaeron Michelle King, CTRS resides in Richmond, Virginia. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Florida. Shaeron has 27 years of experience in the TR field that includes several areas such as long-term care and psychiatric facilities. She is currently employed by the City of Hampton, Department of Parks, Recreation and Leisure Services as the Therapeutic Recreation Program Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities include the oversight and management of all therapeutic recreation and inclusion services and staff within the parks, recreation, and leisure services department.
In addition, the Board recently approved the reappointment of Shaun Geise (Indiana) to the role of Employer Representative for the NCTRC Board of Directors. Each of these individuals will serve a 3-year term from April 2023 – April 2026 and will bring a unique perspective to Board deliberations. We appreciate the willingness of these certificants to share their knowledge and expertise with the organization.
The NCTRC Board of Directors fulfill the responsibility of making decisions related to certification standards, governance, and oversight, and provide overall strategic direction for the organization. You can make an impact on the future of NCTRC by serving on our Board of Directors, the governing group that defines strategy and innovation for our global professional credentialing community. If you are interested in being a nominee for a future NCTRC Board election, please email the office (nctrc@nctrc.org) indicating your name and interest; one of the NCTRC staff will get in touch regarding the next steps.
Follow Us on LinkedIn!
NCTRC is pleased to announce that we are now officially on LinkedIn! Our goal is to provide our followers with an easy way to receive updates and insights about NCTRC and the CTRS credential. With millions of users, LinkedIn is the place to go for professional business connections.
If you have a profile on LinkedIn, please connect with our company page!
NCTRC Digital Badges - Learn it. Earn it. Share it.
For those who hold CTRS Credential, Professional Eligibility status, and CTRS Specialization Area Designation, please note that NCTRC has sent digital badge issue notifications via an email from Credly. Watch your inbox for this important email from “NCTRC via Credly admin@credly.com”.
We believe that NCTRC Digital Badges will further enhance your professional standing and achievements. So, when you earn a badge, be sure to claim the badge, and then share your badge! Share your digital badge on social media, embed it into your email signature, or add it to your resume or website to showcase your accomplishments. Broadcast your achievement to friends and colleagues to get the recognition you deserve. You’ve worked hard to earn this credential – now it’s time to share it with the world!
We hope you take advantage of this benefit and enjoy the professional recognition afforded by our badging program.
To learn more about digital badges, go to NCTRC. Take a moment to look at the NCTRC Digital Badge FAQs and NCTRC Badge Earner Guide for more information. Visit the NCTRC YouTube Channel to watch various tutorials about digital badges. If you have questions, please contact NCTRC at nctrc@nctrc.org or call (845) 639-1439.
Annual Maintenance Reminder
NCTRC will notify CTRSs of their pending renewal date by email. Certificants can complete the CTRS renewal process on-line by using MY NCTRC LOGIN via our online secure application portal. After logging into your dashboard profile, please click on the “Annual Maintenance Renewal” link. If that link is not available, please contact NCTRC for assistance.
NCTRC Awards Three Research Grants for the October 2022 Submission Window
The NCTRC Research Committee met in early December and approved three proposals for funding for the October 2022 submission window; congratulations go out to Betsy Kemeny, Ila Schepisi, and Rebecca Westenskow for submitting these excellent proposals! Once the projects have been completed, the investigators have given permission for NCTRC to post any article (link to the article) or executive summary/abstract resulting from this funding on the NCTRC website, social media sites, or in NCTRC marketing materials. We are proud to offer this program which seeks to open new doors for current RT practitioners as well as those pursuing careers in the field.
The new NCTRC Research Grant Program intends to:
1) Provide opportunities for individuals pursuing a career in or already practicing recreational therapy to establish and maintain lines of research,
2) Promote the collaboration between higher education faculty and practitioners,
3) Support the provision of quality recreational therapy services, and
4) Promote the CTRS as the qualified provider of recreational therapy services.
NCTRC would like to encourage individuals who hold active status as a CTRS or are currently enrolled in TR/RT coursework or academic programs to consider applying for an NCTRC Research Grant. As a reminder, research grants will be awarded two times per year with the next grant submission deadline of March 15 at 11:59 PM ET; with funding awarded in May to the selected applicant(s). NCTRC Research Grant Application packets will be reviewed by the NCTRC Research Committee and applicants will be notified of the decision via email.
To learn more, visit nctrc.org and apply today. If you require additional information or have questions, contact NCTRC at 845-639-1439 or nctrc@nctrc.org.
Internship Thanks!
NCTRC extends its sincere appreciation to CTRSs who serve as internship supervisors. The internship supervisor plays an extremely important role in the development of new TR professionals and potential CTRSs. The academic internship is an incredibly important element in the professional preparation process, and we deeply appreciate your involvement. NCTRC has created an Agency Internship Supervisor Resource Guide to assist the agency CTRS internship supervisor in preparing for their role in the student’s internship experience.
NCTRC also has several resources that may be of assistance to students during their internship and application for certification, including the Student Internship Resource Guide. For a full list of resources, go to nctrc.org.
Just a reminder that as an agency CTRS internship supervisor, you can receive continuing education credit toward your recertification. For additional information, please review the Internship Supervision for Continuing Education Form.
Go further with an NCTRC Scholarship.
An NCTRC Scholarship recognizes the achievements of those who seek to advance their knowledge and professional competency to improve the quality of recreational therapy services.
Recertify and Reinvest in Yourself.
NCTRC knows how hard you worked to obtain the CTRS® credential. Continue your professional journey by renewing your CTRS certification.
Please contact NCTRC at 845-639-1439 or nctrc@nctrc.org.
Thank you for your continued support of NCTRC and the CTRS® credential!
