Tom Reed announced Jamestown Community College will receive $113,343 grant through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the development of a Community-Based Teaching Clinic in the field of Occupational Therapy. “We care about helping our students achieve success and find quality, family sustaining jobs as well as encouraging access to care close to home. This grant helps meet all of these objectives and we are glad to see the expansion come to the region,” said Reed.

The teaching clinic will be developed through the Jamestown Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program, providing approximately 50 students with access to needed field work to complete the program.

“The faculty and administration of Jamestown Community College are excited to receive funding through the Appalachian Region Commission to expand the delivery of occupational therapy assistant education in authentic clinical settings. Most occupational therapy programs don’t incorporate intensive exposure to therapy services until later in the course curriculum, this grant will allow JCC to offer a community-based clinical model much earlier on in the curricular process,” said Dr. Heather Panczykowski, Director, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program and Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy at Jamestown Community College.

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, “common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.”

“A community-based model is truly a gift to students and community organizations. It provides students with clinical experience, allowing them to grow professionally through interaction with staff within the facility, and also fosters the development of clinical skill sets. Occupational therapy services can also be provided to local organizations partnering in the grant, Aspire and The Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County. This gives them free services, access to extra hands to develop and implement projects,” Dr. Panczykowski concluded.

Funds from the ARC will be coupled with local sources, which contributed