Community-based learning in occupational therapy.

A community-based field work experience for senior occupational therapy students is described. The program was designed to meet five objectives: to provide students with an effective integration of theory and practice; to allow an application of theoretical concepts to early intervention and prevention programs; to enable students to confront complexities of community service delivery; to allow students to learn new roles in community programs; and to demonstrate the role of occupational therapy within a public health model of service delivery. In addition to these project objectives, placement sites, student roles, and organization of supervision are discussed. Examples are given to illustrate the diversity of student experience. Student and consumer feedback indicated that positive gains had been made toward fulfillment of the project objectives.