Occupational therapists have essential roles in many healthcare and school settings, yet funding for OT positions is often lacking. A new program called OT Share in Colorado State University’s Center for Community Partnerships, housed within the Department of Occupational Therapy, aims to provide northern Colorado organizations in need with access to occupational therapy students on a short-term or long-term basis.
The need
Julie Silver Seidle, the doctoral experience capstone coordinator in the department, saw the need for community OTs while doing work in a similar role before her stint at CSU began. After nearly a decade in practice, and successfully earning her Ph.D. in occupation and rehabilitation science from CSU, Seidle began work in day programming and other community nonprofits in the Fort Collins area. The work came to a screeching halt when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 causing the closing of the day program along with other opportunities for OTs to work and serve community needs. This led to a shortage of occupational therapists employed in the community, while the need remained. This need was recognized by Seidle and James Graham, director of the Center for Community Partnerships, the outreach arm of the department, and they began work to find a solution.
The solution was OT Share. The program was intentionally designed to get current OT students out into the community and into practice settings where there was a need for occupational therapists. The creative cost-sharing of occupational therapists supports local community needs while advancing the education of occupational therapy students.
The symbiotic relationship provides community partners with an OT in support of their mission and clients while also providing crucial experience to advanced students. Engaged community partners can set their own priorities and request how many students they need and how often. While the students are compensated, the cost does not fall fully on the community partner. Grants and other funding from the OT Share program can augment partner investments in OT student pay.
“OT Share combines innovative service delivery models and cost-sharing approaches to create more accessible and sustainable OT services to community nonprofits interested in incorporating OT into their umbrella of supports and services,” said Seidle.
In the community
OT Share has been building on decades-long community relationships while also creating new relationships. One longtime community partner, SummitStone Health partners, experienced first-hand the benefits of a staff OT while an OT Share student worked in their practice. These benefits were so evident, SummitStone decided to hire a full-time occupational therapist this past summer – a graduate of the CSU OT program.. With funding still available for an OT Share student going into late 2024, SummitStone will still be utilizing the program even after the hiring of their full-time OT.
“The purpose of OT share is to explore local community needs, opportunities, and challenges and provide OT to community partners through OT student fieldwork experiences,” explained Seidle. “We are excited that our new OT faculty member Bianca Doherty brings extensive community work experience that will help us assess the needs and build partnerships at new fieldwork and capstone sites.”
Funding needed
While relationships are growing and new community partners are showing interest in utilizing an OT Share student, more funding could significantly boost the program while meeting a great need for OTs in schools and the community. OT Share was created with the purpose of helping out in the community in a cost-effective manner while providing experiential learning to future OTs supervised by both CSU faculty and partner program staff. Partner agencies, alumni, and grants can expand the program and ensure students are compensated by either their practice setting, the Center for Community Partnerships, or a combination of both, and currently more support is needed. For more information on ways to get involved and contribute to the OT Share program, please contact Julie Silver Seidle.
The Department of Occupational Therapy is a part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
