The Somerset County Park Commission Therapeutic Recreation Department (TR) Administrator Dina Trunzo, CTRS, has been recognized by the New Jersey/Eastern Pennsylvania Therapeutic Recreation Association (NJ/EPA) for “Excellence in Therapeutic Recreation” for her co-leadership with the Recreational Therapy Licensure Committee.
The award was earned in recognition of work done over the past four years for the successful advocacy for legislation passed makes it mandatory for recreational therapists to be licensed to practice in NJ. Trunzo stated that “the main purpose for pushing this legislation these past years has been for consumer protection. We want to ensure that non-qualified and unregulated practitioners are not providing recreational therapy. This will set a mandate that services be provided by professionals who demonstrate a standardized clinical competency.”
A committee advocating for the legislation was led by Trunzo and Caitlyn Foelsch, Pam Griffin. Committee members Griffin and Trunzo have extensive experience with public policy on state and national levels and were a part of the group 20 years ago that attempted to get licensure with little success. Trunzo is also an active member of the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association Public Affairs Committee for over 20 years.
The current initiative began four years ago with the NJ/EPA spearheading the effort by organizing and supporting a committee to advocate in front of state legislators. The committee initiative included writing the actual legislation that was submitted and introduced by Assemblyman Herb Conaway and Senator Troy Singleton.
Somerset County Therapeutic Recreation is run in partnership with 16 municipalities. Programs provide opportunities for any child or adult needing specially designed programs and residing in Bedminster, Bernardsville, Bernards Township, Bound Brook, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Green Brook, Hillsborough, Manville, Montgomery, North Plainfield, Raritan, Somerville, South Bound Brook, Warren, or Watchung to avail themselves of program offerings.
Information of Park Commission programs and activities may be found at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-722-1200.
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