State occupational therapy associations go above and beyond
Every year at the AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference, state association presidents meet for 2 days to discuss issues such as advocacy, management, and membership. Each year this group, the Affiliated State Association Presidents (ASAP), provides 12 awards to state associations that go above and beyond. This article is adapted from the winning states’ submissions. There are six categories of awards, with two winners per category. The 2023 winners are as follows:
Membership growth
Maine: The Maine Occupational Therapy Association (MeOTA) addressed membership by recruiting through networking, membership reminders, and personal notes. Overall, membership grew by 11.31% in a single year. The largest area of growth was in the student category (36.84%). While MeOTA recognizes that student memberships are transient, they also understand that the connections they make early can be the most lasting. The association worked hard over the last year to reach out to all regions, offering virtual events and improving the communication between the association and practitioners.
Nebraska: Over the past 2 years, the Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association (NOTA) worked hard to recruit and retain members by showing the value of membership. Due to these efforts, NOTA saw a 10% membership growth in 2021 and an additional 10% growth in 2022. Efforts to increase membership included expanding their social media presence; offering free continuing education units (CEUs) to members, which are available online to rural practitioners; personally reaching out to lapsed members or non-members by current board members; and adding automatic renewal for membership.
Health care reform/advocacy
Nevada: In addition to having a successful state hill day, which had been on hold for several years, the Nevada Occupational Therapy Association (NOTA) has been advocating for occupational therapy in mental health. This included meetings with the state's Medicaid program. In November 2022, Medicaid announced that occupational therapy had been added to its list of degrees that were eligible to apply for Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) jobs. While these jobs have a QMHA title (not OT practitioner), NOTA feels that they could provide entry-level positions in a behavioral health setting.
West Virginia: During the past legislative session, the West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association (WVOTA) partnered with the West Virginia physical and speech therapy associations to help pass a rehabilitation bill. This bill ensured that insurance companies cannot charge more for rehabilitation services than the agreed amount for primary care physicians. Through a call for action, WVOTA created scripts members could utilize when contacting their representatives, and toward the final day of the session, the bill passed! Through partnering with other associations, WVOTA was at the forefront in making a change for affordable health care for West Virginia residents.
Website/social media
New Hampshire: Before 2022, the New Hampshire Occupational Therapy Association (NHOTA) had only a Facebook group and a web page. In 2022, NHOTA created a Facebook page, which had 100% growth over 1 year, and started Instagram and LinkedIn accounts. They are analyzing which types of posts get attention, and their legislative efforts are driving people to their social media. They launched a new accessible website in April 2023, which they hope will increase membership. They are also increasing their reach to members, potential members, consumers, and employers.
New Jersey: The New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association (NJOTA) focused on improving their social media presence and engaging New Jersey practitioners. The Public Relations and Communications Chairs did a remarkable job! For OT Month, the ABCs of OT was a daily post, with contributions from the board. NJOTA mOTivators, a regular event, provides members a platform to recognize the practitioners who have inspired them. NJOTA had a great response to their efforts, increasing followers on Facebook to 1.7K. NJOTA leverages social media platforms and blast email to inform practitioners of advocacy, CE, conferences, and surveys.
Leadership development
Idaho: When starting her tenure as Idaho OT Association (IOTA) President, Megan Doyle did something no prior President had done. She sent an anonymous survey to the prior year’s Executive Board seeking open feedback around changes they would like to see for the organization and their respective board position. The President then reached out to each board member and committee to dialogue around what they wanted to bring to their position and how to support their professional development. The feedback is being used to revise IOTA’s bylaws to reflect each position and committee’s role more accurately.
Kentucky: The Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association (KOTA) wanted to get more students involved so they could develop leadership roles in the association after graduation. Sarah Hamilton, a school-based practitioner, was appointed as the Chair of the Social Media committee, and students, who were recommended by their educational programs, helped her manage our social media accounts to promote association events and merchandise. One of their assignments was to contact student organizations at each of the OT/OTA educational programs in Kentucky and request designs to be used on merchandise sold on the association website. Their social media posts increased in just 1 month after appointing this group. They’re hoping this will encourage students to fill future board openings. They can teach us how to use social media to create a following and we can teach them that it takes a village for the association to grow and thrive.
Continuing education (includes conferences)
Florida: One of the Florida Occupational Therapy Association’s (FOTA’s) member services is providing low-cost and free continuing education courses. FOTA’s annual conference has workshops, short classes, conversations that matter, mandatory CEUs for licensure, professional and student posters, and vendors. Attendees can earn up to 14 CEUs for the 2-day conference. The conference is offered face-to-face and online so all members in the state can attend. The association also provides free CE through FOTA Connect. Started by former President Douglene Jackson, each month a 1-hour topic is presented by experts in the field. It is free for everyone, but only members receive a CEU. Members can earn up to 11 CEUs a year. FOTA believes their education programs are a true benefit for membership.
Connecticut: The Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association (ConnOTA) demonstrated a commitment to the education and community building of their practitioners. ConnOTA established robust continuing education events for clinicians in the state, specifically the Communities of Practice (CoP). The ConnOTA School CoP, Home Care CoP, and the newly established Mental Health CoP, are led by highly qualified OT clinicians and leaders. This stout group of clinicians’ vow to continue learning and commitment to excellent clinical practice is remarkable and worthy of recognition.
Thinking outside the box
Georgia: The Georgia Occupational Therapy Association (GOTA) focused on expanding outside of the state and profession. The association opened membership to international therapists from a country in crisis, with a goal to assist and educate those therapists in tangible ways. GOTA also partnered with the state physical therapy association to collaborate on joint OT/PT presentations. The focus was to support each other's profession as well as to educate on interprofessional care, in real-world, holistic ways. GOTA is focused on making an impact on the lives of those in our state, in and outside of our profession, and in the global community.
Indiana: Over the past year, the Indiana Occupational Therapy Association (IOTA) overhauled the association’s structure from a district model to a special interest section model. As of February 2023, IOTA has five special interest sections: Children & Youth, Rehabilitation & Disability, Mental Health, Productive Aging, and Academic Education. In addition to offering CE and networking opportunities, each SIS has a forum on the association’s website, where members can share resources and engage in SIS-specific discussion. IOTA is excited for the opportunity to engage with members this way and offer more specific programming for their members!