No abstract

Occupational therapy practitioners are qualified to address the needs of young adults transitioning out of the foster care system; yet, to date, the degree to which practitioners have addressed these needs has been limited. The literature on foster care clearly documents the myriad of long-term challenges that this population faces as a result of their lack of preparedness in independent living, academic, and vocational skills. Moreover, it is clear that existing programs are inadequate for meeting the needs of this population because they rarely include individualized, occupation-based, client-centered approaches for skill development. In this article, we argue that by design, the foster care system marginalizes its "members." Occupational therapy's emphasis on occupational justice provides practitioners with an ideal opportunity to remediate the injustice that this population often experiences. To support our position, we describe exploratory work that has been conducted with stakeholders and transitioning youth in Miami, Florida.

BACKGROUND: Individuals experiencing homelessness endure occupational injustices in the form of marginalization and deprivation at higher rates than their counterparts who are not experiencing homelessness. This population's expressed interests, needs, and desires are frequently ignored or unsolicited by a system of care that continues to exercise power over this fragile and underserved group. Marginalization and deprivation can lead to disempowerment. Few studies have been conducted that explore the perceptions of empowerment by those experiencing homelessness. Providing a "space" for the voice of those experiencing homelessness to be heard can promote occupational justice as an outcome of occupational therapy intervention. OBJECTIVE: This pilot research sought to explore perceptions of empowerment by attendees of a day shelter for those experiencing homelessness. METHODS: Researchers used an Appreciative Inquiry approach to elicit responses to the question, "For those experiencing homelessness who attend a day shelter, what are their perceptions of how the shelter environment supports empowerment?" This qualitative approach promotes and maintains focus on positivity and inclusivity with respect to the change process from solution identification to maintenance of identified changes. Shelter attendees participated in one of three focus groups. Based upon qualitative analysis of the data, environmental enhancements were made by the researchers and post-environmental enhancement surveys collected data related to perceptions of those enhancements to promote empowerment. RESULTS: Six themes emerged from the data and pointed to both internal and external factors that are perceived to impact empowerment. CONCLUSION: Results of this study can be used by occupational therapy practitioners to support and develop inclusive and empowerment-focused approaches for those experiencing homelessness.

Date Presented 04/01/2022 Prevalence of burnout and compassion fatigue has risen in health care workers as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 and increased awareness of ongoing injustices. Yet, little is known about these constructs in relation to OT practitioners. This mixed-methods study explored OT practitioners’ perceptions of education and training regarding burnout and compassion fatigue. Results can serve to guide thinking about effective academic and professional programming to prevent or mitigate burnout and compassion fatigue. Primary Author and Speaker: Carol Lambdin-Pattavina Additional Authors and Speakers: Molly Arruda, Samantha Belanger, Robyn Barrett, Madeline Gendron, Lauren O. N. Fedorchak