Increasing Geriatric Social Work Content Through University/Community Partnerships

ABSTRACT

Since their inception, social work education programs have operated in partnership with community agencies, as both field sites and foci for research. However, surprisingly little has been written on models of university/community partnerships in social work or the role of agencies in shaping curricula. This study analyzed the outcome reports of 67 Council on Social Work Education Geriatric Enrichment Projects (Gero Rich), funded by the Hartford Foundation, that sought to infuse geriatric content throughout the foundation curricula of B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs. Using both quantitative and qualitative analyses, the structures and functions of the programs' university/community partnerships were examined along with their association with the sustainability of curriculum change efforts. Findings suggest that these partnerships were a critical component in increasing and sustaining geriatric curricular content and were beneficial for faculty, students, and agencies.

KEYWORDS:

• University/community partnerships
• geriatric content
• social work education

The analysis on which this manuscript is based was funded by the C.S.W.E. Gero-Ed Center (National Center for Gerontological Social Work). The authors are indebted to Dr. Nancy Hooyman, Director of the Gero-Ed Center, for her invaluable feedback on early drafts of the manuscript.