The Therapeutic Recreation Department is focused solely on therapeutic recreation services for individuals with special needs and senior adults. Therapeutic Recreation is the “purposeful use of recreation services and activities to meet the needs of individuals in six domains: physical, social, emotional, cognitive, spiritual and leisure functioning. The Department of Therapeutic Recreation is unique to the City of Clinton in that it is the only program throughout the state that focuses strictly on these two very important populations.
The Wood Activity Center has been the center of community life for senior and therapeutic programs since 2013. In creation of the Department, the Board of Aldermen appointed Chandra Fontenot Broomfield as director. She has been leading these innovative and engaging programs since 2007; starting out in the Parks and Recreation Department. With assistance from Greg Holly, the Program Coordinator, the department provides dozens of programs with the purpose of improved quality of life as an outcome.
Chandra and Greg both hold a certification in Therapeutic Recreation (CTRS). A certification held by only 15,000 people worldwide and they are the only CTRS’s working in a municipality in the state of Mississippi.
Therapeutic Recreation is for individuals of all ages, but the Wood Center programs focus on senior adults ages 50+ and individuals with cognitive and physical limitations. Currently the Department of Therapeutic Recreation offers a variety of services and programs for residents.
Some of the current offerings for the Abilities Program are: Challenger League Sports – Basketball, softball, bowling, tennis and soccer. Other programs include arts and crafts activities and fitness, and special events such as dances.
Senior programs include a wide range of activities from social events to exercise classes focusing on encouraging individuals to develop a healthy leisure lifestyle through program participation. The program also offers continuing education opportunities through its computer lab. This lab is open for individuals to use at leisure in order to become comfortable with technology. Individual classes are being offered at the Wood Center at no cost. Sessions include but are not limited to Introduction to Computer Applications, Microsoft Word Basics, & Internet and Email Basics.
Challenger League – sign up to receive emails about events and programs by emailing [email protected] or call Chandra at 601-924-6387.
Senior Programs – sign up to receive the Living Young Quarterly Newsletter by sending an email with the subject “PAPERLESS” to [email protected].
Receive senior program updates and reminders via text message by texting - @cprdseniorto 81010 (graphics attached) or receive reminders by email at [email protected].