Wendy, Turner-Frey (2014) Academic partnership to assess the development of institutionalized children in Jamaica. In: International Social Development Conference 2014 (ISDC 2014), 12 – 13 August 2014, Bayview Hotel Langkawi, Malaysia.

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Abstract

For the past ten years, the author, who is a university professor in the United States, has been leading service-learning trips with college students to Jamaican orphanages and children’s homes. Five years ago, she created a developmental assessment instrument specific to institutionalized young children in Jamaica.She has used this instrument annually in measuring the cognitive, emotional, physical and social development of children in one specific children’s home.The undergraduate and graduate students who accompany the author on the service learning trips conduct the assessments with her supervision and oversight.The author then meets with the home’s director to discuss each child, noting changes that may have occurred since the previous year’s assessment.By completing these annual assessments, the author has been able to assist the home’s director in recognizing the needs of the children and assisting in planning for their long-term placement.This paper discusses the process in which the author developed this collaborative project with university students in the United States and social services in Jamaica.She identifies the pathways for creating a trusting relationship with service providers and explains how to engage university students in meaningful global service learning.She will also highlight how she tailored the intervention to the specific cultural and situational characteristics of the children served.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Additional Information:	ISBN: 978-967-0474-74-8 organized by: School of Social Development (SSD), UUM College of Arts and Sciences, Universiti Utara Malaysia.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	early childhood, developmental assessments, orphanages, developmental delays, special needs
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Divisions:	College of Law, Government and International Studies
Depositing User:	Mrs. Norazmilah Yaakub
Date Deposited:	27 Jan 2015 01:43
Last Modified:	27 Jan 2015 01:43
URI:	https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/13189

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