Group work

Yesterday (Sunday evening) our final group project of the semester was due. The first week of the semester we were told to divide into groups of four loosely based on geographic area since we would need to go together to interview someone. We didn't know each others names much less personality and work style so it felt somewhat like the Russian Roulette. At the same time, I figured that everyone who got into the program was a good student so it shouldn't really matter. I was thankful to have ended up with a good group who worked hard and well together.

Our task was to identify a community organization that promotes health and well-being, learn about it, interview someone in the organization and then develop a plan for how occupational therapy could enhance what they are doing. We chose the Wilder Foundation in St Paul and specifically looked at their Southeast Asian Services. Since the early 1980s Hmong, Cambodians, Vietnamese and more recently the Karen have been coming to the US and there is a large pocket that has settled in St Paul. They are more refugees than immigrants and many have been through significant trauma. Most have experienced an extreme lack of food, lost a member of their family, been separated from family members, and/or spent time in refugee camps. By coming to the US they may now be safe, but they have lost their country and have to adjust to a new language, culture and climate.

Because of all this trauma and upheaval it is little wonder that they experience a high rate of mental illness. Wilder is providing a unique service in that all of their service providers are also 1st generation refugees. They have been through the same horrors, understand the cultural gaps and speak the language of their clients. As we learned about their program, we wondered what we could possibly offer. They are already using many occupational therapy principles. I'm sure an experienced OT could look at what they are doing and offer suggestions that would make a big difference. We are not experienced OTs, but 1st semester students. However, we came up with an idea and got our 27 page paper (double-spaced) written by the due date. The true challenge will be going back to Wilder on Wednesday and presenting our idea. The supervisor who is our contact, has invited all the service providers to come as well. This part of the assignment made it more real-world than just turning in a paper to our professor. I hope we can be of some help to them and at least give them some resources that will enhance their work.