Strategies for community occupational therapy program development

Occupational therapists who wish to see services expand in community settings must be prepared to take an active role in program development. The article examines 12 program development strategies which are illustrated using the experience of developing a rural program in a social service system. Community occupational therapy services in Prince Edward Island were initially developed, from 1977 to 1979, by a small group of occupational therapists. The group obtained Federal Welfare Demonstration Grant funding for a pilot project which was administered by the provincial Department of Social Services. In 1979, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Government approved on-going funding for an Island-wide community occupational therapy service.