Re-imagining occupational therapy clients as communities: Presenting the community-centred practice framework.

BACKGROUND

Occupational therapists' are increasingly working with communities and providing services at the community level. There is, however, a lack of conceptual frameworks to guide this work.

AIM

The aim of this article is to present a new conceptual framework for community-centered practice in occupational therapy.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The conceptual framework was developed from qualitative multi-case research on exemplars of community participation. The first was, a network of Canadian food security programs, and the second, a rural Australian community banking initiative. Key themes were identified from across the case studies, and cross-case findings interpreted using occupational therapy and occupational science knowledge, and relevant social theory. The outcome is a four-stage, occupation-focused, community-centered practice framework.

FINDINGS

The Community-Centred Practice Framework can be used by occupational therapists to understand and apply a community-centered practice approach. The four stages are: (1) Community Identity, (2) Community Occupations, (3) Community Resources and Barriers, and (4) Participation Enablement.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research is needed to trial and critically evaluate the framework, to assess its usefulness as a robust, occupation-focused, frame of reference to guide community-centered practice in occupational therapy.

SIGNIFICANCE

The proposed framework should assist occupational therapists to conceptualize community-centered practice, and to utilize and apply theory.