Community Participation
Health, Well-being, and Community Participation Poudre Libraries
The Poudre Libraries initiative partners with the public library system to expand access to occupational therapy through community-based programming, student learning opportunities, and innovative approaches to supporting health, well-being, and community participation.
Teaching and Learning
- OT750 community-engaged learning experiences that include conducting needs assessments and developing program proposals:
- “Cart-Full of Fun: Inclusive Activities at Poudre Libraries”, Fall 2024
- Development of activity carts designed to promote inclusion, participation, and engagement at the library, particularly for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- “REFRESH: Restoring Energy, Focus, and Rest through Employee Supportive Healing”, Fall 2024
- Development of a proposal for a “Refresh Room” to support library staff wellness.
- “LINCS: Library Information for Navigation of Connection and Socialization”, Fall 2025
- A digital map of community services now available on the Poudre Libraries website.
- “Cart-Full of Fun: Inclusive Activities at Poudre Libraries”, Fall 2024
- Level I and Level II Fieldwork student experiences – Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters
- Capstone student projects:
- “OT for OTL: Occupational Therapy for Old Town Library”, Spring 2025 – Lindsey Green
- Implementation of a “Refresh Room” for library staff and facilitation of 3 workshops focused on supporting the unhoused population and reducing secondary trauma and burnout.
- “OT for OTL: Occupational Therapy for Old Town Library”, Spring 2025 – Lindsey Green
Service and Outreach
- “New Chapters”
- Direct OT programming for adults experiencing homelessness at Old Town Library, including individual & group services.
- “Activity Carts”
- Implementation & expansion to all three library branches, Old Town, Harmony & Council Tree
- Support with development and delivery of Adult Storytimes at Council Tree Library
Research and Scholarship
- “New Chapters” outcomes tracking and program evaluation
- “New Chapters: OT at the Library for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness”, presented at the 2026 AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo
- Selected from applicants across the U.S. & Canada for the “I Partner With My Public Library” award, 2025
- Selected for the Colorado Association of Libraries’ “Library Partnership of the Year” award, 2025
Health, Well-being, and Academic Participation OT-RENEWS
The OT-RENEWS initiative (Occupational Therapy for Resilience, Empowerment, and Navigating Education and Wellness for Students at CSU) aims to advance occupational therapy’s role in higher education by supporting college student mental health, well-being, and academic participation.
Teaching and Learning
- OT 750 community-engaged learning experiences that include conducting needs assessments and developing program proposals:
- “OT- RENEW: Occupational Therapy for Resilience, Empowerment, and Navigating Education and Wellness”, Fall 2024
- Needs assessment for the development of mental health-focused occupational therapy services for students at CSU.
- “Values, Identity, Balance & Engagement (VIBE) Training for Resident Assistants”, Fall 2025
- Needs assessment and program proposal for RA training modules to support college student mental health.
- “OT- RENEW: Occupational Therapy for Resilience, Empowerment, and Navigating Education and Wellness”, Fall 2024
- Capstone student projects:
- “Establishing Occupational Therapy in Postsecondary Education”, Spring 2026 – Amanda Wimmer
- Expansion of previous OT750 needs assessment and development of an OT program to support CSU students with mental health and activities affecting their full participation in college life.
- “Establishing Occupational Therapy in Postsecondary Education”, Spring 2026 – Amanda Wimmer
Service and Outreach
- Partnership-building with CSU campus interest holders to identify potential funding sources
Research and Scholarship
- Collaboration with a national network of occupational therapy practitioners and educators to identify best practices for needs assessments aimed at integrating occupational therapy within higher education settings
Health, Well-being, and Community Participation Housing, Health, and Community Participation
The Housing, Health, and Community Participation initiative seeks to advance occupational therapy practice, research, and education to improve health and participation outcomes among people experiencing homelessness. The initiative focuses on the intersections of housing, mental health, substance use, justice involvement, and other social determinants of health to support recovery, well-being, and meaningful participation in community life.
Teaching and Learning
- Capstone student mentor
- “Prepared and Empowered: An Employment Readiness Program“, Fall 2025 – Briana Gubler
- Development of an employment program for individuals experiencing homelessness at the Salt Lake City Mission, Utah
- “Prepared and Empowered: An Employment Readiness Program“, Fall 2025 – Briana Gubler
Service and Outreach
- Partnership-building with homelessness systems and providers to identify opportunities for the integration of occupational therapy.
Research and Scholarship
- Investigating lived experiences with substance use for youth experiencing homelessness in San Diego
- Understanding youth experiences with occupational therapy services at a transitional housing program
- Exploring the impact of occupational therapy student experiences (including fieldwork and capstone) within a transitional housing program serving youth experiencing homelessness