Social Prescribing and Therapeutic Recreation: Making the Connection

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattea Mahut ◽  
Darla Fortune

An increasing number of people are experiencing social isolation and loneliness and this trend is becoming cause for concern around the world. Considering that isolation and loneliness give rise to a number of health problems, it is essential to find innovative ways to address this issue. One such approach is to enhance experiences of belonging within communities. Social prescribing (SP) is a method that can promote belonging by connecting people to the social support they need. The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential relationship that can exist between therapeutic recreation (TR) and SP. As we explain, TR can complement SP efforts by ensuring people have access to inclusive, social leisure and recreation opportunities. In this sense, TR professionals are well positioned to be key players in SP processes. We contend that TR practice is best positioned to work in tangent with SP to nurture socially connected communities when it focuses on building community capacity, facilitates welcoming and inclusive leisure and recreation experiences that foster regular social interaction, and adopts principles of community development as part of a social justice model of practice.

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 755-770
Author(s):  
Tais Amorim Lindoso ◽  
Lara Maia dos Santos ◽  
Davis Pereira de Paula

Nos últimos anos a visitação de Unidades de Conservação para fins recreativos tornou-se bastante popular, algo que pode ser percebido no Parque Estadual do Cocó (PEC). Trata-se de um parque urbano, localizado, especialmente, na zona leste da cidade de Fortaleza no Estado do Ceará. Apesar de ter sido criado com o objetivo de proteger seus recursos naturais e a biodiversidade, é possível a realização de atividades recreativas de baixo impacto. No entanto, é necessário saber se essas atividades estão compatibilizadas com a resiliência do ambiente, pois impactos adversos podem ocorrer por conta dos limiares da capacidade de carga do local. A partir dessa observação, o presente estudo pretende traçar o seu perfil do visitante, identificar as principais atividades recreativas e avaliar os níveis de satisfação com as funções sociais (lazer e recreação) e ambientais (qualidade do ambiente) do parque. Para isso, foi feita uma pesquisa bibliográfica e foram realizadas 3 visitas de campo e aplicado um formulário com os visitantes do parque. Os resultados indicam que a maioria dos visitantes é jovem, com idade entre 20-24 anos.Palavras-chave: Unidade de Conservação; Parque do Cocó; recreação; uso público. ABSTRACT In recent years the visitation of Conservation Units for recreational purposes has become quite popular, something that can be noticed in Parque Estadual do Cocó (PEC). It is an urban park, located especially in the eastern part of the city of Fortaleza in the state of Ceará. Although designed to protect its natural resources and biodiversity, low impact recreational activities are possible. However, it is necessary to know if these activities are compatible with the resilience of the environment, as adverse impacts may occur due to site carrying capacity thresholds. From this observation, the present study intends to trace its visitor profile, identify the main recreational activities and evaluate the satisfaction levels with the social (leisure and recreation) and environmental (environmental quality) functions of the park. For this, a bibliographic research was made and 3 field visits were made and a form was applied with the park visitors. Results indicate that most visitors are young, aged 20-24 years.Keywords: Conservation Unit; Parque do Cocó; recreation; public use. RESUMENEn los últimos años, la visita de Unidades de Conservación con fines recreativos se ha vuelto bastante popular, algo que se puede notar en el Parque Estadual do Cocó (PEC). Es un parque urbano, ubicado especialmente en la parte oriental de la ciudad de Fortaleza en el estado de Ceará. Aunque está diseñado para proteger sus recursos naturales y su biodiversidad, son posibles actividades recreativas de bajo impacto. Sin embargo, es necesario saber si estas actividades son compatibles con la capacidad de recuperación del medio ambiente, ya que pueden producirse impactos adversos debido a los umbrales de capacidad de carga del sitio. A partir de esta observación, el presente estudio pretende rastrear su perfil de visitante, identificar las principales actividades recreativas y evaluar los niveles de satisfacción con las funciones sociales (ocio y recreación) y ambientales (calidad ambiental) del parque. Para esto, se realizó una investigación bibliográfica, se realizaron 3 visitas de campo y se aplicó un formulario con los visitantes del parque. Los resultados indican que la mayoría de los visitantes son jóvenes, de entre 20 y 24 años.Palabras clave: Unidad de Conservación; Parque do Cocó; recreación; uso público.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aya H. Kimura ◽  
Abby Kinchy

Citizen science is an increasingly popular activity, from bird counts to amateur water sample collection to air quality monitoring. Researchers and theorists in the field of science and technology studies (STS) have typically applauded these efforts because they make science more participatory, providing an example of the democratization of science, or, at least, more equitable engagement between experts and the lay public. However, a broader review of the literature on citizen science suggests that participation is but one of many virtues that practitioners and observers find in the practices of citizen science. This literature review makes two interventions. First, we discuss the dimensions of citizen science that do not easily fit in a typology or spectrum of participatory practices. We identify seven different virtues claimed of citizen science: increasing scientific data; increasing citizens' scientific literacy and awareness; building community capacity for environmental protection; building more equal relationship between scientists and citizens; filling knowledge gaps and challenging official accounts; driving policy change; and catching polluters. Second, we consider the social and political contexts that often create contradictory situations or dilemmas for citizen scientists. Going forward, a robust framework for the analysis of citizen science would not only address the ways scientific data is collected and put to a particular use, but also situate the project in relation to broader structural forces of scientization, neocolonialism, globalization, and neoliberalization.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth ◽  
David Topp ◽  
Kathy Broniarczyk ◽  
Scott A. Edwards ◽  
David Riggs ◽  
...  

2001 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-643
Author(s):  
Edward J. Martin

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 1318-1332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Gil-Rivas ◽  
Ryan P. Kilmer

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