Orangeburg, NY – Dominican University New York has been awarded a three-year, $432,714 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch the Building Capacities and Strengthening Communities (BCSC) Initiative. This new Occupational Therapy Initiative is designed to develop a diverse and multilingual workforce to serve children and families in underserved areas throughout New York State.
The initiative will focus on several key objectives:
- Enhancing resources and experiential learning in the Occupational Therapy (OT) program.
- Increasing and strengthening community partnerships.
- Preparing students to be culturally-diverse learners and future practitioners.
- Creating a mobile, Pro Bono Occupational Therapy Clinic to deliver services to underserved communities.
Dr. Pamela Story, OTD, Director of the OT Program and Allied Health Division, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, stating, “This new federally-funded initiative presents an unparalleled opportunity to attract a greater number of culturally diverse students to the profession of Occupational Therapy. It will significantly enhance their classroom and clinical preparation, equipping them with the latest and best evidence-based knowledge and skills to provide highly competent services for children and families in underserved areas throughout New York State and the Greater NYC region.”
The initiative is spearheaded by a project leadership team comprised of Dominican University faculty, including Project Director Dr. Nadia Rust, OTD; Project Co-Director Dr. Catherine Cavaliere, Ph.D.; Project Oversight Advisor Dr. Pamela Story, OTD; Community Partner Outreach Coordinator Dr. Mary Walsh Roche, DMH; and Pre-OT Admissions Coordinator Dr. Caitlin Sorrentino, OTD. The project is entirely funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
This initiative marks a significant step forward for Dominican University New York in its mission to foster inclusivity and provide vital services to communities in need.