LEWISTON – In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, the Student Occupational Therapy Association at the University of Southern Maine/L-A has raised $600 for the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project by selling Avon products. Members called the fund-raiser “AVON for AWAP.”

Occupational therapists have a professional responsibility to identify domestic violence and address related issues within their scope of practice. Members hope that “AVON for AWAP” helped to raise awareness of domestic violence issues.

The association is also committed to engaging in community-based activities and fund-raisers. The association has supported AWAP in the past with Thanksgiving food drives and “Dollars for Diapers” fund-raising efforts.

The Master of Occupational Therapy program at USM-LA, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy, American Occupational Therapy Association, is an entry-level graduate program that can be completed in two years on a full-time basis. Ninety-eight percent of the graduates over the last five years have passed the national certification exam, compared to a national average of 84 percent.

Applications for fall admission to the program are being accepted. Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree (in any discipline) at a regionally accredited college or university. For students who have not yet attended college, the “Jump Start” program is an option. The program enables students to complete their undergraduate and graduate education at USM-LA in five years.

Anyone interested in learning more about and/or pursuing a career in occupational therapy is encouraged to call Luisa Scott at 753-6523.

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