Fellowship Opportunities for Social Workers in Aging and Health Care

SPECIALTY PRACTICE SECTIONS

March 11, 2009
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Fellowship Opportunities for Social Workers in Aging and Health Care Applications Due April 2009
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NASW is pleased to advise its members of two fellowship programs, unaffiliated with NASW, for professionals in aging and health practice.

Practice Change Fellows: Leaders in Geriatric Care
The two-year Practice Change Fellow program provides leadership training, individual mentoring, structured peer feedback, and funding to support each participant in implementing a new geriatric program or service line within her or his current organization. Social workers, nurses, and physicians who hold a leadership role in a health care delivery organization (including long-term care residences), health-related institution, or community-based organization—and who have both direct responsibility for geriatric services or aging-related programs and enough seniority in their organizations to have decision-making authority and be able to effect change—are eligible to apply. (Four social workers were selected as fellows during the first two award cycles.)

The Practice Change Fellows Program is funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies and administered by the Division of Health Care Policy and Research at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, in partnership with the National Council on Aging. Please visit www.practicechangefellows.org for an application and more information, including a schedule of informational teleconferences in March. The application deadline for the 2009 award cycle is April 1, 2009.

John Heinz/Health and Aging Policy Fellows

The John Heinz/Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program offers practical experience and professional mentoring in health policy development and implementation on behalf of older adults. Fellows may complete residential placements of 9 to 12 months in Washington, D.C., or may work with the national program office to identify placements in their own communities. Participating fellows may also apply for second-year funding. Social workers and other clinical professionals with practice experience in health and aging and a desire to be involved in health policy at the federal, state, or local level are eligible to apply. (Two social workers were selected as fellows in 2008.) Applicants may be at any career stage, and previous experience in policy is not required.

The program is supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies, the Heinz Family Foundation, and the U.S. Senate, and is administered by the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry. Please visit www.healthandagingpolicy.org for additional information, including details regarding the March 18 program symposium and reception, scheduled in conjunction with the Aging in America conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The application deadline for the 2009 award cycle is April 15, 2009.