Anita Rosen Panel: Best Practices in Gerontological Infusion CSWE APM San Antonio, TX November, 2009 Nancy Kelley-Gillespie, Ph.D. Ivory Welbourn, MSW Student University of Nebraska at Omaha School of Social Work

UNO SSW Background UNO is the state's metropolitan university located in the heart of Nebraska's largest city. Nearly 200 programs of study are offered to more than 15,000 students. The mission of the UNO School of Social Work is to educate students to become highly qualified social workers who serve people of all ages and influence the systems that affect them, to advance knowledge through teaching and research, and to engage with diverse communities to promote socially just societies. Part of the College for Public Affairs and Community Service Department of Gerontology (MS, Certificate, Minor) School of Social Work houses the only MSW in the state with up to 250 MSW students enrolled in the Foundation and Advanced Standing programs, including a Distance Education program in Kearney, NE (soon to be another distance site in South Sioux City, NE). One of 7 undergraduate social work programs in the state with approximately 55 BSSW students 12 faculty

Interest in Gerontology in UNO SSW Precipitating Factors Reaccreditation Revised mission Revised program goals and objectives Course audit Revised all syllabi Award Participation RAND Summer Institute on Aging NIA Social Work and Aging Research Institute Hartford Leadership Academy in Aging Grants Curriculum Development Institute Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education Midwest Consortium for Service-Learning in Higher Education Iowa West Foundation Faculty Buy-In School leadership Director Gerontology Subcommittee of School’s Advisory Board Mandatory faculty in-service with CEU’s Course revisions aided revisions to content with resources and materials Support for well-rounded approach curriculum and extra-curricular activities Faculty development Revised Syllabi course descriptions, course objectives, content inclusion, bibliographies, lifespan approach, course assignments, exams, guests, field trips, projects, case studies, in-class exercises, teaching modules, videos, supplemental readings, websites, powerpoints

Highlights of Curriculum Infusion Efforts

Infused Courses MSW Advanced Standing Courses Pre-Social Work Courses Required: Social Welfare Planning Clinical Social Work Practice with Individuals Advanced Research (Program Evaluation or Clinical Research Methods) Electives: Advanced Community Practice Social Justice and Advocacy Social Work Practice with Families Family and Community Violence Health/Mental Health Policy and Practice Social Work Practice with Children Permanence for Children Social Work Practice with Sexual Concerns Social Work Practice with Addictive Disorders Pre-Social Work Courses Introduction to Social Welfare Volunteer Experience and Civic Engagement BSSW Courses HBSE I & II Social Welfare Policy Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families Mental Health & Intellectual Disabilities MSW Foundation Courses Generalist Practice I Generalist Practice II Institutional Oppression Research Ways Accomplished: KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT, BRINGING IT UP, REMINDING FOLKS!! Include aging-related wording in course description and objectives on syllabus (e.g., aging, lifespan, life course, life cycle, intergenerational, multigenerational) Reading lists, case scenarios, role plays, assignments, exams, modules, presentations, guest speakers, service-learning projects, audio/visual/media instruction Handouts of websites, movies, bibliographic references, etc. Gero-Ed Center Faculty development opportunities One-on-one consultations Collaboration on research/overlapping interests EXAMPLES: OLDER ADULT CASES RE: Dating After 50, Changes In Families And Relationships Over The Lifecycle, Marriage/Remarriage In Older Adults, Older GLBT, Differences In Presentation Of Mental Health Issues In Aging Population, Elder Abuse/Neglect/Exploitation, intimacy and changes/needs/dysfunctions in older adults, stepfamilies, cohabitating older adults, adjusting to LTC placement, relative foster care (GRG), nursing home administration, predatory lending, healthcare reform, SS reform (cross-national comparisons), aging parents of adult children with disabilities, 3 D’s, homelessness and older adults, health disparities (age/race/gender), Policy coverage: OAA, SS, Medicare, Medicaid, FMLA Field Trips

Additional Curriculum Efforts in Gerontology Special Studies (2007-2009) “Hospice Awareness and Utilization in Rural Nebraska” “An Exploration of Aging in Rural Nebraska” “Bereavement in Congregate Settings: An Approach to Assisting Older Adults Grieving Multiple Losses” “Social Security: Past, Present, and Future” “Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation” Research Other Than Thesis (2007) “Is the Racial Difference between White Nursing Home Residents and Nonwhite Certified Nursing Assistants a Factor in the Caregiving Relationship?” Cross-listed courses Working with Minority Elderly Hospice with Patients and Families New courses developed Advanced Social Work Practice with Older Adults (2007) Social Work and Aging (in progress) Curriculum pathways developed for students pursuing BSSW or MSW simultaneously with an undergraduate Minor or Certificate in Gerontology or a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Academic Advising Collaboration with Department of Gerontology Scholarships

Additional Infusion Efforts: Practicum Increase in # of aging-related practicum settings at least 50 out of ≈ 300 approved agencies offer experiences with older adults 24 = L.E.G.E.N.D.S. sites 15 new Since January, 2008, 57 students (29,184 hours) have had a practicum experience in an aging-related setting (Average = 9 students per semester) L.E.G.E.N.D.S. Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education (13) Seminars AAA Programs and Services AARP—Current Hot Topics Legal Topics in Aging Ways to Effectively Communicate with Individuals with Dementing Disorders Issues of Grief and Loss TimeSlips Training and Certification Gambling Issues in the Senior Population Canine-Assisted Therapy and Programs for Seniors APS Services and the Vulnerable Adult Hoarding Issues Among Older Adults Iowa West Foundation  rural practicum sites + build infrastructure capacity

Additional Infusion Efforts: Service-Learning Program Evaluation 5 nursing homes 2 hospice programs 1 adult day care 1 bereavement program 1 senior aquatics program 1 assisted living facility Social Welfare Planning Working with Minority Elderly Social Work Practice with Communities Research Volunteer Experience & Civic Engagement TimeSlips Remembrance Books Hospice Volunteering Advanced Community Practice Homestead Exemptions Advanced Social Work Practice with Older Adults Leaving a Legacy Spiritual Life Mapping “Looking in my Mirror” Coping With Loss: Adjusting to Transition From Community Living to Nursing Home Placement Self-Care for the Grandparent Caregiver Planning for the Future: Care Transitions for GRG

Highlights of Extra-Curricular Opportunities and Infusion Efforts EXPOSURE VISIBILITY ENGAGEMENT

EXAMPLES OF FACULTY SERVICE EFFORTS RELATED TO AGING Community Presentations Grandparent Resource Center NASW-NE VNA Community College Good Samaritan Center Conference Presentations Grants Nebraska Geriatric Education Center Program for Women and Successful Aging L.E.G.E.N.D.S. Displays National Older Americans Month National Social Work Month Advocacy Step Up for Children Rally Letter to legislature on behalf of AAA $ Campus/Community Service Partnerships in Aging Network Program for Women and Successful Aging Lifelong Learning Initiative Careers in Aging Week Teaching Circle Research Triangle Community Engagement Link 2007 and 2009 Aging with Passion and Purpose Conference UNO Gerontology Interest Group Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of Women Eppley Cancer Research Institute Consultant Nebraska Humanities Council—“Growing Older in Nebraska” Heartland Family Services Munroe Meyer Institute Neighbors Helping Neighbors Nebraska Geriatric Education Center Partnerships in Aging Network Program for Women and Successful Aging Lifelong Learning Initiative Careers in Aging Week Teaching Circle/Research Triangle Community Engagement Link 2007 and 2009 Aging with Passion and Purpose Conference UNO Gerontology Interest Group Pre-Health Professionals Club Interdisciplinary Aging Interest Group Annual Campus Displays during Older Americans Month (2006-2009) “Caregiving Issues and Resources for the University Community”—Presentation to the Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of Women “Mental Health Needs of Older Adults”– Presentation for NASW-NE Luncheon Series Nebraska Humanities Council—Scholar Consultant for “Growing Older in Nebraska” granting priority “Dealing with ADD/ADHD”—presented to AAA Grandparent Resource Center “Family and Older Adults: A Discussion of Issues” including a segment on “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren”— (presented by faculty and an MSW student), at an all day workshop for helping professionals “Diogenes Syndrome” presented to 90 VNA home health and hospice staff “Grandparents, Parenting, and Difficult Behaviors in Adolescence: Interventions and Resources”– presented to AAA Grandparent Resource Center Step Up for Children Rally escorted 5 GRG and advocated on their behalf 1 faculty presented at the annual NASW-NE conference about L.E.G.E.N.D.S.

EXAMPLES OF FACULTY RESEARCH ACTIVITIES RELATED TO AGING Aging Parents of Adult Children with Disabilities (2 Graduate Assistants) Impact of Race/Ethnicity on Perceptions of Quality of Care and Quality of Life of Older Adults Receiving Care from Nonrelative Caregivers (1 BSSW Research Assistant) Challenges and Successes of Matching Homecare Workers and Care Receivers Building a Continuum of Care for Older Adults Cancer Across the Lifespan Early Life Health Circumstances and Later Life Health Outcomes

EXAMPLES OF STUDENT SERVICE AND RESEARCH EFFORTS RELATED TO AGING Campus Activities Annual Careers in Aging Week events UNO Gerontology Interest Group Sigma Phi Omega Community Activities Program for Women and Successful Aging TimeSlips “Leaving a Legacy” Retirement Community Weekly Seminars End-of-Life Care/Hospice Info Advanced Directives Lifelong Learning Initiative Civic Engagement Falls Prevention TimeSlips training and certification Conferences Annual conferences of the Nebraska Geriatric Education Center Biennial Aging with Passion and Purpose Conferences Aging in the Heartland Conference Gero-Ed Conference Midwest Consortium for Service-learning in Higher Education Annual Elder Abuse Symposium Publications 1 MSW student submitted Special Studies for publication Scholarships MEN’S 2 BSSW students with 1 faculty presented at a conference on their TimeSlips service-learning project 1 MSW student presented with 2 faculty at a national conference about social work and aging experiences 6 MSW students presented at a regional aging conference about their experiences with “Leaving a Legacy” 2 MSW students presented at a regional aging conference about Self-Care for Grandparent Caregivers 1 MSW student presented Research Other Than Thesis at a regional aging conference 1 MSW student presented her Special Studies project with 2 other community professionals at a regional aging conference

MSW STUDENT GERONTOLOGY SURVEY: What difference did our efforts make? POSTTEST N=50 (matched n=19) Graduated 2007, 2008, 2009 Majority reported beginning MSW program in 2005 48 female, 2 male Perceived preparation to work with older adults = 34% Aging as area of social work practice most interested in = 28% 32% reported that the MSW program increased their level of interest in working with older adults PRETEST N=161 Fall 2006, 2007, 2008 HBSE I and Clinical SW Practice with Individuals 132 female, 21 male, 1 transgendered Perceived preparation to work with older adults = 22% Aging as area of social work practice most interested in = 26% BOTH GROUPS REPORTED THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BASIC UN DERSTANDING OF THE AGIN GPROCESS AND TO HAVE BASIC SKILLS TO WORK WITH OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THAT THERE IS A HIGH DEMAND FOR MSW’S TO WORK WITH OLDER ADULTS. Preliminary findings Still collecting data May be that posttest students are still pre-gero infusion…students in next few years may see full effect of efforts