Introduction to the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association

Objectives  Increase awareness of ILOTA history and purpose  Review of association structure and official documents  Demonstrate an understanding of board

positions/committees  Describe the benefits of ILOTA  Healthcare trends impacting the association  Goals for the future

Ready to dig in?

History  Association created over 33 years ago

 Non-profit, but not tax exempt—501(c)6  Initially was called IOTA  Created to promote professional excellence through a

proactive, organized collaboration with practitioners throughout the state, the healthcare community, governmental agencies, and consumers

Support from AOTA  ASAP—Affiliated State Association Presidents  AOTA RA – Provides updates from AOTA RA to ILOTA  AOTA Special Interest Section Chairs can serve as a

resource for state chairs  OT Connect  Other…

Support for ILOTA     

Jenny Dang—ILOTA Office Manager Johnson & Dutt Accounting Contemporary Graphics Chuck Wilmarth—Director of State Affairs, AOTA Maureen Mulhall—Lobbyist

Maureen Mulhall ILOTA Lobbyist Working with you, for your future.

 Started with ILOTA over 10 years ago  Cosmetology Act  Advocacy for OT:  Sunset of OT Practice Act in 2014  Healthcare reform  Mental Health  Early Intervention  Reimbursement issues specific to IL  Medicare cap/audits  Encroachment issues

Affiliations  IDFPR—Illinois Department of Professional Regulation       

(licensure) IDFPR Licensure Board IOTPAC—Illinois Political Action Committee AOTA—American Occupational Therapy Association OT/OTA Schools CACOTD—Chicago Area Council of OT Directors Fieldwork Educators Consortium Others…

Illinois Tri Alliance ISHA

IPTA

Speech Pathology

Physical Therapy ILOTA Occupational Therapy

ILOTA Structure  Organizational Chart

 Board Roster  Open Positions  Districts  Special Interest Sections

Official Documents  By Laws

 Strategic Plans  Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

By Laws  Created in 1979  State the name and purpose of the organization  Establish the organization's mission, essentially covering

the reasons for its creation and its goals  Bylaws can adapt with the ever-changing business/healthcare dynamic  Follow Robert’s Rules of parliamentary procedure

Strategic Plans  Overall 1-3 year plan for the association  Measurable Goals and Objectives for each Executive

Board Member  Guide for Executive and Full Board  Utilized to monitor progress toward goals monthly  Updated annually

SOPs  “Job descriptions” for full and executive board positions

 Guidelines for role within the organization  Need to be updated annually  Supports the strategic plan of the organization  Provides support for committees

Board Member Roles  Collaborate with other board members to carry out current goals/strategic plan of the association  Serve as a leader within the association  Contribute to annual updates to strategic planning  Identify legislative and regulatory changes that impact the profession and communicate important updates to membership

It’s not as scary as it seems…

Board/Committee Expectations  Meetings: Executive Board—Monthly Meetings Full Board—Quarterly Meetings  SIS/District—as needed

 Reports: Quarterly report of activities/updates  Budget/expense request for board/committee activities

 Other:  Contributions to website, Facebook, Communique, etc

Benefits of ILOTA          

Newsletter featuring local OT practitioners Website to keep you informed List serv Face book Clinical bulletin boards Discounts on annual conference Member database CE Events Job postings Networking

Benefits of ILOTA Board/Committee  

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Develop leadership skills Keep your finger on the pulse of emerging state issues Build your resume Networking Shape public policy Share best practices Broaden your knowledge SIS/District Meetings CEU credit for volunteer/service

Why promote ILOTA membership?  To support OT in the legislative and political arena, in order to protect the interests of the profession and

the individuals served  To ensure that occupational therapy voices are heard in state and national level healthcare reform discussions  To network with other professionals for best practice  To receive discounted CE opportunities/Conference

There was an important job to be done and EVERYBODY was sure that SOMEBODY would do it. ANYBODY could have done it, but NOBODY did it.

SOMEBODY got angry about that because it was EVERYBODY’S job. EVERYBODY thought that ANYBODY could do it, but NOBODY realized that EVERYBODY wouldn't do it. It ended up that EVERYBODY blamed SOMEBODY when NOBODY did what ANYBODY could have done.

That’s why we need you!

We are the future of this profession; it is up to us to ensure its place in the future.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Gandhi

Questions?

Position Specific Orientation “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” -Maya Angelou