| The focus of this doctoral project is to create practical tools to help ensure the safe, client-centered use of weighted blankets with adult mental health consumers. The American Occupational Therapy Association's (AOTA) Centennial Vision focuses on occupational therapists taking a leadership role within their respective practice areas. Occupational therapists have the fundamental knowledge base necessary from which to take a leadership role in the national mental health initiatives to help create a more nurturing, trauma-informed, and recovery focused system of care. Innovative tools, such as weighted blankets, are being used within mental health care settings as part of this mission, although to engage in evidence-based practice, competency-based staff training and more research are needed. This doctoral project presents initial training, practice, and research tools from which to develop the weighted blanket competency-training program, to help ensure weighted blankets are used appropriately and to continue to establish an evidence base. |
