SJSU Research Guides: Recreation Therapy: Professional Websites

Professional Organizations

American Therapeutic Recreation Assoc.
The largest national membership organization representing the interests and needs of recreational therapists ... healthcare providers who use recreational therapy interventions for improved functioning of individuals with illness or disabling conditions.
CARF International
CARF International is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides accreditation services worldwide at the request of health and human service providers. Whether you are seeking rehabilitation for a disability, treatment for addiction and substance abuse, home and community services, retirement living, or other health and human services, you can have confidence in your choice.
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification
NCTRC is the nationally recognized credentialing organization for the profession of therapeutic recreation. Established in 1981, as an independent non-profit organization, NCTRC represents over 12,000 Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists employed within a variety of healthcare and human service settings.
California Park & Recreation Society
The California Park & Recreation Society provides career development, networking, resources and is the public advocate for California park and recreation professionals. Founded in 1946, CPRS is a nonprofit, professional and public interest organization with more than 4,000 members who create community.
California Board of Recreation and Park Certification, Inc.
The Recreator Certificate is designed to certify that an individual is qualified by education and experience to conduct administer and manage recreation services.

Online Resources - Health

Medline Plus This link opens in a new window
MedlinePlus is a goldmine of good health information from the world's largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine. Health professionals and consumers alike can depend on it for information that is authoritative and up to date. MedlinePlus has extensive information from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources on over 650 diseases and conditions. MedlinePlus is the National Institutes of Health's Web site for patients and their families and friends. Produced by the National Library of Medicine, it brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand. MedlinePlus offers reliable, up-to-date health information, anytime, anywhere, for free.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
This website has information on A-Z health and human development topics, such as, ADHD, fragile X syndrome, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
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The NICHD was initially established to investigate the broad aspects of human development as a means of understanding developmental disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the events that occur during pregnancy. Today, the Institute conducts and supports research on all stages of human development, from preconception to adulthood, to better understand the health of children, adults, families, and communities.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC provides users with credible, reliable health information and covers topics such as Disease and Conditions, Healthy Living, Emergency Preparedness & Response, Injury, Violence & Safety, Environmental Health, Workplace Safety, Data, Statistics, and so much more. Here you can also learn about Campaigns and Programs and Current Outbreaks.
Healthy Living from the CDC
This page is a staying healthy index that covers topics from Aging to vaccines and immunizations. Each topic provides, information about the topic, data and statistics, health disparities, and resources.
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CDC.gov is CDC's primary online communication channel. Annually, there are close to 500 million page views to the site, averaging 41 million page views per month. CDC.gov provides users with credible, reliable health information.
National Institute of Health (NIH)
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services External Web Site Policy , is the nation’s medical research agency—making important discoveries that improve health and save lives.
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NIH is the largest source of funding for medical research in the world, creating hundreds of thousands of high-quality jobs by funding thousands of scientists in universities and research institutions in every state across America and around the globe.