.png "ATRA SoCal : 2026 Session Description"){kind=logo}
ATRA SoCal : 2026 Session Description
October 17–19, 2026
The Embassy Suites, Brea, California
2026 ATRA Annual Conference – Session Descriptions
October 17–19, 2026 | Brea, CA
The following is the Session Descriptions for the 2026 ATRA Annual Conference in Brea, CA. All sessions, times, and presenter information have been confirmed, though final adjustments may occur due to unforeseen circumstances onsite.
For a visual Calendar view, please visit: Schedule at a Glance
For information on our On Demand Conference offerings, please visit: ATRA SoCal On Demand
Continuing Education (CEUs):
NCTRC pre-approval is pending fr all sessions for CEUs.
Once the program is pre-approved; For questions related to specialty certification areas, please refer to the PDF version of the program for designation icons and CEU-eligible sessions.
Code of Conduct:
All attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and guests are expected to uphold the ATRA Conference Code of Conduct.
To review the Code, view it here.
Note on Non-ATRA Activities:
Please note that any events or activities not listed in the official ATRA SoCal program are independently organized and not affiliated or sponsored by ATRA. ATRA is not responsible for independently coordinated events, meetups or activities not articulated in this program. Individuals interested in non-ATRA sponsored activities should contact their respective organizations directly for details.
Recreation Therapy in Action: Building Belonging and Reforming Systems for Unhoused Community Members
Session Description
Daily, our unhoused community members navigate profoundly complex systems, often living with unmanaged chronic health conditions and minimal structural or individual supports. Lack of affordable housing, stagnant income, rising housing costs, inadequate access to equitable high-quality healthcare, and systemic racism and marginalization are all noted as key contributors to homelessness. This session explores the intersection between the Homelessness Response System, Medical Respite Care, and Recreation Therapy. Specifically, we will examine causes of and populations experiencing homelessness, associated unmanaged chronic health conditions, foundational information of homelessness response systems, medical respite care core principles and services, and the critical need for the expansion of Recreation Therapy within these systems. We will highlight approaches for Recreation Therapists to successfully engage, advocate, and advance the field of Recreation Therapy in these systems to improve health outcomes, housing outcomes, and quality of life for unhoused community members. Recreation Therapists are uniquely qualified to be a part of the solution to end homelessness and housing instability please join this session to learn how!
Learning Outcomes
1) Learners will be able to list at least five primary structural and individual causes of homelessness, citing data from sources such as the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC), and Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 2) Learners will be able to define the core services of medical respite care and the need for expanded Therapeutic Recreation as a core service within the models of care. 3) Learners will be able to list five approaches they can utilize to engage, advocate, and advance the field of Recreation Therapy within medical respite care and homelessness response systems to improve health outcomes, housing outcomes, and quality of life for community members experiencing homelessness.
Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
Behavioral Health
Business/Private Practice
Child and Adolescent
Community
Higher Education
Management
Military/Veterans
Older Adults
Physical Rehabilitation and Medicine
Research
Schools
All
Target Audience
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals
Primary Presenter
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fb5f621d94e2c672ebc8f4befe62fa1d.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Christa Signor, National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC)")
Christa Signor, National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC)
Biographical Information
Christa Signor, MSRLS CTRS is a Senior Medical Respite Manager at the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC). She has over 10 years of experience working in supported housing and health care settings leading programs and directly serving persons experiencing homelessness and housing instability. She brings a unique perspective to the field as a Recreation Therapist and implementing recreation as an evidence-based practice not only within medical respite care and housing programs but also in memory care and inpatient behavioral healthcare settings.