Episode Details

In this episode, we will learn from some of the founders and members of the Mental Health Task Force (MHTF). Anne Hiller Scott, OTR/L, PhD, FAOTA, Joan Feder MA, OTR/L, Diane Tewfik, MA, OT (Retired), Mabel Martinez-Almonte, OTR/L. The MHTF is a NYSOTA (New York State Occupational Therapy Association) community of practice that identifies, promotes, and supports occupational therapy practitioners in addressing the psychosocial aspects of occupational engagement in all practice settings through education, advocacy, and community.

Show Key Points:

·      Members and founders briefly introduce themselves and tell us about their backgrounds and OT work

·      The discuss their motivation to do the Podcast and the MHTF beginnings and summary of its history and goals

·      They describe their Uncommon OT roles, projects and initiatives

·      They describe some of MHTF’s recent highs and lows

·      They provide OT practitioners with valuable career advice

·      They provide resources, community and their contact information

Anne Hiller Scott, OTR/L, PhD, FAOTA

In 1969 Dr. Scott began her career at St. Vincent’s during the community mental health movement. With the local NYSOTA MH Task Force (MHTF), she led initiatives in continuing education, resource development and publications on evaluation, practice, supervision, quality assurance and wellness. This pioneering service and advocacy were recognized with honors: FAOTA, NYSOTA Practice Award and the Abreu Award. An OTMH issue “New Frontiers in Psychosocial Occupational Therapy” which she edited, showcased innovations by MHTF members, therapists’ nationwide and included consumer and OTS perspectives. After teaching at Downstate for fifteen years, she launched the LIU OT Program in 1997 with a mission emphasizing wellness, health promotion and community service learning.

Diane Tewfik, MA, OT (Retired)

As one of the founding members of the MHOT Taskforce, Diane has had a career In Mental Health OT for over 30 years. Her practice has included outpatient programs, addiction, private practice as well as adult rehabilitation. She was also Associate Professor and Field Coordinator at York College of CUNY's OT Program. She received NYSOTA's Merit of Practice Award in 1997 and AOTA's Recognition of Achievement in 2003 for Preserving Occupational Therapy's Role in Mental Health.

Joan Feder MA, OTR/L

Joan has dedicated her 40 year career to peer-centered treatment, working in a wide range of settings from acute psychiatric in-patient settings to outpatient psychosocial rehabilitation programs. She received an advanced mental health OT degree from NYU and worked in designing and implementing programming at New York-Presbyterian Hospital –Cornell Medical Center. She had the unique opportunity of designing outpatient services for the SPMI population while overseeing a multidisciplinary team. Her programs were driven by the Recovery Model, with a focus on fostering function and independence, while responding to the ever-changing demands of external regulators. She collaborated over the ye