Graduation Year
2026
Document Type
Capstone Project
Research Type
Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Department
Occupational Therapy
Program Chair
Kitsum Li, OTD, OTR/L, CSRS
Faculty Mentor
Caroline Umeda, PhD, OTR/L
Content Expert
Caroline Umeda, PhD, OTR/L
Site Mentor
Jack Situ
Community Partner
San Francisco Recreation and Parks Departent
Abstract
School-age youth in the United States increasingly face stressors that disrupt their overall mental well-being, highlighting a need for accessible preventative interventions. To address this gap, this doctoral capstone project developed a program titled Strong Foundations: Supporting Mental Well-Being in School-Age Youth, an evidence- and occupation-based program consisting of various interventions designed to enhance the well-being of youth attending a San Francisco Recreation and Park (SFRPD) community-based summer camp. Through embedding occupational therapy-based programming into an environment that currently lacks dedicated mental well-being promotion methods, the Strong Foundations aims to foster mental well-being among school-age youth through occupational engagement that promotes emotional regulation, interpersonal skill development, and self-efficacy. Evaluation results of the Strong Foundations pilot included improved mental well-being among participants, demonstrated by increased engagement in meaningful occupations, utilization of emotional regulation strategies, improved peer-communication, and a stronger sense of community belonging. Ultimately, this project validated the critical role of community-based occupational therapy consultation in designing and implementing preventative health promotion methods.