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University/community action: An innovative approach to community contracting
Author(s) -
Fullerton Sally,
Coiner Robert
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6629(198707)15:3<408::aid-jcop2290150314>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - agency (philosophy) , medical education , process (computing) , pilot program , work (physics) , action (physics) , psychological intervention , matching (statistics) , medicine , engineering , nursing , sociology , computer science , mechanical engineering , social science , physics , pathology , quantum mechanics , operating system
The University/Community Action (UCA) program, an undergraduate field education program at the University of Oregon, has developed a placement contracting process with community agencies that achieves a balance of needs between participating agencies, students, and the sponsoring Human Services Department. The experience of the UCA program suggests that agencies will contribute financially to field program maintenance when students are available for agency work 32 hours a week over a 9‐month period and university instructors are regularly available for consultation. The specific contracting process includes a careful screening process for reviewing agency applications for students, evaluating student applicants for the program, and matching students with approved placements. This rigorous contracting process has enabled the UCA program to provide opportunities for undergraduate students to learn to initiate developmental systems interventions within their agencies and has resulted in a financially secure, sound educational program.