The Integrative Learning Experience benefits any learner looking forward to furthering their studies and practices. Commonly completed in the final year of their public health academic program, ILE is a transitional opportunity for students to gain the necessary professional experience relevant to their concentration or major. An ILE can take on a form of an internship, capstone course, or data analysis project. The main purpose of the ILE is to take information and skills learned in their program coursework to address a public health issue through applied practice while under the supervision of an advisor. The project may be associated with research, public training, program evaluation, or community interventions, all relevant aspects of improving public health. The ILE project’s purpose is to improve the public program’s effectiveness through evaluation and suggested change. The key objective is to offer program participants access to social workers to facilitate their recovery in life with housing, employment, and opportunity. Effectively, the goal is to ensure the continuation of care after the individual leaves the program.
The Integrative Learning Experience aims to offer students or the participants the actual-world experience and exposure that will make it possible to put everything they have been learning into action. Furthermore, the internship opportunity also seeks to develop and advance business skills and knowledge in teamwork, proper communication, technology, and effective reasoning among the participants.
The potential host organization includes The Meals on Wheels food. Meals on Wheels is a professional company that offers high-quality food services. It enables individuals to live independently at home by offering nutritious and healthy meals, personal interaction, and support services (Thomas et al., 2020). As for my case, I look forward to working with The Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland. The Meals on Wheels Internship Program will offer quality and professional learning exposure for meaningful, practical work skills.
The project plans to connect every participant to an organization that works or offers services related to social work. The interns are supposed to fill out application letters then the project officials will contact the management and connect all the participants to the various organizations. Among the outcomes of executing the Integrative Learning Experience project include increased social worker services that, in return, boost health and safety, offer assistance for independent living among the people in the society, and an enhanced quality of life for people, which make it possible for them to live happily and independent while in their homes or areas of occupation.
Reference
Thomas, K. S., Gadbois, E. A., Shield, R. R., Akobundu, U., Morris, A. M., & Dosa, D. M. (2020). “It’s not just a simple meal. it’s so much more”: interactions between Meals on Wheels clients and drivers. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 39(2), 151-158.