The Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Clinic at Widener University’s Chester Community Clinic is a pro bono facility, offering services to uninsured, underinsured, and underserved members of the Chester, PA community. There is no cost to receive services.
The clinic is the on-campus clinical training facility for the Institute for Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Program at Widener University. All clinical services are provided by graduate clinicians in speech-language pathology, under the direct supervision of licensed, ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists.
Our graduate clinicians take a client-centered, team-based approach to care, working to tailor all services to specifically address each client’s unique set of needs. Graduate clinicians in SLP are taught using an inter professional model of practice, and work closely with their colleagues in physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, nursing, and clinical psychology to plan and execute clinical services collaboratively, when appropriate. Individuals that seek multiple services will have a team of graduate clinicians and be the center of the interdisciplinary care team.
Please read the following for pertinent information regarding the standard sequence of events and procedures for scheduling of client services within the SLP Clinic.
Referral
Clients may be referred to the SLP Clinic for assessment and/or therapy services. Referrals may be made through the Chester Community Clinic, physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, or day-care centers; clients may also be self-referred, as we do not require a prescription to receive services. Initial contact may be in person, by telephone, e-mail, or by letter. Once interest has been expressed, an intake packet is provided.
Scheduling
Clients must submit an intake form in order to be considered for scheduling. Once the Client Relations team receives and reviews an intake form, they will reach out to you for scheduling of either an evaluation, or intervention services.
The SLP Clinic operates during Widener University’s Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Services during the Fall and Spring are offered for 10-12 weeks; summer services are offered for 5 weeks. The dates of operation for the 2024-2025 academic year are as follows:
Summer 2024: July 1 – August 9, 2024
Fall 2024: September 16 – November 29, 2024
Spring 2025: February 3 – April 25, 2025
Due to limited availability each semester, clients may be placed on our wait list until a slot becomes available. When clients are placed on our wait list, they will receive a list of local speech-language pathologists, should they choose to seek services elsewhere in the meantime.
Evaluation
All clients must complete a comprehensive evaluation prior to scheduling intervention services to generate a comprehensive, person-centered plan of care. Each SLP evaluation is conducted by graduate clinicians and led by a clinical supervisor. Following the evaluation, clients may be scheduled for therapy, and/or referred to the Chester Community Clinic for inter professional care.
Continuing clients must complete a comprehensive re-evaluation once per calendar year, or at the discretion of the inter professional care team. Clients may request a comprehensive evaluation at any time.
Intervention
When therapy at the SLP Clinic is recommended and sessions are available in the appropriate program, clients will be assigned to a graduate clinician under the supervision of an ASHA-certified, licensed clinical supervisor. The clinical supervisor then assumes the professional responsibility for the management of that client’s treatment program and will oversee that client’s plan of care until all goals have been met. Graduate clinicians will rotate cases each semester.
Recommendations for intervention dosage and schedule are made following a comprehensive evaluation. Usually, clients are scheduled to receive intervention sessions 1-2x/week during the semester, for sessions lasting between 30-60 minutes. These recommendations vary depending on the client’s diagnosis and areas of need.
Team Conference
Conferences with the client, parent/caregiver, and/or inter professional team are scheduled at least once per semester to review goals and/or progress, exchange information, and address team concerns. Additional conferences may be scheduled as frequently as deemed necessary by the clinical supervisor.
