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I appreciate your interest in working with me to build supports for school based occupational therapy practitioners throughout the state. I have developed this wiki as a means for us to begin generate ideas and problem solve strategies that will provide therapists with the tools that they need to support children, families and school teams. Below you will find the VOTA School System Special Interest Section Mission Statement that I drafted after conducting a state wide survey of the needs and interests of therapists practicing in the state. Please feel free to comment and share your ideas and perspectives. I look forward to hearing from each of you and hope that our collaborative work can construct a set of resources that meet the diverse needs throughout the state!
 * Welcome to the School System Group Wiki! **

As an immediate need I can use some help in planning the upcoming Symposium. It will be held at Shenandoah University on March 5th. If you have any interest in helping to find presenters, sponsors and vendors please let me know. You are welcome to comment here or you can email me at palaverdure@fcps.edu.

Thank you all! Patty Laverdure 18th Annual School System Symposium: Innovative Practices in Supporting Student Participation to be held on Saturday, March 5th, 2011 Presenter Suggestions:

Sponsor Suggestions:
 * Sponsor || Contacted By || Outcome ||

Vendor Suggestions:
 * Vendor || Contacted By || Outcome ||

**VOTA** **School System Special Interest Section Mission Statement** **DRAFT**

**Mission**: The mission of the VOTA SSSIS is to promote the development and maintenance of a professional learning community that supports the competent practice of occupational therapy among VOTA members involved in school-based practice in the State of Virginia and to advocate for the advancement of awareness of the purpose and value of occupational therapy in educational environments. The VOTA SBPG aims to a) build and maintain a community of clinicians that supports each member’s ability and responsibility to promote and to direct the practice and profession of occupational therapy, b) promoting professional development through professional networking and mentorship, continuing education and research opportunities, and c) enhancing communication and collaboration among other professions and organizations.

** Goals and Objectives: **


 * ** Goal ** ||  ** Objective **  ||  ** Ideas and Solutions **  ||
 * Enhance communication among school system practitioners and with VOTA leadership and membership regarding current issues and research affecting school-based practice. || Establish a member accessible SSSIS site on the VOTA Web Site to include: Mission, Goals, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), Legislative Updates, Research Briefs, Resource list and links. ||  ||
 * ^  || Evaluate the use of the VOTA Web Site for the sharing of resources to promote evidence based practice. ||   ||
 * ^  || Provide regular school-based practice updates via the VOTA Voice newsletter. ||   ||
 * ^  || Create and maintain a school based practitioner registry for periodic email updates/notices. ||   ||
 * Support professional networking among school based practitioners. || Maintain a listserv for VOTA members on the VOTA web site. ||  ||
 * ^  || Explore opportunities to establish mentorship opportunities throughout the state. ||   ||
 * ^  || Develop electronic VOTA SSSIS journal club. ||   ||
 * Advocacy and collaboration among other professional associations, organizations, and committees to enhance student outcomes and the practice of occupational therapy in schools. || Seek membership in state and local organizations and committees ||  ||
 * Support continuing education opportunities that integrate current research and best practice along with practice tips and experiential learning. || Provide annual one day symposium that offers a combination of learning opportunities for a continuum of learns from novice to expert. ||  ||
 * ^  || Provide cost effective access to leaders in the field of school based practice. ||   ||
 * ^  || Provide training that assist practitioners in understanding how to navigate search engines and critically appraise and apply findings to their practice. ||   ||
 * ^  || Explore opportunities for practice scholarship throughout the state. ||   ||
 * ^  || Provide cost effective access to leaders in the field of school based practice. ||   ||
 * ^  || Provide training that assist practitioners in understanding how to navigate search engines and critically appraise and apply findings to their practice. ||   ||
 * ^  || Explore opportunities for practice scholarship throughout the state. ||   ||