ABSC 690 Community Health & Development Practicum

Syllabus Overview and Practicum

Tutorial

ABSC 690 Community Health & Development

Practicum

Course Prerequisites

ABSC 310 (completed or concurrent enrollment)

ABSC 150 (preferred)ABSC 469 (recommended)Students who are in their senior year (final 2

semesters) will be prioritized

Course Materials and Resources

The ABSC 690 course textbook is the same as the one used in ABSC 310.

For additional reference and support materials, go to the online Community Tool Box http://ctb.ku.edu/.

Course Objectives

Enhance experience, critical reflection, and supported practice in addressing problems and goals that matter to communities

Apply core competencies to promote community health and development in community-based settings

Promote community-university partnerships through service-learning

Support student professionalism and career development to enhance student marketability and employability

Core Competency AreasI. AssessA. Creating & Maintaining Coalitions and Partnerships (Module 1) B. Assessing Community Needs and Resources (Module 2)C. Analyzing Problems and Goals (Module 3)

II. Plan (Building Plans and Capacity to do the Work)A. Developing Strategic and Action Plans (Module 5)B. Developing a Framework or Model of Change (Module 4)

IV. ActA. Developing an Intervention (Module 7)B. Advocating for Change (Module 10)C. Influencing Policy Development (Module 11) D. Implementing a Social Marketing Effort (Module 13)

V. EvaluateA. Evaluating the Initiative (Module 12)

VI. SustainA. Writing a Grant Application for Funding (Module 14) B. Sustaining the work or Initiative (Module 16)

Required Practicum Hours and Supervision

Practicum Hours

Students will be responsible for completing a minimum of 10 hours each week to the practicum site

Students will attend class for approximately 2 hours each week

Practicum Supervision

Onsite supervision (meet weekly)Instructor supervision (meet weekly)

Students will meet individually with instructors on Mondays or Fridays

Course Content and Requirements

Practicum Evaluation

Students will be evaluated by their onsite practicum supervisors twice during the semester:Midterm EvaluationFinal EvaluationAt the supervisors’ discretion, evaluations will be

shared with the practicum studentStudents will be evaluated by their instructor

supervisorStudents will also complete self-assessments of

their practicum work

Practicum Products Each student will be required to produce minimally

one product from their practicum experienceThe product should be one that adds value to the

practicum site (e.g. community needs assessment, program action plan, etc.)

The product must be based around one of the 16 competency areas (excluding modules 6, 9, and 14)

If the practicum outcome will not take a full semester to complete, the student must complete more than one product (e.g. community needs assessment plus a strategic action plan)

Practicum Product Summary Proposal

This is a10-page paper that must be submitted to demonstrate evidence that the student has critically contemplated and researched the core competency area being supported

Each student is responsible for providing a 10-minute presentation on the practicum proposal paper

A logic model and action plan will be developed as components of the proposal

Practicum PresentationsPracticum 1 students will prepare a15-minute

formal PowerPoint presentation that outlines the practicum experience and related products

Practicum 2 students will develop a 5-minute digital story video presentation of the practicum site, practicum outcome, and importance of the competency supported with the practicum site

Professional DevelopmentAll practicum students are required to: Maintain a professional portfolio of work products submitted throughout the semester. Attend two KU Career Center events

One event must be a resume development sessionOther event options include job interview workshops

and career fairsInterview with potential community partners Additionally, Practicum 2 Students are required to:

Create a LinkedIn (professional networking website) profile

Develop a professional resume

Attendance/Absence Policy

Attendance ExpectationsStudents are expected to: Be prompt and on time to both class and the

community practicum siteAttend in-class meetings and individual

appointment times with the instructorsAttend regularly scheduled practicum hours at

the community partner site Adapt their personal and work schedules to

fulfill their practicum commitment with the community-based organization being served

Absences from the Practicum Site

Students must notify both the course instructors and the practicum site supervisor, in advance, for any absences at the practicum site

No unexcused absences are permitted at the community partner site

Students will be allowed only two excused absences (with prior notification) at the community partner site during the semester

After the third absence, the student will receive an automatic 10% (letter grade) reduction for each subsequent absence at the community partner site

Course Expectations

Class Participation and Attendance

Throughout the semester, students will be scheduled to attend individual meetings with the course instructors to discuss the overall progress of the practicum

Weekly full-class meetingsWeekly individual student meetings

Attire

Students are expected to wear clothing appropriate for the practicum site and should dress in the same manner as the employees at the practicum site

Students are expected to dress in business attire for certain in-class events (such as mock-interviews and presentations), as well as interviews and presentations at the practicum site

Class meetings in which business attire is expected are indicated in the syllabus

Preparation for a Successful Practicum

Experience

Student Considerations

Seek placement with appropriate partner organizations

Allot the appropriate amount of timeReview competency areas (Keep those modules

from ABSC 310/311!)

Placement Considerations

Professional/career interestsApplied problem/ goal area interestsCompetency areas of interestLocation preferences (Lawrence, Topeka,

Kansas City Metro Area)Identified community partner organizations

Next Steps

Students will complete/update practicum student profileEnsure that instructors have students’ accurate

summer contact informationOver the summer, course instructors will match

students with practicum sites