Overview
The activity profession is up and coming in the field of healthcare. Activity Professionals work to meet social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cognitive needs of individuals receiving long term care. By using a specialized knowledge in the field of geriatrics, therapeutic interventions and diversional activities, Activity Professionals improve the lives of their clients on a daily basis. Activity Professionals receive specialized training in gerontology, program development and design, management, and leisure needs.
The MEPAP 2nd Edition course is designed to be a comprehensive training program to prepare activity professionals to work in a variety of fields. The course will provide an in-depth understanding of both the practical and theoretical sides of activity service provision.
By the end of the course, students will be able to work in a variety of long term care settings. This course will qualify Activity Professionals to work in most states. Please check your specific state's requirement regarding qualified activity professionals. This course is one requirement towards certification with the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals. Completion of this course alone does not automatically grant you national certification. See http://www.nccap.org/ for more information about certification.
The MEPAP 2nd Ed. is a self-paced, internet-based course. This course will require students to read lecture materials, text chapters, participate in on-line chats, complete assignments, and conduct on-site field experience.
The MEPAP 2nd edition is divided into two parts:
• Part I: Basic Course
• Part II: Advanced Management
The Basic Course is 90 hours of instruction, designed to give students a theoretical framework of the profession, as well as provide knowledge of specific job functions including client populations, approaches to care, and documentation.
Curriculum:
• Introduction to the Course
• Activity Service Practice Settings
• Colloquy
• Professional Framework
• Government and Social Systems
• Advocacy in the Public Arena
• The Behavioral Sciences
• Adult Client Populations
• Professional Approach to Care
• Care Planning Practices
• Care Giving Practices (Service Delivery)
• Activity Service
The Advanced Management Course is 90 hours of instruction that targets advanced concepts of management such as planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and advocacy.
Curriculum:
• The Art and Science of Management
• Leadership
• Advocacy within the Organization
• The Planning Function of Management
• The Organizing Function of Management
• The Staffing Function of Management
• The Directing Function of Management
• The Controlling Function of Management
A third component of the course, to be completed concurrently, is a 180 hour field-experience practicum, where students will partner with an agency to complete assignments and have an opportunity for skills practice.
COURSE COMPLETION
A certificate will be issued for those who successfully complete the course requirements. A list of individuals who complete the entire course is sent to the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals. If a student must drop the course prior to completion, a certificate will be issued stating which core content areas have been successfully completed. Successful completion of this course does not ensure national certification. The student must meet additional standards for certification, and will need to pursue this independently through NCCAP.
CLASS SCHEDULING
This course is designed as a self-paced internet-based course. The student is responsible for completing all lectures, assignments, practicum hours, and on-line chats in a timely manner. Mandatory weekly chat sessions are scheduled on Tuesdays at 9:00 PM Eastern, and last one hour.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A. STUDENT ENTRANCE CRITERIA
1. Students must have, at a minimum, a High School Diploma or GED. Proof of H.S Diploma or GED required
Student can have their High School fax directly in or mail a copy themselves. The schools are generally pretty responsive and can get it done within a few days if they are stored on-site. We will also accept a copy of the student's diploma they have at home. Please return by mail, fax or e-mail to:
Stephanie Courtney
3802 Alberta Drive North
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Fax: (864) 752-0939
2. This is course is presented through an alternative method (i.e. internet-based) therefore students must have a valid e-mail address and computer, printer, and internet access to participate in this course.
3. Students must have a working knowledge of an internet browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Mozella Firefox), word processing software (e.g. MS Word, Word Perfect) and e-mail.
4. The three required texts for this course are included.
• The Professional Activity Manager and Consultant by Anne D'Antonio-Nocera
• Essentials for the Activity Professional in Long Term Care by Susan Lanza
• Aging and the Life Course 3rd Ed. by Jill Quadagno
B. CRITERIA FOR COURSE COMPLETION
1. ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION
a. Since this class does not meet in person, attendance will be based on participation in weekly chat sessions.
b. No more than two missed chats will be accepted for each part of the course (Basic and Advanced).
c. If you are going to miss a chat, you must notify the instructor ahead of time. A make-up assignment will be assigned at that time.
d. The only acceptable reasons for missing a post/chat include extended illness, death in the immediate family, or a survey at your facility. You must be able to provide proof. Other reasons will be handled on a case by case basis.
e. In your lecture notes, you will see a combination of Practicum Assignments, Lecture Assignments, and To-Do's (which will not be graded, but are intended to supplement the reading and could be included on quizzes).
2. UNIT LECTURE ASSIGNMENTS
a. Assignments will be due for each unit of coursework covered that will correspond with the lecture material.
b. All assignments for a unit must be completed and turned in before you may advance to the next unit.
c. Assignments will be graded based on the following:
i. The quality of the content (25%)
ii. Your original ideas (25%)
iii. Whether they are complete and the directions were followed (25%)
iv. Professional presentation (25%) including
- spelling, grammar, and punctuation in standard English
- legible handwriting when applicable
- pages that are visually well organized
- neat, clean paper and presentation
d. A passing grade for all assignments is 75 percent. You may correct and re-submit any assignment one additional time and the instructor will take the higher of the two grades.
3. PRACTIUM
a. 180 hours of guided field work or practicum (90 hours for the Basic Course/90 hours for Advanced Management) are required in order to complete this course.
b. Practicum assignments will be due for each unit of coursework covered. See criteria for grading and passing assignments above.
c. You will also be required to submit a time sheet of practicum hours, signed by your on-site practicum supervisor.
d. You may complete practicum hours at your place of employment if your supervisor agrees in writing.
4. TESTS AND EXAMS
a. In order to pass each unit, you must pass the unit exam with a grade of 75% or better.
b. All unit and practicum assignments must be completed and turned in prior to taking the test.
c. NAAP-NCCAP requires that each student pass a final, comprehensive exam with a grade of 75% or better. The final exam must be passed for each course (Basic and Advanced Management) in order to receive a certificate of completion.
d. If the final exam is not passed, students may elect to re-take the exam after a waiting period of three months. This request must be received in writing, including a $50 administrative fee, within two weeks of taking the final exam.
e. Students may opt to take an incomplete at the end of the course which has been successfully completed up to the final exam if he or she feels they are not prepared to take the exam. They will be given an additional three months to prepare, at which time they must take the exam. Students must formally request this in writing prior to the completion of the final unit's test. A $50 administrative fee must accompany this request.
5. FINAL PROJECTS
a. Prior to the completion of each course (Basic and Advanced Management), the student must submit a final project.
b. Student will choose a final project from a list of suggestions, or will submit an original idea, to be approved the by the instructor, prior to completion of the first unit.
c. The projects may include a written report, an oral presentation (video taped or web-cast recorded), and an evaluation of the project.
d. The final project will count as 20% of the final course grade.
6. GRADES
UNIT LECTURE ASSIGNMENTS 20%
PRACTICUM ASSIGNMENTS 20%
UNIT TESTS 20%
FINAL PROJECT 20%
FINAL EXAM 20%
Instructor:
SSTEPHANIE COURTNEY, MS, CTRS/ACC
Stephanie Courtney is the owner of Activity Professional's Career Development Center. Stephanie has both a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Florida, and she is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist as well as an Activity Consultant Certified. Additionally, she is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a certified instructor for the Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals..