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I am a student Therapist at my level II fieldwork placement. The placement my fieldwork supervisor sent me to was strickly for OT Students. I am studying to be an OTA and found this very helpful when I get out in the field to work. The program I was placed in was geared towards a community based practice. I worked with the Community Occupational Therapy Services in Memphis. This program helps students prepare for the environment through working with individuals that have dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance abuse. They use students to work with individuals in women shelters, and transitional living facilities. We as students work with them on Life Skills and community re-entery skills. I have been working on job skills at my facility were I work and the success rate of them gaining jobs has been great. There has been at least 7 out of 20 people whom came to my groups that have successful obtained jobs. One has obtained a job through me letting him know that an everday skill he possesed could be a possible job in the future. He took the advice and ran with it and now willbe starting a job as a translator. He also has a great interest in returning to school. I see a future in alot of these individuals we work with all because of COTS that wanted to help the city of Memphis Homeless. I would suggest to any student that needed a fieldwork placement to look into the COTS program in Memphis. I have enjoyed my stay in Memphis and working with future OT's. Then has been a great experience for me.
-- Quateka Darrington, OTAS
[Submitted Feb. 23, 2005]
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