Social work school wins grant for geriatrics

ORONO – The University of Maine’s School of Social Work has been awarded a two-year, $60,000 grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation to infuse its curriculum with content in geriatrics.

UMaine’s Center on Aging will coordinate the educational programs made possible by the grant.

“This demonstrates beautifully how a campus-based Center on Aging can serve as the organizational nucleus for educational programs that prepare the next generation of helping professionals serving Maine’s older citizens,” said Lenard Kaye, a professor of social work and the director of the Center on Aging.

The curriculum enrichment initiatives begun with the grant will be self-sustaining after two years. Kaye will serve as the project director and Sandy Butler, an associate professor of social work, is the faculty consultant.

The New York-based John A. Hartford Foundation is dedicated to increasing the nation’s capacity to provide effective, affordable health care for older adults.

It is the nation’s leading philanthropy with a focus on aging and health.

The grant will allow the School of Social Work to enhance the content of existing courses with increased instruction in geriatrics by funding learning opportunities for both students and faculty.

“All of our students will be better prepared to work with older adults and their families in the community,” Kaye said.

New opportunities for students include:

. A geriatric social work student mentoring network in which students are matched with geriatric professionals in the community.

. Special student field site visits to model older adult service programs in the community.

. Student research stipends and awards.

. Interdisciplinary learning circles for social work and nursing students.

. A geriatric enrichment chatroom, listserve and electronic bulletin board for School of Social Work students.

Special programs for faculty include:

. Faculty learning circles in geriatric infusion method and content.

. Geriatric education modules and teaching workshops.

. Technical assistance and resource identification services.

. Geriatric resource packets and teaching methods tip sheets.

The Center on Aging was established in November and is housed in the UMaine College of Business, Public Policy and Health.

Faculty and researchers from throughout the University of Maine System as well as community elders and members of the professional service community contribute to its programs.

The Center on Aging is currently working with the Eastern Agency on Aging in Bangor to implement a $600,000 U.S. Administration on Aging-funded program, the Maine Primary Partners in Caregiving project.

The project provides information, training and support services for caregivers of older relatives in Penobscot, Hancock, Washington, Waldo and Aroostook counties.

Future programs of the Center on Aging will include a series of lectures for health care professionals, an aging and community life festival and a Bangor-area senior college.