Course Description
The purpose of this course is to enable the student to examine the broader recreation field as well as the specialized therapeutic recreation sector at both the provincial and national level. Particular emphasis will be placed on current practices, trends and issues such as community development, community health, standards of practice, professional ethics and values and professional development.
Course Content
Leisure, Family and Community Health
- theoretical perspective of the family and the community
- family and community are central to the individual’s experience of life
- leisure and recreation experiences build strong families and strong communities
- leisure, friendship and social support are the building blocks for community health
- overall wellness is linked to feelings of belonging and interconnectedness
- community recreation reduces alienation, loneliness and anti-social behaviour
- safe places and optimal wellness environments can be created through recreation and leisure
Community Building
- ways of understanding community, relational and geographical perspectives
- community building: working with circles
- community development: theories and definitions
Community Wellness: Organizing for Change
- community development, organizing strategies
- planning for change through leisure and recreation
- collective advocacy
- healthy communities: local recreation and leisure projects
Professional Identity and Growth
- define profession
- identify local, national, international professional organizations
- articulates values of therapeutic recreation
- identifies the depth and breadth of therapeutic recreation interventions
- examines leisure and recreation research trends and future practice
- contributes to professional development in therapeutic recreation
Ethical Practice and Advocacy
- defines rights, advocacy and empowerment
- individual, collective, legal, agency advocacy
- advocacy models and process
- advocacy organizations
- principles and process of empowerment including: control and choice, participation, support, self-help
- confidentiality
Personal and Professional Growth
- articulates values of therapeutic recreation
- is conscious of the depth and breadth of therapeutic recreation interventions
- contributes to professional development in the field
Means of Assessment
Evaluation is consistent with Douglas College Course Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course.
This is a graded course.
Textbook Materials
A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.
Resources include:
- Selected readings from a variety of therapeutic recreation practice textbooks
- Selected audio-visual and computer resources
- Selected readings from books and journals
- Therapeutic Recreation fine arts and adaptive equipment and supplies