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作者： Stephanie Clark
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2009-06-24 |
Arts Advocacy Day (AAD)
, sponsored by Americans for the Arts, was held on Tuesday March 31 in
Washington, D.C. Advocates from arts organizations representing almost
all 50 states were present as a unified front to ask Congress for an
increase in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts that would
total $200 million. Read More...
ARTS ADVOCACY DAY PHOTOS
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阅读全文...
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作者： Stephanie Clark
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2009-02-23 |
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During the past 10 years, the Music Therapy and Creative Arts Program at Massachusetts Hospital School (MHS) has experienced several changes. MHS is a Dept. of Public Health facility where the majority of children are residents during the week. The Mass. Department of Education (now known as Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education, or ESE) contracts with a vendor to provide the educational services to the children. The Music Therapy and Creative Arts program is housed in the school building and the vendor contracts staff. The program was first developed with two part-time music therapists, 2 drama specialists and a creative arts coordinator. The part-time music therapy positions were converted to full time as the need for services was recognized. By the year 2001, the vendor added another full time music therapist and a nurse making the department staff total 7. Each year, over 120 children received music therapy and/or creative arts. The possibilities were endless with creative, qualified staff that was able to provide performance opportunities and access to education through music therapy and drama. ♫♪ In 2006, the department was significantly downsized at the recommendation of the Department of Education, leaving just 2 full time music therapists. The program was restructured to provide services to those children for whom music therapy was a priority in order to access their curriculum. The school year, 2008-2009, has started again at MHS, but now with only 1 music therapist. A new vendor was awarded the contract by the Dept. of Education, staff hours were increased and the school year was extended, all without additional compensation for staff.
My colleague accepted a new position and although no official word has been given by the Department of Education, it is looking bleak that monies will be made available to hire another music therapist. ♫♪ How does one get the Dept. of Education to understand the value of music therapy and the arts for these children? As a board certified music therapist and a licensed music teacher in MA, I have taken every opportunity to educate the people in power on Music Therapy. I have been advocating for a reinstatement of a state music therapy position – a position I once held many years ago and a position I know continues to exist within the state employment system. ♫♪
This past spring several Institutional State Teacher (IST) positions were slated to be filled at MHS. After reading the job description, I applied for the position and an interview was scheduled by the Dept. of Education. A few days before my interview, I was called into the office to meet with the SEIS (Special Education in Institutional Settings) Director from the Dept. of Education and the principal of the school. I was informed that I was NOT eligible to apply for an IST position because I did not teach an MCAS related subject nor I was certified as a special education teacher. Knowing the politics that exist, I was prepared to support my application and qualifications. I clearly articulated my credentials and training, as well as my experiences in collaboration with classroom teachers and subject areas. I was able to demonstrate through session plans, thematic units, and special events how I contributed to MCAS portfolios. My participation on TEAMS, my co-treatment and co-teaching experience, and my professional development and current, up-to-date training and certifications made me a strong candidate for the IST position. ♫♪ There was not an area in which I did NOT meet the qualifications as outlined in the job posting. Nonetheless, I was refused an interview, clearly reinforcing for me that the politics of education continues to devalue and ignore the strength of the arts. ♫♪ I contacted AMTA and CBMT to inquire as to how music therapy can get the recognition it needs at the state level. Government Relations is currently working toward forming state task forces to work on situations similar to mine and to get politicians and the people who are making monetary decisions at the state level to understand both the training and competence of the music therapist as well as the value of the service music therapists provide. –Marcia Lajoie, MM, MT-BC @ Massachusetts Hospital School
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State Recognition: AMTA National Priority |
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作者： Stephanie Clark
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2009-01-25 |
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Massachusetts has been identified by AMTA as one of the primary states in the Region on which to focus our efforts in achieving state recognition of Music Therapy.
How can you support Government Relations and Advocacy for MT?
Send letters to our state legislators as a way of increasing awareness of Music Therapy. Include any approved written support from teachers, guardians, clients and other allied health, education and community organization representatives who may have seen the benefits of music therapy.
So, you want to write an advocacy letter but you’re wondering how to get started? Visit the National Coalition for Creative Arts Therapies Associations (NCCATA) website at www.nccata.org and look for instructions on “Drafting the Letter”
(http://www.nccata.org/images/NCCATA-DraftingTheLetter.pdf)
Also, look for a Concurrent Session on Advocacy Training with Dena Register of CBMT at Regional Conference ‘09 in Portsmouth, NH.
If you haven’t already done so, ask your employer about sponsoring a Music Therapy Day or Week at your facility. Give an in-service, hold special staff Music Therapy groups, share pertinent journal articles and have a discussion group, consider presenting on your work at a professional conference outside of MT… The possibilities are endless!
Regards,
Stephanie L. Clark, MT-BC, CCLS
NER Government Relations Rep.
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