Field Placements and Community-Based Learning

As part of the Family Science and Child and Family Studies programs, you get the chance to apply and integrate your knowledge and skills through community-based learning opportunities in third and fourth year. Starting in third year you will be able to participate in a 32 hour field placement with a community agency during the fall semester as part of FS 381: Professional Practice with Children and Families. This first community-based learning experience is followed by FS 382: Program Planning and Evaluation where you and a small group of classmates will plan, develop and implement a family education program in liaison with community agencies. In your final year you will be involved in an intensive field placement for 80 hours each semester (approximately 1 day/week) from September to April. This capstone community placement will give you many opportunities to integrate theory with practice in a supportive setting within the community. See the UPEI Calendar for course descriptions.

In 2010 -2012, our students have been working with some of these community partners:

• PEI Council of People with Disabilities - Work Abilities and Around the Block Programs: Work Abilities offers an essential skills program designed to assist individuals with disabilities to enhance their employability skills and career decision making process in preparation for entry or re-entry into the workforce. The Around the Block Program offers participants a program of Life Skills and Employability Training, as well as involvement in the creation, production, and performance of an original theatre piece designed to educate students on issues of disability. inclusion and acceptance of differences within the school population. Students have been involved in assisting participants with activities along with developing and facilitating individual sessions.
• Prince Edward Home - Occupational Therapy and Recreation Departments: The Prince Edward Home is a 128-bed facility combining long-term care, under- 60 care, and restorative/convalescent care. In the past students have been linked with a resident and have taken part in various social activities organized by the Recreation Department. They have also been involved in home visits as part of the discharge planning process and wheelchair driving assessments.
• Fitzroy Centre Clubhouse, Canadian Mental Health Association: Fitzroy Centre Clubhouse is for individuals who have to deal with long-term mental health challenges and is designed to help members achieve a level of confidence that promotes productive and socially satisfying lives. Students work with the pre-vocational day program, where members and staff work side-by-side on a daily basis completing all the tasks necessary to operate the club.
• Positive Parenting from Two Homes Program , Dept. of Justice and Public Safety: This is a cost-free parenting program providing information sessions to parents who are separating, divorcing, or parenting from two homes. Parents learn to understand their feelings, their children's needs, and to develop a business like relationship with the other parent. Students are involved with delivery of the children's sessions which are offered by trained facilitators in collaboration with guidance counsellors in schools.
• Beach Grove Home: Beach Grove Home is a 132 bed nursing home facility for seniors who do not require acute general hospital care. Students placed here will visit/socialize with individual residents, planned and help deliver activities alongside Recreation Department staff and Occupational Therapists
• Eastern and Western School Districts: Students are placed with either a classroom teacher or resource teacher in various elementary and secondary schools throughout the province. Students are engaged in or outside of the classroom doing small group or one-on-one activities with children who need support with their academic subjects or social/behavioural assistance.
• KidsWest Family Resource Centre: Kids West provides education, support, and hope to vulnerable children (aged 0-6 years) and their families by providing awareness of services available to them and by putting into place those services that are missing in our communities. They offer parent, family and child focused programming free of charge. Students are involved in a wide range of activities with outreach sessions and different programs.
• Brecken House Day Respite Program: This is a day program for seniors who are still living in the community which provides a respite for care givers. The program provides opportunities for entertainment, conversation, learning and health care promotion, but in more recent years the program has evolved to meet not only the increasing needs of seniors but those of their families as well. Field placement students spend much of their time interacting with the participants. They also develop and implement some program activities.
• Dept. of Education and Early Childhood Development, Early Childhood Coach

Some of our past community partners include:

• Addiction Research Centre, Correctional Service Canada
• Addictions Services, King's Region
• AIDS PEI
• Alzhiemer’s Society - PEI
• Anderson House
• Best Start Program
• Breken House Day Respite Program
• Campus Kids Child Care Centre
• Canadian Cancer Society
• Carousel Family Resource Centre (now Families First)
• Catholic Family Services
• CHANCES Family Resource Centre
• Community and Family Services PEI
• Dept. of Education and Early Childhood Development
• Dept. of Social Service and Seniors - Montague Social Assistance Office
• Early Childhood Development Association
• Elementary Schools (Central Queen's Elementary School, Donaugh Consolidated School, Parkdale Elementary School, Prince St. School, Souris Consolidated School, Tignish Elementary School, Tracadie Cross Elementary, West Royalty Elementary School, Westwood Elementary School)
• Families First Resource Centre
• Family Place Family Resource Centre
• Fitzroy Centre Clubhouse
• Four Neighbourhoods Community Health Centre
• G.I.F.T. Program - Bluefield High School, Colonel Gray High School
• Group Homes (Euston Street Group Home, Maple Street Group Home)
• Healthy Eating Alliance
• Heart and Stroke Foundation of PEI
• Hunter River Kindergarten
• Income Support (Montague Office) Dept. of Social Services and Seniors
• Intermediate Schools (Queen Charlotte Intermediate School, Stonepark Intermediate School, Summerside Intermediate School)
• Mi'kmaq Confedaracy, Family Pride Program
• Secondary Schools (Charlottetown Rural High School, Bluefield High School)
• PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women
• PEI Newcomers' Association
• Positive Parenting from Two Homes Program , Dept. of the Attorney General
• Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Occupational Therapy, Social Work Department)
• Prince County Hospital (Restorative Care Unit)
• Rosewood Community Care Home
• Sherwood Home
• Sports Centre Physiotherapy
• Wellness Programs, University of Prince Edward Island
• Women’s Network

Students heading out to do field placements should ensure that their immunizations are up-to-date to protect both themselves and those they will be working with. Please complete the Pre-Placement Immunization form.

Are you a Field Placement Supervisor with a question about field placements? Then you are in the right place to get many answers by looking in our Handbook for UPEI Community-based Field Placements in Family Science and Child and Family Studies. If you still need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Charlene VanLeeuwen, Field Placement Coordinator at cvanleeuwen@upei.ca or (902) 566-0691.