Explore Fellowship Opportunities for Social Workers in Aging and Health

Applications Due April 2010

NASW is pleased to advise its members of two fellowship programs, unaffiliated with NASW, for professionals specializing in aging and health care.

Practice Change Fellows: Leaders in Geriatric Care

The two-year Practice Change Fellows program provides leadership training, individual mentoring, structured peer feedback, and funding to support each participant in developing leadership skills and content expertise that will enhance care for older adults. Fellows complete a project aimed at implementing a new geriatric program or service line integrated within their organization, allowing them to remain at their full-time jobs throughout the two-year program.

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. (Eight social workers have been selected as fellows since the program’s 2007 inception.)

The Practice Change Fellows Program is funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies and the John A. Hartford Foundation and is 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 February and March. The application deadline for the 2010 award cycle is April 7, 2010.

Health and Aging Policy Fellows

The 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 one of two tracks:

• A residential track that includes a nine-to-12-month placement in Washington, D.C., or at a state agency. One of these placements will be completed in partnership with John Heinz Senate Fellowship in Issues of the Aging

• A nonresidential track that includes a health policy project in the fellow’s own community and brief placement(s) throughout the year at relevant sites

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 have been selected as fellows since the program’s 2008 inception.) Applicants may be at any career stage, and previous experience in policy is not required.

The Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program is supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies and is administered by the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry in collaboration with the American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship Program. Please visit www.healthandagingpolicy.org for additional information. The application deadline for the 2010–11 year is April 15, 2010.

Social workers and other providers caring for individuals with dementia in their homes will find a valuable resource in Dementia Care Practice Recommendations for Professionals Working in a Home Setting, released by the Alzheimer’s Association this November in honor of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.

The document is the fourth in a series of recommendations for health care providers serving people with dementia and part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Campaign for Quality Care. (The first three sets of recommendations address assisted living and nursing home providers.) As one of more than 20 leading health and aging organizations that participated in an extensive consensus-building process, NASW played a key role in developing all four sets of evidence-based recommendations. Individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s also helped develop the recommendations.

Noting that approximately 70% of people with dementia or cognitive impairment live at home, the publication emphasizes a person-centered, culturally competent approach to meeting the changing needs of persons with dementia. Topics addressed include home safety, communication and decision-making, physical and behavioral symptoms, family caregiver support, end-of-life care, and provider self-care.

Click here to view Dementia Care Practice Recommendations for Professionals Working in a Home Setting and Dementia Care Practice Recommendations for Assisted Living Residences and Nursing Homes.

RELATED RESOURCES

• Find consumer-friendly information and resources on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
• Listen to, or read the transcript of, the Specialty Practice Sections teleconference, Helping Families Face the Early Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease.
• Read the Specialty Practice Sections article, Hope and Help in the Early Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Administration/Supervision
Social Work and the Courts
Committee Members

The National Association of Social Workers is seeking qualified candidates to serve as committee members for two new sections that will launch this year: Administration/Supervision and Social Work and the Courts. Please read the charge of the Specialty Practice Sections for details. Interested applicants must complete and submit a nomination form to be considered for appointment. Applicants must be active NASW members in good standing. Return your form by February 1, 2010 to the Specialty Practice Sections department at sections@naswdc.org.  Remember to include your name, your section of interest and your contact information.

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

Is the setting in which you work implementing culture change? If so, what model is being used?

How has your role as a social worker been affected by culture change? Are you taking on new leadership roles? Have you taken on non–social work responsibilities or turned over social work functions to non–social work staff? Do you have any ethical or legal concerns about changes in your role?

How do you think the social work profession can position itself as a leader in culture change while preserving the integrity of the professional social work role in nursing homes?

NASW RESOURCES RELATED TO CULTURE CHANGE

Read NASW’s Aging Specialty Practice Section article, De-Institutionalizing an Institutional System (2003), to learn more about culture change.

Learn about NASW’s contribution to an interdisciplinary issue paper addressing the role of nursing in culture change.

The core objective of the symposium was to equip health care professionals with accurate information to address the current health care reform debate, with particular emphasis on the importance of consistent practice methods and messages in end-of-life care.

Workshop highlights included:

• Expert recommendations on advocacy strategies to refute “death panel” claims;
• Clarification on the end-of-life counseling reimbursement proposal in the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R.  3200, sec. 1233, 2009);
• The impact of the health care professionals’ conscience regulations on patients’ end-of-life rights;
• The differences between hospice and palliative care ; and
• The importance of education and training for health care professionals in end-of-life counseling.

Plenary sessions included talks by Jacque D’Amboise, founder of the National Dance Institute and world-renowned ballet dancer; Dr. Elmer Huerta, former president of the American Cancer Society; and Jane Brody, New York Times columnist.

Additional information and professional resources:

NASW’s Specialty Credentials in Hospice and Palliative Care:

http://www.socialworkers.org/credentials/default.asp

NASW’s Standards for Social Work Practice in Palliative and End of Life Care:

http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/bereavement/standards/default.asp

NASW Director’s article ‘Death Panel’ Rhetoric Sets Us Back

http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/news/2009/10/clark.asp

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Credit Hours: 1 CEU(s)

Presenter:

• Paul D’Agostino,ACSW, LCSW

Moderator:

• Bekki Ow-Arhu,MSW, LICS

There is relatively little in the literature discussing any links between child abuse and bullying behavior in children. Yet both are examples of aggressive/violent responses and many believe that these are learned behaviors. This teleconference will explore the possible link between childhood abuse and bullying.

Click here to REGISTER for this teleconference.

NASW Members, click here for information on joining a Specialty Practice Section.

Annual Behavioral Health Care Conference: Hope in Uncertain Times

November 17-18, 2009, Westin River North Hotel, Chicago, IL [#09071]

Uncertain times provide us with great opportunities to forge lasting improvements in behavioral health care. This conference will shed new light on best practices and help you serve as a catalyst for improving the health and welfare of your clients. The agenda features a roster of respected clinical faculty from the government, the private sector, and national organizations. Count on:

► Current and relevant evidence-based information to take back to your behavioral health care setting and immediately apply.

► A CD-ROM toolkit comprised of proven strategies and useful tools designed to offer solutions and help implement change.

► Collegial resources for continual networking and problem solving.

For more information, or to register for this conference, go to:

http://www.jcrinc.com/Conferences-and-Seminars/Annual-Behavioral-Health-Care-Conference/1523/

or phone Customer Service at 877-223-6866.

Preconference Workshop: Behavioral Health Care Seminar: The Joint Commission 2010 Behavioral Health Care Standards and Survey Process Update

An in-depth workshop straight from the surveyors about accreditation topics you cannot afford to miss, including: challenging standards from 2009, survey process and accreditation changes for 2010, and what to expect in 2010 related to National Patient Safety Goals.

November 16, 2009, Chicago, IL [#09070] (This is a pre-conference to the Behavioral Health Care Conference)

For more information, or to register for this preconference seminar, go to:

http://www.jcrinc.com/Conferences-and-Seminars/Behavioral-Health-Care-Update/1522/

or phone Customer Service at 877-223-6866.

Managing Professional Grief
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
1:00-2:00 EST, 1 CEU offered

Presenter:
•  Elizabeth Clark,PhD, ACSW, MPH

Moderator(s):
•  Tracy Whitaker,DSW, ACSW

Social workers understand the importance of maintaining good boundaries when dealing with client issues. Yet witnessing suffering in any form is difficult, and when a client dies, we can experience professional grief. This teleconference will cover the concepts of vicarious traumatization, recognizing the clues of compassion fatigue, and maintaining professional hope in high loss practice settings.

Exclusively for Sections Members. Join Online Today!

Suggestions for Social Workers

Following are some general suggestions provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human services. While these tips were originally designed for parents, social workers and other professionals who work with children and adolescents will also find them useful.

General Suggestions

• Let children know they are loved and appreciated regardless of their weight or size. An overweight child probably knows better than anyone else that he or she has a weight problem. Overweight children need support, acceptance, and encouragement.
• Focus on health and on the child’s positive qualities, not on weight.
• Try not to make a child feel different for being overweight; instead, focus on gradually changing physical activity levels and eating habits.
• Be a good role model. If a child sees you enjoying healthy foods and physical activity, he or she is more likely to do the same now and for the rest of his or her life.
• Avoid using candy and other sweet snacks as rewards.
• Realize that an appropriate goal for many overweight children is to maintain their current weight, while growing normally in height.

Physical Activity Suggestions

• Encourage children to be physically active. Children should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days.
• Even greater amounts of physical activity may be necessary for the prevention of weight gain, for weight loss, or for sustaining weight loss.
• Plan group activities that provide children with exercise and enjoyment.
• Advocate for a safe environment for active play, such as swimming, biking, skating, ball sports, and other fun activities.
• Work with the child’s family on reducing the amount of time spent in sedentary activities, such as watching TV or playing video games. A recommended limit on TV time is less than two hours a day.

Many overweight children who are still growing do not need to actually lose weight. By reducing their rate of weight gain, they can “grow into” their current weight. Additionally, all weight management programs for children and teens should always be supervised by medical professionals.

Overweight in children and adolescents may be caused by many factors, including behavioral patterns like a general lack of physical activity or unhealthy eating patterns. Overweight and obese conditions may also be caused or influenced by genetics and other medical conditions not easily detected or controlled. In any case, it is important that social workers demonstrate sensitivity toward overweight and obese children and teens, and encourage families to address this issue together in positive ways.
For more details on this article NASW Section members can visit: https://www.socialworkers.org/sections/areas/econnection/newsletter.asp?econ=60&art=362

How have you worked with children and obesity?

What do social workers need to know?

What are some of the challenges faced?