Alabama's Rights Reflection

For my senior year field placement, I am currently working at Elwyn’s Media campus in the Children’s Behavioral Health Services Outpatient program. At the outpatient program I am working with the Director of Clinical Operations, Ellen Chung. I also work with Jennifer Torrey who is the Clinical Coordinator for Elwyn’s Media location’s Outpatient program. I also work one on one with the Outpatient Case Manager, Shaneen Brown. I am also working in the Therapeutic After School Program (TASP). At the TASP I work with the Case Manager Jennifer Ziegler and the Clinical Case Manager Denise Georganas. The outpatient therapy team at Elwyn is a multidisciplinary team that works to help children reach their fullest potential. Some services offered by the Outpatient program at Elwyn are psychiatric evaluations, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, medication management, client/family education and community resources. The goal of the Therapeutic Socialization Program is to facilitate socialization and communication skills and to decrease problematic behaviors through participation in fun and engaging in activities. This program is based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and other proven approaches to develop individually tailored treatment protocols to help children, adolescents and young adults in the areas of socialization, self-regulation and communication. The TASP also focuses on providing parents with new information to better understand their child’s

Innovative and continuing to improve and include interactions and experiences with families and children within the service.

The roles of an occupational and physical therapist at the centre is to perform initial assessments for new patients. The PT assesses how good their balance, strength, and independence are. Then prepares an exercise plan to increase independence based on the three objectives. The OT assesses if they need special equipment (sock aid, shower chair) to help assist the patient when they are home alone. Also, if they are able to put on their pants and get in and out of the shower safely. Lastly, both therapists follow up with their patients to see how they progress.

I am the physical therapy team leader at a pediatric outpatient physical and occupational therapy clinic. This clinic evaluates and treats children between the ages of birth and 21 years with a variety of conditions, including, but not limited to: developmental delays, orthopedic and neurological conditions, brachial plexus injuries, torticollis and plagiocephaly, and autism spectrum disorders. Occasionally, the therapists will evaluate and treat an adult patient with developmental disabilities. The clinic is open five days per week with four occupational therapists, three physical therapists, one physical therapist assistant, and a Spanish-speaking interpreter. As the physical therapy team leader, I work with the occupational therapy team leader to suggest, establish, and implement new programs at the clinic, under the direction of the therapy manager.

These teams provide strength- based, child centered, culturally sensitive and trauma informed clinical consultations to DCP, facilitate center driven office based training sessions in the areas of mental health, domestic violence , early childhood and substance abuse, as well as make referral recommendations and form linkages with community based providers of substance abuse, mental health and domestic violence services.

OT treatments can occur in inpatient and outpatient settings, schools and even the home. Occupational therapy’s role in treating children with RA will focus on joint protection principles, contracture prevention, maintaining range of motion and muscle strength while encouraging normal movement patterns. We will also focus on energy conservation techniques to balance rest and activity; splinting may be recommended, which would fall under OT’s scope of practice. We would also be adapting our patients for maximum independence for activities of daily living. Children with RA have to adapt to a completely different lifestyle to work around this disease; because of this, there is a psychosocial component to this diagnosis. Children may not be able to participate fully in all of the same activities as their peers. Leisure, play, and social participation will be impacted. OT can encourage patient involvement in support groups, group treatment sessions with like-individuals which can have a great therapeutic effect. OT will focus on treating holistically with client centered care in

Group training for parents, “targets antecedent strategies and specific client needs” as they come together and learn from trainers and, “involves

Helen Dabbs is team lead at the children’s therapy centre, part of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

The services that are provided at the CSTC is consistent with the mission to work with the patients, families, and local community to better the children in their treatment and ultimately have them return to their communities. There is a continued process with the staff on enriching, supporting, and treating the patients to meet their individual treatment goals, while providing a safe environment and strong foundation to attain those

68). The youths that can benefit from this program are youths experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges or medically fragile. The TFC offers a first time exposure to a family environment with healthy adult-to-child communication and behaviors exist (Boyd, 2013). The TFC closely supervises youths at all times, closely monitors their peer associations, follows through with consequences, encouraging youths in academic skills, and encourage family members to improve communication skills.

Pt participated in a 60-minutes treatment session for developmental milestone in the OT gym. Pt jumped on the trampoline, performed valance, exercises(squat, X-jumps, Knee cross, and donkey kicks), obstacle course (6 steps, picked up a card for speech therapist, swing, and dock walk)to increase sensory input( proprioception, vestibular, tactile, and visual), fine and gross motor skills, self-regulation, body awareness, balance, bilateral coordination, and behavioral issues. First, pt jumped on the trampoline for 10 rounds. Second, pt performed valance while placed in a wilbager position with arms extended to pick-up simulated fruits as instructed by the therapist. Third, pt performed exercises (squats, x-jumps, knee cross, donkey kicks for

Therapy is not only just for mental health, but it is for physical and emotional which formed a good individual with a good well-being. Most of children are seeking for help when they are sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect. Multiagency working provides benefits for children, young people and families because they receive tailor-made support in the most efficient way (National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to children, 2011).

Pediatrics - The pediatric physical therapist works with children of all ages and their families in helping the child to achieve functional movement after an injury or with a disability. Some pathologies seen in this area include, cerebral palsy, genetic disorders, arthrogryposis, and muscular dystrophy. The physical therapy will assess or evaluate areas such as the child’s joint flexibility, posture, endurance, balance, coordination, muscle strength, muscle tone, motor control, motor planning, functional movement, equipment needs, and work to determine if the child would benefit from physical therapy services in order to help alleviate a motor problem.

For the last decade the children placed with me were institutionalized or had quickly blown out of large numbers of previous homes, these children truly respond well to unconventional techniques. Adult clients appeared to appreciate this as well, discussions revolving around plan goals from a new perspective and asking questions have shown to trigger personal evaluations and engagement in the process of working with me a Parent Aid.

Ending year three clients will have stable housing, transportation, employment, mental health, child care, healthier relationships and confidence in their parenting skills through learning the resources given by the case manager.