Degrees Earned
MSRA (Recreation Administration), with a concentration in therapeutic
recreation,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1988
B.S. Leisure Studies, with an emphasis in therapeutic recreation,
University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, 1979
Professional Experience Related to Persons with Disabilities
Associate Director, Center for Recreation and Disability Studies, Dept.
of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill, 1991 - present. Staff hiring, training, and supervision, acquisition
of external funding, management of grant and contract projects, dissemination
of project findings, academic course instruction, and liaison with community
agencies and consumer and family groups. Current projects include federal
grants Recreation
in Supported Employment and Services
and Supports for Person with Brain Injury; state contracts Project
Options and Supported
Retirement Services. Completed projects include Reintegration Through
Recreation, Peer Education and Advocacy through Recreation and Leadership,
Integrated Recreation, and Supported Living Team.
Instructor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dept. of Recreation and Leisure Studies. Clinical Skills in TR, and Disabling Conditions and the Practice of T.R. 1989- present.
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist II, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, 1981-1990. Direct service provision to adults and adolescents in acute care psychiatric unit and clients of out-patient Eating Disorders Clinic.
Rehabilitation Therapist, Orange-Person-Chatham Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, 1980-81. Direct client service in activity-oriented adult psychiatric day and treatment program. Liaison with agency staff and community groups.
Rehabilitation Technician, Daniel Drake Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio,
1974-1977. Direct service for adults with physical rehabilitation needs.
Publications
Luken, K. & Zook, B. (2000), Using Computer Technology to Expand
the Recreation Choices of Persons with Brain Injury, North Carolina
Recreation and Park Review.
Luken, K & Sorensen B., (1999), Recreational Therapy: A Value-Enhancing Treatment Option for Improving Successful Functional Outcomes, Case Managers Magazine.
Luken, K. (1999), Recreation in Supported Employment, INFOLINES in Supported Employment.
Luken, K, Supported Retirement Services, (1999), NC Parks and Recreation Review
Luken, K & Rios, D., (1998), Clinical is a Process, not a Place, NCTRC newsletter
Luken, K & Hubbard, A., (1998), Supported Retirement Services, Wake County Managers Newsletter
Mahon, M., Bullock, C. & Luken, K.(1996) Leisure Education for Persons with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness: Is it a Socially Valid Process? Therapeutic Recreation Journal.
Bullock, C. & Luken, K (1993) Reintegration Through Recreation: A Community Based Rehabilitation Model, Leisure and Mental Health, volume 1.
Luken, Karen J. (1993) Reintegration Through Recreation: Starting Where the Person Is. Parks and Recreation
Luken, K. (1988) In Celebration of Eating Disorders Week. Chapel Hill Sunday Newspaper.
Hatfield, Dick & Luken, K. (1986). Behavioral Approaches to the
Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa.
Research Into Action, volume 5.
Presentations
Services and Supports for Persons with Brain Injury, ATRA, September,
2000, Cincinnati, OH.
link to slides
Assertiveness and Recovery, NC Mental Health Consumers’ Organization
conference, June, 2000
Raleigh, NC.
Self Determination and the Practice of TR, TRENDS conference, May, 2000, Goshen , VA.
Recreation and Leisure: examining the pieces, Project Options
regional training, April, 2000,
Asheville, NC 2000
Recreation Access Project: developing community partnerships,
NC TR Division annual
conference, March, 2000, Hickory, NC.
Recreation and Leisure: examining the pieces, Project Options
regional training, March, 2000,
Kinston, NC.
Promoting Informed Choice in Recreation, Vocational Alternatives
Task Force annual
conference, February, 2000, Greensboro, NC.
Coordinating Retirement Planning for Persons with Developmental Disabilities,
NC Parks and
Recreation Society Conference, November, 1999, Charlotte, NC.
Presentation
slides
Supported Retirement Services, NCRTA, October, 1999, Chapel Hill, NC.
Thomas S Longitudinal Study and Implications for RT, NCRTA, October, 1999, Chapel Hill, NC.
Assessment, Community Living Association, October, 1999, Atlantic Beach, NC
Activity Sampling, Community Living Association, October, 1999, Atlantic Beach, NC
Community Connections, Community Living Association, October, 1999, Atlantic Beach, NC
Developing Meaningful Recreation and Leisure Goals, AAMR-NC,
September, 1999,
Greensboro, NC.
Reintegration Through Recreation: Recreation’s Role in Rehabilitation
and Recovery, Columbia
University, June, 1999. New York,, NY.
Assertive Communication, North Carolina Mental Health Consumers Organization, Raleigh, NC, June, 1999
Recreation as a Related Service, American Association of Mental Retardation, New Orleans, May, 1999.
Recreation in Supported Employment, American Association of Mental Retardation, New Orleans, May, 1999.
Ethical Concepts and Consumers, North Carolina International Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services Winston-Salem, NC, April, 1999
Providing Quality TR Services for Thomas S Class Members, Western Carolina Center, Morganton, NC, April, 1999
The Role of Senior Centers in Serving Seniors with Developmental Disabilities, NCPRS, Seniors Division Workshop, Raleigh, March, 1999
Supported Retirement Services, NCPRS, TR Division, Atlantic Beach, March, 1999, NC
Project Options, NCPRS, TR Division, Atlantic Beach, March, 1999, NC
Supported Retirement Services, Community Living Association, Atlantic Beach, NC, October,1998
Sound Bytes vs. Reality Bytes, American Therapeutic Recreation Association annual conference, Boston, MA, September, 1998
Reducing Social Isolation: the use of Peer Recreation Advocates in Psychosocial Rehabilitation and CMHC Settings, International Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services, June, 1998, Orlando, Fl.
Peer Education and Advocacy through Recreation and Leadership, Mid East TR Symposium, Hampton, May, 1998, VA.
The PEARL project, North Carolina International Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services, May, 1998, Winston-Salem, NC
Supporting Retirement Choices, DDTI Best Practices Conference, March, 1998, Durham, NC
Meeting the Needs of Persons with Disability Working Part Time, Vocational Alternatives Task Force conference, February, 1998, Durham, NC.
Peer Advocacy: what have we found out and what does it mean? North Carolina Recreation Therapy Association Oct 1997
Professional Practice and Continuing Education Needs of Recreation Therapists, North Carolina Recreation Therapy Association, Chapel Hill, NC, October, 1997.
Quality Recreation Opportunities and Community Inclusion, Community Living Association, Charlotte, NC, October, 1997.
What’s Recreation got to do with Recovery?, NC Alliance for the Mentally Ill fall conference, Mooresville, NC, October, 1997.
Outcomes of Peer Helping Program for Adults with Mental Illness, American Therapeutic Recreation Association annual conference, October, 1997, Nashville, TN.
Peer Advocacy Services in Therapeutic Recreation, National Therapeutic Recreation Society annual conference, September, 1997, Salt Lake City, UT.
Peer Advocacy Services in T.R. National Therapeutic Recreation Society Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, October, 1997
Outcomes of Peer Helping Program for Adults with Mental Illness. American Therapeutic Recreation Association Conference, Nashville, TN, September, 1997.
Evaluating a Peer Advocacy Service, North Carolina Recreation Therapy Association Conference, Chapel Hill, NC, October 1997.
Professional Practice and Continuing Education Needs in R.T., North Carolina Recreation Therapy Association Conference, Chapel Hill, NC, October, 1997.
What’s Recreation Got to Do With Recovery, NC Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Mooresville, NC October, 1997.
Leisure Benefits Everyone, Community Living Association Conference, Charlotte, NC, September, 1997.
Promoting Person Centered Recreation Services, Developmental Disabilities Training Institute Practices Conference, Durham, NC, May, 1997.
Project Options, North Carolina Therapeutic Recreation Division Conference, Raleigh, NC, February, 1997.
Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia, North Carolina Recreation Therapy Association, Chapel Hill, NC, October, 1996.
Peer Education and Advocacy through Recreation and Leadership, North Carolina Recreation Therapy Association, NC, October, 1996.
Quality Recreation Opportunities and Community Inclusion, Supported Living Team residential providers, Raleigh, NC, June and July, 1996.
The Status of Therapeutic Recreation in Psychiatry, Mid East Symposium on T.R., Ocean City, MD, May 1996.
Peer Education and Advocacy through Recreation and Leadership, Mid East Symposium on T.R., Ocean City, MD, May 1996.
Hospitals Without Walls, North Carolina Recreation Therapy Association, Durham NC, November, 1995.
Change: What’s In It for TR?, North Carolina Therapeutic Recreation Division, Clinical Workshop, Raleigh, NC, September, 1995.
Community Reintegration Through Recreation: not just a buzz word, University of Missouri, Project Life Training, Columbia, MO, May 12, 1995.
Domiciliary Care Project, Developmental Disabilities Training Institute Best Practices, State of the Art Services and Supports for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Chapel Hill, NC, March 1995.
The Power of Personal Strengths, North Carolina Therapeutic Recreation Division Conference, Atlantic Beach, NC, March 17, 1995.
The role of Therapeutic Recreation Services in Reducing the Cost of Institutional Care, State Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, Community Alternatives Program. Raleigh, NC, January, 1995.
The role of Recreation Therapy in Independent Living Services. North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Training Curriculum, Fayetteville, NC, October, 1994.
Reintegration Through Recreation. Schizophrenia Treatment and Evaluation Program, UNC Hospitals, June, 1994.
Reintegration Through Recreation: Opening Windows of Self-Determined Opportunities for Successful Community Inclusion. Therapeutic Recreation Section of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society, May, 1994.
Reintegration Through Recreation: Maximizing Recreation Therapy’s Contribution to Quality of Life and Successful Rehabilitation. Cincinnati-Dayton Therapeutic Recreation Association, January, 1994.
Reintegration Through Recreation: Moving Consumers and Professionals Towards a Quality Future. American Therapeutic Recreation Association, Towson, MD, September, 1993.
Reintegration Through Recreation: A Creative Model for Promoting Change and Opening Doors. National Therapeutic Recreation Society, Cincinnati, OH, October 1992.
Reintegration Through Recreation: Opening Doors to One's Community. Fayetteville Area Health Education Center, Fayetteville, NC, November 1992.
Reintegration Through Recreation: Balancing Housing, Work, and Leisure. Missouri Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services Annual Conference, Lake of the Ozarks, MO, October 1992.
Community Reintegration. Recreation Therapy Institute, Chapel Hill, NC, July 1992.
Individualized, Integrated Recreation in the Real World: Reintegration Through Recreation, a Community-Based Model. International Conference on Leisure and Mental Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, July 1992.
Reintegration Through Recreation: A Community-Based Model. Western Institute of Neuropsychiatry Grand Rounds, Salt Lake City, Utah, July 1992.
Reintegration Through Recreation. Dorothea Dix Hospital Multi Specialty Seminar, Raleigh, NC, May 1992.
Reintegration Through Recreation: A Creative Model for Promoting Change and Opening Doors Medical College of Pennsylvania, Therapeutic Activities and Leisure Skills Conference, Philadelphia, PA, April 1992.
Transition into the Community. North Carolina Therapeutic Recreation Division Conference, Wrightsville, NC. 1992
Reintegration Through Recreation - A Community Reintegration Program. North Carolina Recreation and Park Society - Therapeutic Recreation Division Conference, Raleigh, NC September 1992.
Community Reintegration Services - Are They Coming to Your Community? North Carolina Recreation Therapy Association Conference, Durham, NC, July, 1991.
Working With Families. Recreation Therapy Institute, Chapel Hill, NC, July 1989-92.
Therapeutic Use of Activities with Psychiatric Clients. Charlotte Area Health Education Center, Gastonia, NC, February, 1990.
Development of A Discharge Planning Group. Southeast T.R. Symposium, Greensboro, NC, June 1989.
Involving Patients in Preparing for Discharge: A Discharge Planning Group. A.T.R.A. Conference, Cincinnati, OH, September 1988.
Assertion Training. North Carolina Therapeutic Recreation Society, Raleigh, NC, October 1986.
Assertive Behavior as an Aspect of Caring. Professional Development Symposium, Effective Interactions in Health Care Services, Chapel Hill, NC, April 1986.
Leisure Education in the Hospital and Community. North Carolina
Parks and Recreation Society, Therapeutic Recreation Division, Greensboro,
NC, March 1981.
Professional Service