New Jersey Promote OT Challenge: Detailed Study Notes

The New Jersey Promote OT Challenge: Comprehensive Notes

Origin and Purpose of the Challenge

• Virginia's Friendly Competition: The "Promote OT Challenge" originated in Virginia as a friendly competition among Occupational Therapy (OT) programs across the state. It aimed to spread awareness about the OT profession, rather than focusing on student recruitment for specific schools.

• Expansion to New Jersey: Mary and the speaker took on the challenge to bring this initiative to New Jersey, maintaining the core flavor of raising awareness for the profession.

• Addressing Declining Admissions: A key motivation for the challenge is the nationwide drop in admissions for OT programs and the perceived lack of widespread demand for individuals to pursue the profession. The initiative seeks to generate interest early on.

• Target Audience: The primary goal is to reach youth—elementary, middle school, high school, and even undergraduate students—to introduce them to occupational therapy. The secondary audience includes adults who advise students.

Participants and Scope

• Eligible Participants: For this iteration, participation is limited to students and faculty. Clinicians were an option but excluded for manageability. However, fieldwork educators might be considered for participation, if there's flexibility to include them, as they can act as a faculty-like extension.

• Geographical Scope: The challenge primarily focuses within New Jersey. However, visits across state lines to areas bordering Pennsylvania or New York are acceptable, provided that such visits are tracked to avoid overlap with efforts from other states' counterparts.

Timeline and Deadlines

• Initial Challenge Start: October $1^{st}$.

• Priority Sign-up: A soft deadline of October $17^{th}$ encourages early participation. This is a "jump start" period to generate excitement and spread the word.

• Duration: The challenge will run through the fall and spring semesters, concluding around OT month (April), making it approximately a six-month initiative.

Qualifying an OT Challenge Visit

• New Audience Requirement: A visit must engage audiences who have never previously been exposed to the OT profession. It should be a new contact that would not normally occur outside of this challenge.

  • Examples of Qualifying Visits: Elementary school classrooms, boys' clubs, spiritual groups, Boy/Girl Scout troops, and even undergraduate programs if they lack prior OT exposure.

  • Examples of Non-Qualifying Visits: Regular presentations (e.g., annual presentations at Kean University's Spanish-speaking program), hosting Acme High School annually, attending state legislative day, or participating in graduate career fairs. These are pre-existing engagements, not new exposure.

• Visit Structure: Visits can be completed solo, in pairs, or in small groups to maximize coverage across the state. If multiple individuals present to one group, it only counts as one visit. To maximize entries, groups of interested individuals should spread out to different contact places/settings.

• Multiple Visits at One Location: If a participant visits a second-grade classroom and a fifth-grade classroom in the same school, these count as two separate visits, provided they are distinct groups and involve separate presentations and verification forms. Similarly, presenting to seven different classrooms in one building counts as seven visits (if separate presentations are given to each classroom group).

• Visit Format: The core of a qualifying visit is a presentation to a gathered group. Activities like setting up an informational stand without a presentation do not qualify for the challenge, although using promotional materials in such settings is still encouraged for general awareness.

Process for Participation

1. Sign-up: Participants (faculty or students) will use an electronic Google Form (New Jersey Promote OT Challenge) to propose up to three potential visit sites.

   • First Come, First Served: Site approvals are granted on a first-come, first-served basis to avoid multiple participants contacting the same site.

   • Waiting for Approval: Participants must wait for an email confirmation of site approval before contacting the proposed site. This prevents overwhelming potential host sites.

2. Site Scheduling: Once approved, schedule the visit with the site contact.

3. Logistics Confirmation (Two Weeks Prior): Confirm access to technology (computer, projector, Internet, power cords), and ascertain if photography of attendees is allowed (only individuals aged $18+$ can be photographed for social media posts). This information guides presentation material selection.

4. Material Preparation: Utilize whychoose0t.com from NBCOT for standardized presentation materials. They offer tailored PowerPoints for various age groups (undergraduate, elementary, advising adults). Participants should integrate a personal "why OT" story into the presentation.

   • Inclusivity: Ensure materials promote both Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs).

5. Final Logistics Confirmation (Few Days Prior): Reconfirm date, time, location, and entry procedures for the visit.

6. Printing Materials: Download and print four types of flyers: three "why choose OT" flyers and one New Jersey state program flyer (listing all local OT schools). The quantity depends on the expected audience size. Programs may offer printing assistance.

7. Surveys: Print paper copies of minimal pre- and post-surveys. While electronic surveys are preferred, paper copies are essential for younger audiences who may not have phones or classroom access to devices.

8. Day Before Visit: Verify address, directions, and ensure all necessary materials are packed.

9. Conducting the Visit:

   • Introduce yourself and distribute the pre-survey.

   • Deliver the OT presentation (utilizing NBCOT materials and personal story).

   • Answer questions.

   • Distribute the "why choose OT" flyers.

   • Administer the post-survey.

   • Take a photo (with adult leader/site sign/logo; no children under $18$ are to be photographed or posted on social media).

10. Post-Visit Verification:

    • Social Media Post: Make a social media post (with photo) and tag @whychoose0t. Additionally, participants are encouraged to tag their school's social media pages (e.g., @StocktonMSOT).

    • Electronic Data Entry: If paper surveys were used, electronically input the responses into the provided platform. This data goes to the national group.

    • Verification Form: Complete an online verification form, including uploading the photo, and providing details of the visit (e.g., "went to George Washington Elementary School, third grade"). This form serves as the official entry for prize drawings.

Incentives and Prizes (Sponsored by NGOTA)

• School Swag: Participants are welcome to bring promotional items (swag) from their respective schools (e.g., Rutgers, Kean, Monmouth), provided the focus remains on promoting the profession, not solely the school's admissions.

• Monthly Raffle (October - April):

  • Prize: $20$ gift card to Wawa or Starbucks.

  • Eligibility: Every participant who signs up and completes a visit is entered into a random raffle each month.

• Grand Prizes (Three Tiers):

  • Eligibility: The more visits a participant completes, the more chances they have to win a grand prize (e.g., $10$ visits = $10$ entries).

  • $1^{st}$ Grand Prize: Free NJOTA conference registration (valued at 150-$200) + $50$ gift card (total prize value around $300$).

  • $2^{nd}$ Grand Prize: Free NJOTA membership + Free NJOTA conference registration (total value around $250$).

  • $3^{rd}$ Grand Prize: Free NJOTA membership (substantial value).

Key Clarifications from Q&A

• Focus on Exposure (Not Sustained Interest): The primary goal is broad exposure to "What is OT?" rather than ensuring sustained interest or recruitment for specific programs. It's about planting a seed early.

• Early Intervention: The initiative emphasizes discussing careers at an early age (e.g., fifth or sixth grade) to capture students' imaginations, as well as undergraduate undecided majors.

• "Educational Stand" vs. Presentation: An educational stand alone does not count as a challenge visit because a formal presentation that allows for a personal story and Q&A is required. However, using NBCOT materials at a high-traffic stand is still good for general awareness.

• Library Visits: A presentation at a local library inviting children of all ages would qualify, provided it includes the interactive presentation, pre/post surveys, and other verification steps.

• Community Colleges: Potential exists for visits to community colleges in areas like Hudson County to connect with young adults and broaden the reach.

• Collaboration within Teams: While pairs or small groups are encouraged for visits, if five people present to one class, it still counts as one visit. Spreading participants across different contact places or settings is recommended to maximize visit counts.

• Promoting the Profession, Not Schools: Handouts provided will include information about OT in New Jersey and list all local programs. Participants can wear school swag, but the message should remain profession-focused, not a recruitment pitch for a specific institution.