Community Based Interventions (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

Pass/Fail

Content scheduling

The course suits well to both face-to-face students and distant learners. Learning will take place through: an introductory webinar, independent study, international webinars, contact days on campus, a community project and by practising the use of an assessment method.

The course starts with an introductory webinar. The course aims to run international webinars with foreign partners. Due to time differences, these webinars may take place in the evening and will be announced at the latest at the beginning of the course. Everyone is expected to attend to the webinars.

The course includes a lot of independent study on the Moodle e-learning environment. Students choose whether to complete these tasks independently online remotely or in the classroom with a small team of students. The 2h classroom time is only for those students who wish to work on the assignments as a team in discussion. If students wish to complete these remotely independently, they do not need to come to the classroom or webinar during these times.

All students on the course must attend the 6-8h contact days of the course. These days will include visits and practical exercises as well as professional discussion and theoretical reflection on the course theme.

The students carry out a community project, which includes planning and implementing the project either in the Jyväskylä region or in their home town. The Canadian Occupational Therapy Theory 2023 will be used in the different phases of the project.

Students will practice using the Ralla play assessment method or the Housing Enabler accessibility assessment method independently or in small groups.

Objective

Purpose of the course:
The purpose of the course is to deepen your understanding of the principles of community-based work in the social and health sector.

Competences:
Internationality and multiculturalism
Responsibility and occupational justice 
Advocacy and promotion of occupational therapy services

Learning outcomes of the course:
After the course, you will know different communities and understand the role of communities facilitating or inhibiting occupational participation. You will know the cultural aspects of communities and how to promote occupational justice and equality through interprofessional collaboration. You will recall aspects of participation in the ICF (the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health).

You will be able to collaborate with communities to promote the health and well-being of their members through their participation in occupation.

You can plan and implement a small innovative developmental project in a community and use your professional competences independently in the project. You can critically evaluate the resources needed in your project and reflect on your own role as a professional in the project.

You will know how to use the Housing Enabler assessment method and use the assessment results to make the housing community more accessible for individuals. OR You will know how to use the RALLA -play observation method and use the assessment results to help children participate in their communities through play activities. You can write a document after using the assessment method.

Content

The main content of the course is:

The basic concepts and cultural aspects of community-based interventions.

Examples of community-based interventions.

The use of your professional competence in planning and implementing a short developmental community-based project.

Basics of RALLA -play observation method OR Housing Enabler home accessibility assessment method as a tool to enhance community participation of the clients.

Documentation of RALLA or Housing Enabler assessment results.

The course may include possibilities for international collaboration with university students abroad (e.g., collaborative webinars, study visits or intensive international weeks).

Materials

Learning material will include literature and articles in English.

Scaffa, M,E. 2020. Occupational therapy in community and population health practice.

Teaching methods

The course includes contact days on campus, webinars and independent studies.

Employer connections

The course assignment, the community-based project is encouraged to apply together with representatives from working life.

International connections

The course enables co-operation with exchange students.
The course may include two webinars in the evening time with international collaboration with university students abroad and/or a study visit to the UK. The course is available to exchange students.

Student workload

Study contents are including ETCS as following:

Basement for Community-Based Interventions: 1 etcs
Examples of  Community-Based Interventions  1 etcs
Ralla or Housing Enabler assessment method: 1 etcs 
Community-based project: 2 etcs 

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Pass
The student knows different communities and their role in facilitating or inhibiting occupational participation. The student lists cultural aspects of communities in promoting occupational justice and equality.

The student can plan and implement a small innovative developmental project in a community and use professional competences independently in the project. The student can reflect own role as a professional in the project.

The student knows how to use the Housing Enabler assessment method OR RALLA -play observation method. The student can write a clear document, after using the assessment method, including viewpoints enhancing community participation.

Further information

Exchange students: 5