Community Services in Belize:
A Service Learning Course

January 2-12, 2009
SWO 399 (3 undergraduate credits) or
SWO 599 (3 graduate credits)

We are still accepting applications for this program!

The Community Services in Belize course provides an opportunity to gain an understanding and appreciation of the very diverse Belizean culture, where English is the 'official' language, while interacting with children, adults, and staff in several agencies. We will learn about the high incidence of child abuse and neglect, services for the elderly, programs/schooling for adolescents, concerns around domestic violence, and positive efforts toward helping women develop independence through building income-producing skills and enterprises.

As part of our service-learning, we will interact with children and staff at the Dorothy Menzies Children Home, a facility for abused, neglected, and abandoned children and adolescents. We will also visit a second children's home in Belmopan, the country's capital city. Students will develop an understanding of potential clinical issues related to institutional placement of children: deprivation, dependency, attachment disorders, and physical and mental delays. Students will also get to know the culture of Belize through various other social service venues or educational settings: visits and/or activities with students at local schools; engagement with a local women's enterprise group called the MAMA's to whom we have previously brought sewing machines and a large supply of fabric; and, a visit to a nursing home where we will engage residents in an activity.

Balancing work with play, we will learn about the culture through interesting and fun visits to tourist sites which stimulate Belize economy: a Mayan ruin, a historical museum, the zoo, cave tubing, and a trip to one of the Cayes (islands) in the second largest coral reef system in the world. Each day will begin with breakfast together at the hotel and then travel by chartered bus to the various sites for our serving learning activities. Built into each day (and some evenings) is debriefing the day and planning for the next one. We will also have discussions about history, cultural diversity, societal issues and social services in developing countries such as Belize, cultural sensitivity, cultural competence, and global citizenship.

In addition to our service-learning in Belize, there will be a pre-trip reading, two class meetings in Portland on Saturdays in mid-November or early December, daily journaling while in Belize, and a final project to be completed before the end of February.

Faculty

Barbara Rich, Associate Professor, USM School of Social Work. Barbara has over twenty-five years of teaching experience and holds a Masters degree in social work (MSW) from Columbia University in New York. She attended the social work doctoral program at Boston College and is currently Chair of the Practice Sequence in USM's School of Social Work. This will be Barbara's third time leading this program.

Connie Ostis, Visting Assistant Professor, UNE School of Social Work. Connie joined the faculty at UNE this fall and was previously a faculty member at USM as Assistant Professor/Child Welfare Specialist. She holds a doctorate from Simmons College School of Social Work and a Masters Degree from Smith College School of Social Work. This will be Connie's third time leading this program.

Tuition

The program fee for the Belize program is $2760 plus three credits of tuition and fees at the in-state rate. The program fee includes accommodation, roundtrip airfare from Portland, scheduled in-country travel, site visits, field trips, and most meals.

Not included in the program fee is the cost of tuition, fees, books, academic supplies, some meals, or other personal expenses. Three credits of undergraduate tuition is $654 plus $72 in fees. Three credits of graduate tuition is $981 plus $72 in fees.

Short-term travel programs have special tuition rates for out-of-state students. The out-of-state tuition rate is equal to the in-state tuition rate. For more information please contact the Winter Session Office.

Application

A complete application includes all of the following and is due at the Office of International Programs by September 20:

* Signed, completed application form *
* $200 non-refundable deposit (applied to the program cost)
* Typed 200-word essay
* A letter of recommendation from a faculty member or academic advisor
* Proof of Medical Insurance **
* Official copies of all academic transcripts

Incomplete applications will not be accepted. You will be notified by e-mail of your application status. If your application is not accepted, the nonrefundable deposit will be returned. If the program is canceled for any reason by the USM, all deposits will be returned.

* If you are having trouble downloading the application, please contact us at (207) 780-4959 or e-mail the webmaster and we will send you one. You may also want to try upgrading to the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

** Medical insurance is required for all travel programs. A photocopy of your insurance provider ID card is sufficient documentation. Students without medical insurance may be granted provisional acceptance, with a requirement that they purchase short term medical insurance. Please call the Office of International Programs at 780-4959 for more information.

Admissions Requirements

Short-term travel programs are open to any student who meets the academic prerequisites of the course and has at least 15 credit hours of university instruction. You must have a minimum of a 2.0 GPA to participate in any travel abroad program or carry the permission of the instructor. All participants require final approval by the faculty member. The University of Southern Maine also reserves the right to review conduct records as part of our application process and student conduct records are taken into account when making the determination on an applicant. Individual programs may have specific academic requirements not listed here.

Financial Aid

Federal financial aid and loans are available to matriculated students who participate in travel programs. In order to receive the benefit of financial aid, students must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credits during the summer. Please apply as early as possible. If you have questions about financial aid, please contact the financial aid office at (207) 780-4166. If you are not a matriculated student at USM, please check with the financial aid office at your institution.

Scholarships

USM undergraduate and graduate students who have completed Spanish courses and have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 may apply for the Dorothy B. Padula Memorial Fund Scholarship. Demonstrated financial need is not required, but may be considered. Applications are considered twice during the fall semester. Students may apply by October 5th or November 9th.

Students may also seek scholarships through external sources. The following two organizations have study abroad scholarship databases: IIE Passport: Study Abroad Scholarship Database and Transitions Abroad: Study Abroad Funding Web Sites

Pre-Departure Orientation

Short-term international study programs have a mandatory pre-departure orientation to help prepare you for your program. The pre-departure meeting will be scheduled in the fall and cover issues including travel tips, student safety, conduct, and medical concerns.You may download the pre-departure orientation in PowerPoint. Be sure to view it in "Notes" format for more information.

All accepted students also receive a copy of our pre-departure manual.

Program Policies

Student Conduct

Participants in short-term travel programs are expected to conduct themselves in a mature and responsible fashion. Any violation of the University of Maine System Student Conduct Code may be sufficient grounds for dismissal from the program. If dismissed, a participant forfeits all payments and deposits and is responsible for his or her own return as well as other fees associated with their dismissal. USM does consider prior student conduct records when making acceptance decisions.

Cancellation Policy

USM reserves the right to cancel the program due to low enrollment, changing political or economic factors, unusual circumstances or any other event which would dramatically impact the nature of the course or the ability of the faculty to conduct such a course. If USM cancels the course due to low enrollment, the non-refundable deposit and any payments made toward the program will be refunded to the student. Other costs incurred by the student will not be subject to refunds.

Medical Insurance

Medical insurance is required for all travel programs. Students without medical insurance may be granted provisional acceptance, with a requirement that they purchase short term medical insurance. Please call the Office of International Programs at (207) 780-4959 for more information.