First of three-course sequence. Emphasizes sensitivity to needs of patients, families, and health-care coworkers. Patient handling techniques, communication skills, awareness of cultural differences, psychological aspect of disability, and use of community resources. Activity analysis applied to purposeful, therapeutic activities for individuals and groups. Students identify current trends in health care and determine responses to them at the social, political, or legislative level.
Policy debates concerning populations that are aging or disabled.
Students learn and practice analyses in context of important health, social, and economic debates. Readings on current theory and evidence. Principles, policies, programs and practices for identifying and meeting the needs of children and adolescents with chronic health conditions and of their families. Team taught from health care and social services perspective, grounded in research literature on evidence of program effects. Innovative programs addressing current fragmentation of services.