Award Date

5-15-2026

Degree Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Department

Brain Health

First Committee Member

Sharon Jalene

Number of Pages

87

Abstract

This doctoral capstone project aimed to develop and implement an occupational therapy- informed social-emotional learning (SEL) training program for after-school staff at the Hollywood Recreation Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The project addressed a critical gap in the skills and competence of staff needed to manage emotional and behavioral challenges in community-based youth programs. Guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model, adult learning theory, and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework, the fourteen-week program incorporated weekly lessons to enhance self-awareness, emotional regulation, and relational competence among staff. Through interactive lessons, reflection promotion, and feedback surveys, participants engaged in building practical SEL skills to apply within daily routines and child interactions. The program was designed to improve staff’s perceived competency in supporting children’s emotional regulation and conflict resolution, while fostering more supportive and emotionally responsive program environments. Outcomes were evaluated using pre- and post-program surveys and observational feedback. The project’s findings informed this program as a sustainable professional development practice and highlighted the role of occupational therapy in fostering emotional well-being, resilience, and competency in community-based settings.

Controlled Subject

After-school teachers; Occupational training; Competency-based education

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Occupational Therapy | Rehabilitation and Therapy

File Format

PDF

File Size

3700 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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