A letter to Recreational Therapists

Letter to Recreational Therapists

If you know me or have been watching Grounded Therapy Network (GTN) over the past year, you may have noticed we're up to something. If you're in tune with the developments coming through the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, then you've heard some incredible stories of growth within the field throughout our country.  It is true, the groundwork has been laid for some significant transformational opportunities for the field of Recreational Therapy (RT). 

The problem with our Profession: 

There is not much room for growth and the people in management positions generally stick around. The pay does not support the lifestyle of most therapists. Unless you're at a stable, premier facility; My observation has been that most RT's stop being involved with professional organizations 5 years post graduation. I have talked with several RT's who say, "I really used to know what was happening when I was in college, I had so much passion and energy for RT, but then I graduated and I felt alone and lost that energy". Something has to change here. 

As RT's we don't own our destiny. We don't have leverage to negotiate raises or navigate growth within the field. Many end up leaving for professional growth or better opportunities etc. This needs to change.  

What has GTN been up to?

Our goal with GTN has simply been to make connections, explore funding options and see what opportunities there may be for current and future RT's. We are identifying gaps in mental health services, which can be filled with the skills and expertise of an RT. When we find these gaps, we connect, educate and establish a relationship for referrals and reimbursement and create job opportunities for current and future RT's. The past year has been about connecting these dots and developing stability in these roles. 

Why is now the time?

The Michigan Medicaid Waiver. Recreational Therapists have been reimbursable through Medicaid for youth on the SED and Childrens waiver for the past 10 years. This is not new. The problem is, there are not enough referrals in rural communities to support an RT to take clients and provide these services, which is why you see RT Private Practices in urban communities, west side/east side etc. There are 46 Counties in Michigan and maybe 10 of them have RT's providing therapy in their home counties. Most counties throughout the state have been looking for RT providers for their waivers and cannot find them. Do you know what will happen if this dilemma continues? We could lose the option for reimbursement, simply because we have not been able to fill the void! 

Every 5 years, the Center For Medicaid Services (CMS) reviews renewal applications to make changes to their budget for the next 5 years. It is possible for them to decide to remove RT as a reimbursable service. We all owe a huge THANK YOU to those practices in our state who have been using these waivers, proving it can be done, it is effective and beneficial for youth on these waivers. 

I'm not done. 

There is another waiver, called the Habilitation Waiver (HAB) Waiver. During this last revision, CMH/DHHS requested to add RT services on the HAB waiver (Strictly because of the successes of RT providers currently in our state, so again, thank them). It was declined. If it was approved, at this moment, we would have north of 7,500 possible adults who qualify for reimbursable RT services throughout the state. Why would they decline? My guess is that we, as a profession, have not proven that we can sustain that market. CMH can't find one RT outside of GR or Detroit, why would CMS open a line of funding for a profession who is non-existent?

The next revision is 2028/9. We have 3-4 years to establish enough of an RT presence in Michigan, to encourage CMS to approve the addition of RT for the HAB waiver. If this happens, our job market will explode. 

What is GTN doing right now?

We are manifesting the future. We are currently in contract several CMH's, in process with several more. We are creating part time jobs, with potential for full time jobs. We are pursuing additional funding sources to sustain therapists in rural areas. We are grinding right now, it's not easy. It takes passionate risk takers. We are looking for therapists who see the vision and want to fight for our profession. 

What do we do now?

Short answer, get involved. Join ATRA. Join MTRA. Attend conferences. Join subcommittees and get your hands on what is currently happening to shape the future of our profession within our state and within our country (or not). 

You want to work with GTN and build on what we've developed, great, apply anytime. You want to start your own company, even better, call me and let's talk! The market for our profession is wide open. But it will go away if we don't show up as competent, reliable Recreational Therapists who create genuine change within clients we serve.

If you're comfortable with the current status of Recreational Therapy in Michigan: great, sit tight. But if you’re not and you want growth, call me, join MTRA, join ATRA. 

**Why RT?

I am one of those people who worked in our field who left our field. We moved to a rural community and had to get my masters to get a good job closer to home. So, I got my masters in School and Professional Counseling. Why am I not just focusing on the counseling practice? Because I believe in RT. Recreational Therapy is an absolute game changer for people. Our scope of practice can touch on real time emotions and behavior management in a way no other profession can. In the future, I  will descend into the particulars on how; what we do within our scope of practice sets us apart from other disciplines. For now though, I am hoping to set us up to empower each other to get to work. 

Real change does not happen without you.