Between 20-30% of typically developing children experience sleep difficulty in childhood. The percentage of neurodiverse children with considerable sleep problems is even more staggering at 40-80%.

On one hand, it is sobering to consider the impacts of sleep difficulties on children and adolescents. As you’ll hear in this week's article review:

Sleep difficulties are linked with everything from poorer health, education outcomes and social outcomes. They can also exacerbate common conditions like ADHD.

But on the other hand, this means that improving sleep is one of the most powerful levers that occupational therapy professionals can address with our clients.

I know many of you are already at least touching on this foundational ADL with your clients—but I’m hoping today we will upskill you even further, through my conversation with Dr. Amy Gore Hartman. Amy is an occupational therapist and sleep scientist specializing in supporting families with sleep and emotion regulation.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/pediatric-sleep-and-ot

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While many OTs work in a fee for service model, the reality is that we are undergoing a seismic shift towards value based care.

In fact it's estimated that 238.8 million Americans receive healthcare in a value-based care model. These already large numbers are expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

OTs has tremendous potential in value-based care models.

But, the reality is we are missing the boat.

That’s because becoming involved in a value based care model involves a contracting process that can feel complicated. There has been MUCH written to support doctors and other medical providers in the value-based care process, and they are outpacing us.

But, in today’s episode we break this information down for OTs. Our favorite value-base care expert, Dana Stauss, PT, DPT is going to walk private practice owner Carlin Reaume through: identify value-based care opportunities locally, crafting a proposal, and ultimately drafting a contract.

Let’s be honest. This feels dense. But, this is exactly what we need to be learning, and we are here to set you up for success!

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/value-based-care-contracts

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Nearly one third of people experience sleep disturbances.

And, about 23% of adults experience mental health illness.

These high percentages mean that both sleep and mental health are global, public health challenges in their own right.

However, emerging research suggests we should not think of these challenges separately. They are more intertwined than we realize. Sleep difficulties aren’t just a sign of mental health challenges, sleep problems can contribute to mental health problems. But, then the inverse is also true: when we improve a person's sleep, we can improve their mental health.

What this means for OT is profound:

This means sleep interventions are one of the most powerful tools we have to impact mental health.

Today, we will zoom in on one diagnosis: anxiety.

We’ll get deep into the biology of how sleep and anxiety are intertwined. And, the interventions (that are in your OT-wheel house) to improve both.

To help us make sense of how profound the impact of sleep is on health—and, how potentially profound it would be for OT to tackle this essential ADL— we will welcome to the podcast, Dr. Amanda Carroll, an OT sleep researcher, who also runs a sleep private practice in Montana.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/sleep-mental-health-and-ot

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