1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Highlights of Curriculum Infusion Efforts

5. 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

6. Additional Curriculum Efforts in Gerontology
Special Studies ( )
“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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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 ( )
“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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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