Although the National Institute on Aging predicts 70,000 social workers will be needed by 2020, a study by the NASW Center for Workforce Studies found that only 9% of licensed social workers in the United States identify aging as their primary practice area. A 2008 report of the Institute of Medicine underscored the need for gerontological social work education and training.

The John A. Hartford Foundation responded to this shortage by developing the Geriatric Social Work Initiative (GSWI) in 2000. GSWI uses several strategies to promote social work expertise in aging:

• Funding and career development support for junior faculty members
• Dissertation grants and professional development opportunities to doctoral students
• Infusion of gerontological content in social work curricula
• Advanced field placements for students specializing in aging

The John A. Hartford Foundation’s 2009 annual report celebrates the 10^th anniversary of GSWI and is devoted solely to this social work program. Visit www.jhartfound.org/pdf%20files/JAHF_2009_Annual_Report.pdf to read the report and www.jhartfound.org/blog/?cat=34 to view the Foundation’s blog devoted to geriatric social work.

Related Links

NASW Center for Workforce Studies
National Study of Licensed Social Workers (2006)
http://workforce.socialworkers.org/studies/natstudy.asp

Institute of Medicine
Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Healthcare Workforce (2008)
http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12089

Medicare and other third-party payers are moving toward a pay-for-performance system, also known as a value-based purchasing system. This means that clinical social workers and other providers may be paid for the quality of the service rendered rather than a fee for service. The quality of service may be determined by the use of specific measures in practice.

What’s your opinion about pay for performance, and how do you think it may affect clinical practice?