Providing Voice to Vulnerable Populations Through Service-Learning Infused in an Occupational Therapy Program

This chapter provides a brief history of the development of service-learning in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Duquesne University. First, we will describe the evolution of our efforts to craft service-learning opportunities that target the healthcare needs of vulnerable populations. Second, we will identify the processes we used to facilitate the development of behaviors and attitudes that support professionalism and practice scholarship. Third, we will delineate the processes used to develop and sustain effective, reciprocal community-university partnerships and the methods we employed to generate service-learning opportunities at a variety of community sites. Finally, specific descriptions of courses, learning activities, guided reflection exercises, course evaluations, and community outcome measures will be presented to exemplify the processes used. [authors]