OCTH 628: Practicum in Community-Based Services
Prerequisite: Successful completion of OCTH 610, 612, 614 and 616 or permission of
the Chair
Credit Hours: (2)
Students work in groups with a faculty mentor to provide occupation-centered services
to clients in a community setting, collect and analyze data about the outcomes of
the services provided, and reflect upon their experiences.
Detailed Description of Content of the Course
Students will provide occupation-based services to clients, with on-site faculty supervision.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Occupational therapy faculty will initiate relationships with organizations in the
local community that serve clients with special needs, but do not currently employ
occupational therapists. Students will be assigned in teams to accompany and work
with faculty in these organizations once each week. Each team will plan an occupation-based
program, carry out the program with clients, and collect data about outcomes. Discussion
and journal writing will be used to encourage students to reflect upon their experiences
with clients.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
Students will:
- Express support for the use of occupation-based programs to improve the quality of
life and well-being of individuals and groups;
- Articulate to service providers and consumers the unique nature of occupation and
the value of occupation to support participation in the community for the client;
- Promote occupational therapy by educating others about the profession;
- Apply theoretical constructs to occupation-based evaluation and intervention with
clients in community settings;
- Work with a faculty mentor to provide therapeutic use of occupation and activities
to clients;
- Apply therapeutic use of the self as part of the therapy process in both individual
and group interaction;
- Work with a faculty mentor to refer clients to specialists (both internal and external
to the profession) for consultation and intervention;
- Collaborate with a faculty mentor and the client and caregiver to monitor the effect
of occupational therapy intervention and the need for continued or modified intervention;
- Work with a faculty mentor to organize, collect, analyze and report data in a systematic
manner for evaluation of program outcomes;
- Interact through written, oral and nonverbal communication with the client and family,
colleagues and other health-care providers, and the public in a professionally acceptable
manner;
- Terminate occupational therapy services at the end of the semester, by developing
and discussing with clients and appropriate others a summary of outcomes and recommendations
for the future.
Assessment Measures
A Professional Development Assessment will be used by the student to evaluate his
or her own skills, and by the faculty mentor to assign a grade for the Practicum.
Other Course Information
Review and Approval
February, 2009