A Model for Community Practice

The individualized plan developed for each client must change, grow, and adapt in response to the client's fluctuating needs. Interventions must focus on desired functional outcomes rather than on diagnosis and symptoms. Intervening on the planning, environmental, and skill-building levels is a dynamic and creative process. There is no cookbook. The broader the provider's perspectives are, the better able the health care team is to work collaboratively in developing the resources and flexible approaches necessary to meet the specific needs of each client.

Each profession brings a unique perspective to an intervention plan. Occupational therapy's holistic approach to service provision, its long-standing emphasis on rehabilitation outcomes, the variety of activities it can offer, and its ability to assess clients' function in an environmental context and adapt physical and social environments all provide a strong base for community practice. As noted elsewhere, occupational therapists practicing in community settings can form collaborative relationships with consumers and with other professionals to tailor interventions to consumers' needs in a way that preserves their dignity and enhances their quality of life(2).