FIELDWORK EXPECTATIONS

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE

EXPECTATIONS OF GOT MINISTRIES

Provide placement at The New Life School in Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala to provide school-based, early intervention, and outpatient services to children and young adults with disabilities up to the age of 21
Coordinate family home-stay and transportation to and from the airport, along with orientation to the public transportation for daily trips to and from work
Coordinate Spanish language lessons prior and during fieldwork placement
Provide OT student budget of expenses
Provide cultural, travel safety, and placement orientation prior to leaving for Guatemala; including process for registering OT student trip with Department of State
Provide technology required for service provision and supervision of OT student, as well as a Guatemalan cell phone with emergency and professional contacts
Provide a 40-60 hour work week in pediatric setting for 12 weeks, with on-site and long-distance direct supervision via audio-visual, in real time methods, and various other communication medium as required by ACOTE standards

Supervision will consist of:

Initial chaperone to Guatemala and introduction to host family with whom the student will be living, as well as orientation to work site and faculty.
5 weeks of on-site training and clinical instruction to support development of necessary entry-level skills and comfort with school faculty and environment
Direct supervision for the remaining weeks provided via consistent daily communications and multiple weekly meetings via email, phone call and HIPAA compliant Skype for Business
- Documentation monitored to facilitate development of entry level skills
- Skype for Business video observations of evaluations and treatment sessions with OT student
- The OTR will provide consistent and thorough supervision of our OT student, as deemed necessary to support our student's success in this fieldwork environment
At least 8 hours a week of direct supervision of our OT student as is required by ACOTE standards. We typically provide approximately 15-25 hours a week of communications and observations of OT student led therapy visits to ensure comfort and success
Mid term and final evaluations completed via Skype for Business if not able to complete face to face.
3 on-site English-speaking professional contacts designated (Special Education teacher, School Psychologist, Nurse/Administrator) while the direct Occupational Therapy supervisor is off site

EXPECTATIONS OF OT STUDENTS

Demonstrate educational competency level for pediatric service fieldwork experience
Demonstrate good communication and interpersonal skills across cultural boundaries

Complete one 12-week fieldwork experience prior to GOT Ministries' Guatemalan placement to learn and demonstrate basic clinical reasoning and documentation skills
- For Master level OT students: all applicants must have had a 1-week long pediatric fieldwork
- For Doctorate level OT students: all applicants must have had a 3-month long pediatric fieldwork

Complete necessary Spanish language courses via Spanish school indicated by GOT Ministries, prior to fieldwork in order to achieve the required moderate proficiency
Demonstrate high level of self-initiation, communication skills, and reliability to support independent problem solving upon challenges or obstacles in this fieldwork.

Demonstrate high level of compassion for children in third world countries and desire to provide services in area of need and poverty.

Attend Guatemalan Spanish classes during fieldwork experience (2 hours twice a week) to support understanding of Guatemalan slang and important jargon and colloquial terminology for service provision.
Independently fund fieldwork experience prior to leaving for placement. Please contact us for our OT Student Budget Form for more information on cost.
Students are responsible for managing their international health insurance to cover the length of the stay
- When flights are purchased, general travel insurance is purchased to cover any emergency return to the US that may be required.

Comply to rules and regulations placed by The New Life School administration and GOT Ministries (set in our orientation manual) during fieldwork experience.