ATRA Standards of Practice

ATRA Standards for the Practice of Therapeutic Recreation

The Standards for the Practice of Therapeutic Recreation, developed by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, reflect standards for the quality of therapeutic recreation practice by therapeutic recreation professionals and paraprofessionals in a variety of settings. The standards are divided into two distinct areas: Direct Practice of Therapeutic Recreation; and Management of Therapeutic Recreation Practice. The standards, originally released in 1991, revised in 1994 and again in 2000 reflect state of the art practice in therapeutic recreation. This represents a brief overview. A complete copy may be purchased in our online bookstore.

The standards as listed in this appendix do not stand-alone and should not be used without the measurement criteria of structure, process and outcome provided in the manual. For instance, the following examples illustrate the use of the measurement criteria to aid in interpretation and evaluation of each standard.

The Self Assessment Guide (includes useful worksheets on standards scoring, documentation audit, management audit, outcome assessment, competency assessment and clinical performance appraisals).

Standard 1. Assessment. The therapeutic recreation specialist conducts an individualized assessment to collect systematic comprehensive and accurate data necessary to determine a course of action and subsequent individualized treatment plan. Under the clinical supervision of the therapeutic recreation specialist, the therapeutic recreation assistant aids in collecting systematic, comprehensive and accurate data necessary to determine a course of action and subsequent individualized treatment plan.

Example:
Structure Criteria
1.1.2. The assessment process generates culturally appropriate baseline data that identifies the patient’s/client’s strengths and limitations in the following functional areas: physical, cognitive, social, behavioral, emotional and leisure/play.

Example:
Process Criteria
The Therapeutic recreation specialist:
1.2.3. Provides a summary of the assessment process that contains information relative to the patient’s/client’s strengths, patient’s/client’s limitations, analysis of assessment data, and summary of functional status.

The Therapeutic recreation assistant:
1.2.3.1.Provides a summary of assessment information relative to the patient’s/client’s strengths and weaknesses, to the therapeutic recreation specialist.

Example:
Outcome Criteria
The patient/client, family and/or significant other(s):
1.3.3. Benefits from the assessment process and does not incur adverse consequences due to participation in the assessment.

Standards for the Practice of Therapeutic Recreation

Direct Practice of Therapeutic Recreation

Standard 1. Assessment
Standard 2. Treatment Planning 
Standard 3. Plan Implementation
Standard 4. Re-Assessment and Evaluation 
Standard 5. Discharge and Transition Planning
Standard 6. Recreation Services 
Standard 7. Ethical Conduct

Management of Therapeutic Recreation Practice 

Standard 8. Written Plan of Operation
Standard 9. Staff Qualifications and Competency Assessment
Standard 10. Quality Management
Standard 11. Resource Management
Standard 12. Program Evaluation and Research

*Please note: The standards as listed in this appendix do not stand-alone and should not be used without the measurement criteria of structure, process and outcome provided in the manual.

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