We Need Your Help – OT Mental Health Parity Act
The New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association (NJOTA) has been working tirelessly to reaffirm Occupational Therapy Practitioners (OTPs) as recognized “practitioners of the healing arts” in New Jersey. Similarly, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is actively advocating to expand the role of OTPs in delivering mental and behavioral health services nationwide. We need your support to advance these efforts by backing the OT Mental Health Parity Act. AOTA has made it simple and convenient for you to take action by providing a user-friendly website where you can send a personalized message directly to your state representatives. This legislation is a crucial step in reestablishing OT’s vital role in mental and behavioral health care. Visit the AOTA website today and make your voice heard—act now!***Note Telehealth for Medicare and Medicare Cuts are additional issues as well. Congratulations Elaine Mumau!NJOTA would like to congratulate Elaine Mumau for winning the 2024 NBCOT Imact Award.
Dr. Elaine Mumau, an OTR from New Jersey, has transformed the client care she provides with nature-based occupational therapy. Recognizing that nature and animals profoundly impact human health, Dr. Mumau has integrated the therapeutic properties of the outdoors, horses, and aquatic interventions into her therapy sessions at her private practice, HOPE Therapy Services, LLC.
Read Full ProfileNeeds Assessment for TODOSWe are a group of Hispanic/Latino/a/e Occupational Therapist Practitioners(OTPs) who seek to build a regional community for OT students and practitioners who identify as Hispanic/Latino/a/e and allies.
We seek to pilot a regional TODOS, The Terapia Ocupacional para Diversidad, Oportunidad y Solidaridad, chapter to support and guide Hispanic/Latino/a/e OTPs and students in the Northeast Region. TODOS is a national professional network community of occupational therapy practitioners and students whose mission is to support and mentor one another, promote the exploration of careers in occupational therapy by Hispanics, and address issues of diversity, inclusion, and multiculturalism within the occupational therapy profession.
A regional chapter of TODOS will support the growth and advancement of the Latino/e OT community. TODOS East Coast Chapter (TECC) aims to build capacity by fostering a supportive educational environment and enhancing self-efficacy and advocacy among the Latino/a/e community.
To pilot and inform this newly founded chapter, a Needs Assessment was developed to capture the unique needs of those in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania and to serve as a regional platform dedicated to fostering a dynamic network of occupational therapy (OT) professionals and students that mentors, supports, and advances the development of highly effective OT Latino/e/ leaders.
We request your assistance in disseminating our Needs Assessment to your members, circles, and beyond. Access to the Needs Assessment will close on 7/31/24. We would greatly appreciate your support and efforts in creating opportunities for the Hispanic/Latino/a/e community experiences and thoughts to be shared.
Thank you for your assistance and collaboration in our efforts.
Sincerely,
TECC Founding Members Victor, "Michael," Irma, and Ashley. Mission StatementThe New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association strives to provide excellence in educational, legislative, and professional networks and services for our membership, promoting the highest quality care for our clients and the community in the state of New Jersey through maximizing well-being and facilitating participation in everyday activities. AOTA–NBCOT® Joint Initiative: Developing the Occupational Therapy Licensure CompactAOTA and NBCOT staff recently collaborated to write a Health Policy Perspectives column in AJOT regarding the licensure compact initiative.The article is open to all, so please feel free to share the link with anyone that might be interested. Click here to read article
In Memory of Dr. Lynne RichardNJOTA is saddened to share the news that Dr. Lynne Richard passed away on January 13, 2025. Lynne graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science. She earned a master’s degree in counseling from Seton Hall University and a Ph.D. in educational psychology from Rutgers University. As a practicing occupational therapist, Lynne was drawn to work with underserved populations in both mental health and physical rehabilitation. With a passion for mentoring others, Lynne naturally transitioned into higher education. Lynne earned tenure at Kean University where she also served as department chair. In 2008, she moved with her husband to Miami Florida. She continued her commitment to students at Florida International University by serving as a professor, mentor, chair, and eventually Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Lynne has always been a leader in the occupational therapy community. She continued contributing to the profession by serving on numerous American Occupational Therapy committees and as a member of the Advisory Council for the American OT Foundation. In 2022, she was inducted as a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association, one of the highest honors in the profession. In addition to her OT activities, Lynne’s most important role was that of a family member. Her husband John, children Aaron and Rachel, daughter-in-law Mabel, and four grandchildren provided a foundation of love, motivation, and dedication. Lynne’s memory will continue in the lives of the students she taught, the faculty she mentored, people she served as an OT, and future practitioners who will continue to read her research. NJOTA's Statement in Response to Inspire 2023We are aware of statements and actions that occurred during the AOTA Inspire 2023 conference which caused harm to individuals in attendance and those words continue to reverberate, harming members in the larger OT community. We call upon our national organization (AOTA) to practice critical reflexivity, engage directly and transparently with the membership to take actions to repair the damage caused in the reported incidents at Inspire 2023 and generate solutions that foster inclusivity, belonging, and accountability.
New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association (NJOTA) Board of Directors is committed to standing up against systems, institutions, and structures that perpetuate the oppression of others and cause harm, whether the harm is intentional or unintentional, conscious, or unconscious, covert or overt. Action and accountability are required to develop sustainable changes that dismantle systems of racism and oppression.
NJOTA Board of Directors asks that AOTA provide a clear and detailed description of the complaints made during AOTA Inspire 2023 to offer context to membership for full transparency. Furthermore, AOTA should immediately explain to the membership and the OT community at large what specific actions were taken when the organization “responded promptly, treated seriously, and addressed confidentiality.” We believe that for AOTA to truly be “intentionally inclusive and equitable and embrace diversity in all its forms” AOTA must outline all actions that will be implemented for truth and racial healing specific to the comments made by AOTA past President Carolyn Baum if we are to achieve Vision 2025.
Special Interests GroupsThe NJOTA special interest groups exist to help practitioners network, share information and expertise, and generally monitor best practice in particular practice areas. They are only as successful as the participants make them. Groups can be started and supported by NJOTA; just contact the Chairs of the Practice Committee.
Membership in the SIGs is a benefit of membership in NJOTA.
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