January 5, 2020
CENTRAL COAST OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WINS STATE AWARD, PROVIDES RESOURCES TO PARENTS
Santa Maria, CA -Dr. Stephanie Foster, Ph.D., of Santa Maria, CA was recently awarded the Occupational Therapy Practice Award by the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC). Foster has been a registered Occupational Therapist (OT) for 30 years. She spent 25 of those years specializing in pediatrics.
The annual award recognizes an OTAC member who has made significant contributions to the advancement of OT in areas of therapeutic practice, education, communication, organizational or community service and contributed to the scholarly knowledge of occupational therapy.
The virtual awards ceremony was held in conjunction with the OTAC Annual Conference on Thursday, October 8, 2020.
“Dr. Foster received the award for her demonstrated commitment to supporting the wellbeing of children, and her creative and innovative approaches to therapeutic intervention. Her work reflects the spirit of the award through her contributions in practice, scholarship and advocacy,” said Erin Schwier, chair of the OTAC Awards Committee.
Foster founded Kids Work Therapy in Santa Maria in 2002. The clinic specializes in treating children with sensory processing disorders and other developmental disorders. They cater to all ages of children and stages of development, including early intervention, preschool-aged children, and school-aged children.
A few of the accomplishments that qualified Foster for the award include her employment of telehealth to treat patients during the pandemic, employing evidence-based interventions, integrating yoga into her OT practice to help children develop mindfulness, and providing mentorship, training and counseling of OT intern students and OT assistants.
“During the recent pandemic, we have increased our appointments by 150%. Parents and kids are overwhelmed with the online learning format, and children are having more difficulty paying attention. OT helps these families adapt and succeed in all their occupations,” says Foster.
In addition to treating patients virtually, the clinic launched its new website, www.kidsworktherapy.com, to help parents understand how children benefit from occupational therapy, schedule an assessment, and explore treatment options. The site also features a blog covering topics from technology use and teens to how yoga helps with sensory integration.
Foster recently published a book to help parents and educators understand sensory processing disorder and its role in behavior. The book, “Self-Regulation and Mindfulness Activities for Sensory Processing Disorder,” includes 60 easy-to-use activities to teach self-regulation skills at home or in the classroom, helping children remain focused and calm.
“The book, updated website, and blog make access to education easier for parents. These resources are filled with proven strategies to help children struggling function better,” says Foster.
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ABOUT DR. STEPHANIE FOSTER
Dr. Stephanie Foster, Ph.D., is an award-winning Occupational Therapy Practitioner, author, researcher, public speaker, and the founder of Kid’s Work Therapy in Santa Maria, CA. She has practiced occupational therapy for more than 30 years and is on a purpose-driven path to identify the root causes of the most common developmental challenges, learning barriers, and functional deficits found in children today, while providing innovative and evidence-based interventions that delivers optimal outcomes and results.
ABOUT KIDS’S WORK THERAPY
Kid’s Work Therapy, located in Santa Maria, CA, offers a world-class, comprehensive program designed around evidence-based research to treat children with developmental disorders. The clinic specializes in Sensory Processing Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Auditory Processing Therapy, Vestibular Therapy, Parent Education, Developmental Delays, and Interactive Metronome. Kid’s Work Therapy is on a mission to support every child in reaching their fullest potential, unlocking new areas of growth, and optimizing their functional journey to live their best life. For more information, check out www.kidsworktherapy.com.
ABOUT OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
The Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) was incorporated in 1976 as the result of a merger of the southern and northern California groups. It is a not-for-profit, 501-c-6 professional society designed to be the collective voice that serves, promotes, and supports the more than 15,000 occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) throughout California. We are membership driven and governed by a Board of Directors comprised of elected officers and regional directors. OTAC is headquartered in Sacramento, CA. For more information go to www.otaconline.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts
Dr. Stephanie Foster, CEO
Kid’s Work Therapy
(805) 815-5634
Erin Schwier
Awards Committee Chair
Occupational Therapy Assoc. of California