PIP Action Projects
Pioneers in Practice Action Projects
Project Purpose (Mission & Vision Alignment)
This action project advances NOTA’s mission to champion the distinct value of occupational therapy by supporting practitioners, students, and community partners through connection, advocacy, mentorship, and accessible leadership opportunities. As part of the PIP Leadership Program, each mentee will engage in the creation of an action project – a collaborative, real-world leadership initiative aligned with NOTA’s mission, vision, and values.
Aligned with NOTA’s vision, the project empowers a thriving, visible, and engaged OT community that is recognized as a leader in pioneering health and enhancing well-being across Nevada.
Project Focus Areas (Choose 1–2 per team)
Each action project will have a focus area aligned with NOTA’s strategic priorities:
- Access & Inclusion
- Improve access to NOTA resources for students, rural practitioners, or underrepresented groups
- Improve access to NOTA resources for students, rural practitioners, or underrepresented groups
- Advocacy & Visibility
- Increase awareness of OT’s role among legislators, allied health professionals, or the public
- Increase awareness of OT’s role among legislators, allied health professionals, or the public
- Connection & Mentorship
- Strengthen relationships between students, early-career practitioners, and experienced leaders
- Strengthen relationships between students, early-career practitioners, and experienced leaders
- Leadership Pipeline Development
- Create clear pathways into NOTA committees, districts, SIGs, or leadership roles
- Create clear pathways into NOTA committees, districts, SIGs, or leadership roles
Guiding Values in Action
Each project must intentionally demonstrate:
- Inclusive: Accessible formats, plain language, statewide reach
- Ethical: Transparent processes, occupational justice lens
- Dedicated: Evidence-informed, occupation-centered outcomes
- Evolutionary: Creative, adaptable solutions
- Restorative: Supports OT well-being, balance, and community connection
DAC Framework Application
D – Direction (Shared Purpose)
Cohort Purpose:
To strengthen NOTA’s leadership pipeline while advancing advocacy, connection, and engagement across Nevada’s OT community.
Each project lead clearly articulates:
- The problem or gap being addressed
- The community served (students, practitioners, public, legislators, etc.)
- How the project advances NOTA’s mission and vision
A – Alignment (Coordinated Roles)
For individual and group action projects, participants intentionally assume and balance multiple leadership functions to ensure alignment between purpose, action, and impact. Each PIP mentee will create an action project that aligns their own personal values with the mission, vision, and values of NOTA. As the project lead, individuals will outline how they will fulfill the following roles throughout the project:
- Project Lead: Oversees planning, coordination, timelines, and communication
- Advocacy & Content Lead: Develops messaging, storytelling, and policy-relevant content
- Engagement Lead: Manages outreach, partnerships, and dissemination efforts
- Evaluation Lead: Tracks progress, outcomes, and reflective learning
Role emphasis may shift over the course of the project and is revisited monthly during DAC pod meetings to support reflection, accountability, and alignment.
C – Commitment (Shared Responsibility)
Commitment is demonstrated through:
- Monthly progress updates in DAC pods
- Mentor feedback and course correction
- Evidence of follow-through (artifacts, outreach, implementation steps)
Sample Action Project Deliverables
Each project produces tangible outcomes appropriate to scope and time:
Core Deliverables
- Written Action Plan (problem, goals, stakeholders, timeline)
- Stakeholder map & systems thinking diagram
- Advocacy or engagement artifact (toolkit, campaign, event, resource)
- Reflection on leadership growth using DAC framework
Action Project Ideas
Integration With Monthly Seminars
| Month | Action Project Milestone |
| January | Identify leadership purpose & project alignment |
| February | Draft action plan; define roles & responsibilities; recognize communication styles |
| March | Advocacy strategy, stakeholder mapping, messaging |
| April | Network building, partnerships, leadership pathways |
| May | Finalize project & sustainability plan |
| June | Capstone presentation at NOTA Rise Conference |
| July | Reflection, legacy, and future leadership planning |
Evaluation & Impact Measures
Projects are evaluated using:
- DAC framework reflections (Direction, Alignment, Commitment)
- Evidence of engagement or dissemination
- Mentor feedback
- Self-assessed leadership growth
- Contribution to NOTA’s strategic goals
Capstone Presentation (NOTA Rise Conference)
Each team presents:
- The problem addressed
- The leadership process (DAC in action)
- Project outcomes & lessons learned
- Recommendations for NOTA sustainability or scale-up
Why This Action Project Matters
This project:
- Builds real leadership capacity, not just theory
- Produces usable assets for NOTA
- Strengthens connection, advocacy, and engagement statewide
- Develops leaders who are ethical, inclusive, and sustainable
It reflects NOTA’s belief that leadership is relational, values-driven, and action-oriented.