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The New York Academy of Medicine reports that within the next three decades, 70 million, or one in five Americans will be 65 or older. Many Americans can live independent and productive lives far beyond retirement. Some will experience an illness and chronic disease that may plague them. Families are increasingly faced with balancing the care for their older relatives, work, child-rearing, and other life issues, meaning an increasing demand for skilled professionals who can help navigate the personal, logistical, and health issues for older adults. Job opportunities are in demand. According to a 2004 survey by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), only four percent of social workers currently specialize in aging, while 30 percent of licensed social workers are over 55 and poised to retire in the next decade.
California State University, Bakersfield’s Master of Social Work program is one of 22 schools that has been awarded $75,000 over three years to develop an innovative program that prepares social workers to specialize in older adult care. CSUB joins 57 others around the country that have adopted the model developed by the New York Academy of Medicine’s Social Work Leadership Institute, with support from the John A. Hartford Foundation. Called the Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education (HPPAE), the program addresses the growing demand for social workers as the nation’s aging population is expected to more than triple by 2050.
Program highlights:
Founded in 1929, the John A. Hartford Foundation seeks to strengthen the nation's capacity to provide effective, affordable care to a rapidly increasing older population by educating "aging-prepared" health professionals (physicians, nurses, social workers), and developing innovations that improve and better integrate health and supportive services. Additional information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.jhartfound.org. California State University, Bakersfield, Department of Social Work’s Gerontology Intensive Fellowship Training (GIFT) Program is an affiliate of the Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education. The John A. Hartford Foundation funds this project that is administered by the New York Academy of Medicine’s Social Work Leadership Institute.
2008-2009 GIFT Students: ======================= For information about how to become involved in the GIFT program, either as a student or partner agency, call Dr. Roseanna McCleary at (661) 654-6552, or email, rmccleary@csub.edu.
Links:CCGG Spring 2009 Newsletter:Institute of Medicine Report: Ripples:
Information Powerpoint:Agency partners:
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