Note: This will be of interest to government departments,publi9c health departments and community-based agencies in Toronto, Ontario, and across Canada and the U.S.A. It may also be of interest to those abroad, as our students occasionally choose to have placements in Europe, Africa, or Asia. May 28, 1996 Dear Community Agency: The University of Toronto is looking for practicum opportunities for its first and second year Health Promotion students. We wonder whether your agency would be interested in providing such a placement. Ten students are enrolled in each year of the program. The practicum is intended as a full-time commitment to the agency and involve a 35-hour work week. This extensive commitment to the agency's activities and interests provides an opportunity for the agency to benefit from the availability of an additional member of the health promotion team. Background Health Promotion is a two-year Masters in Health Science program offered within the Division of Community Health, Department of Behavioural Science. The program educates professionals who can assess the health promotion needs of groups and communities, and design, implement and evaluate health promotion programs and policies. Our students are mature individuals with experience in the health and health promotion areas. Our graduates are employed with a range of federal, provincial, and municipal government and voluntary health agencies. Practica Placements During the two years in the program students complete two practica, one at the end of their first year, the other in the middle of their second year. Students arrange their own practicum, although all placements have to be approved by the Health Promotion Program. Practicum I (May-July of the student's first year) During Practicum I students seek "hands on" experience in health promotion and opportunities to apply the theory and analytic skills acquired in courses. Students establish their goals in consultation with their academic supervisors and their community supervisors. A written copy of goals is prepared at the start of the practicum and signed by the student and the community supervisor. Specific objectives might include: - to undertake a project or part of a project on behalf of the sponsoring agency (e.g., to conduct a needs assessment, plan a particular community event, develop educational materials, evaluate a program); - to participate in the on-going business of the agency (e.g., attend meetings, participating in committee work); - to produce a report, document or publication relevant to the work undertaken. The particular activities undertaken will, of course, depend on the nature of the practicum setting, the agency's needs and on-going projects, and the student's own learning objectives. Practicum II (Jan-April during the student's second year) During Practicum II students have a further opportunity to apply the theory, analytic and practical skills acquired in courses. In addition, they are required to critically examine a health promotion issue arising within their placement. Issues may include: Who does health promotion in the field? How are health promotion programs evaluated in practice? How do inter-agency coalitions work? Responsibilities of the Agency Agency responsibilities are to: 1) establish with the student a mutually-agreed upon "contract" for the practicum; 2) ensure that the student's agency activity and, when applicable, inquiry activity is sufficiently structured; 3) provide the student with a place to work and access to individuals and/or settings as appropriate to the practicum objectives; 4) communicate with the Associate Program Director at the University of Toronto if any problems arise or if assistance with any aspect of the practicum is needed; and 5) submit an Evaluation Form which is based on the goals originally agreed upon. Renumeration We urge agencies to offer students a stipend for their work. The actual amount of the stipend will vary with the resources of the agency. We recommend that such renumeration range from $500- $1500 per month over the course of the practica. We realize that such a stipend may not always be possible. Procedures for Obtaining a Health Promotion Practicum Placement If you are interested in providing an experience for a student for either of these practica: Step I: Identify an appropriate person in your agency who could supervise the student. Step II: Identify appropriate tasks(s), project(s), inquiry issue(s) for the student and describe these on the application form. Step III: Send the attached form, as soon as possible, to: Dennis Raphael, Associate Director Masters of Health Science Program in Health Promotion University of Toronto, McMurrich Building Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, FAX: 416-978-2087 E-Mail address: [log in to unmask] Step IV: Based upon the information provided by the agency, students will explore potential practicum opportunities with the designated agency contact person. At this point, the agency has the option of continuing or not continuing to be a potential practicum site. Thank you very much for your interest in our program. Please feel free to contact either the Associate Director, Dennis Raphael, at (416) 978-7567 or the Program Director, Ilze Kalnins at (416) 978-7515 if you have any questions or concerns related to the practica. Sincerely, Dennis Raphael, Associate Director MHSc Program in Health Promotion *********************************************************** APPLICATION FORM FOR PLACEMENT STUDENTS UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MHSC PROGRAM IN HEALTH PROMOTION NAME OF AGENCY: ADDRESS: POSTAL CODE: AGENCY PLACEMENT SUPERVISOR: PERSON'S TITLE: PHONE: FAX: E-Mail: PRACTICUM REQUESTED: PRACTICUM I: PRACTICUM II: RENUMERATION: NONE: POSSIBLY: DEFINITELY: DESCRIPTION OF AGENCY: DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTIVITIES: Please return to: Dennis Raphael, Associate Director, MHSc in Health Promotion University of Toronto, McMurrich Building, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 FAX: 416-978-2087 e-mail: [log in to unmask]