Occupational Therapy
When Doing is as Important as Talking
Project Renewal’s Occupational Therapy (OT) team aims to help each individual gain the highest possible degree of functional independence in their daily life in order to thrive in their community with a sense of dignity and belonging. OT is critical to helping clients understand how they can maintain their independence, and the scope and scale of our services in this field is unmatched by any other service provider.
OT groups and individual sessions address all activities of daily living, and are typically geared towards self-care, health and home management, sober leisure exploration, cooking and nutrition, emotional regulation, effective communication, pre-vocational readiness, harm-reduction, and other skills that play an important role in an individual’s ability to obtain and keep housing in the community.
Our OT services include assessment and evaluation, treatment planning, home modifications, individual treatment sessions, therapeutic groups, and community outings. Provided at 20 Project Renewal sites, OT reaches over 800 unique clients each month and is continuing to grow and develop new initiatives to serve as many clients as possible.
An Example of OT Success
A resident of St. Nicholas House was living in profound isolation, until occupational therapists engaged with him one-on-one, building trust by focusing on goals that he determined. He started going to the doctor, and connected to services that helped him clean his home and cook healthy meals, allowing him to maintain his independence. Eventually, he joined the St. Nick community, engaging in bingo, crafting, and music OT groups. Celebrating his birthday with his St. Nick family, he is now truly at home, thanks to his work with OT.
“Occupational Therapy is a perfect fit for Project Renewal as we are able to assist our clients in developing the skills needed to effectively utilize the opportunities for housing, healthcare, and employment that the agency provides.” – Robin Kahan-Berman, Vice President of Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy is HOPE
OT is home to one of Project Renewal’s most unique programs, Helping Older People Engage (HOPE).
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Occupational Therapy Internship Program
Project Renewal trains 50 level-two occupational therapy interns each year. Students work closely alongside staff, as they help almost 1,500 clients navigate emotional and behavioral challenges across 20 programs. This internship is a talent pipeline for the field and many of our current OT staff are former interns! Interested in learning more?
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A Story of Hope
Related Stories
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Peter
“A lot of homeless people don’t trust hospitals. Project Renewal is different. They treat you with dignity, like a human being. I recommend it to people all the time.” -
America
“This is exactly what I was looking for—a place to clear my mind. At the Support and Connection Center, I am able to take care of myself." -
Alexa
"One of the hardest things about homelessness is the sense of isolation and the disruption of meaningful relationships. I try my best to use OT to build a community of support for residents."
