The Hartford Geriatric Enrichment in Social Work Education Project (GeroRich)

In January of 2002, California State University, Chico (CSUC), School of Social Work was one of 67 social work education programs selected for two year funding by the John A. Hartford Foundation Geriatric Enrichment in Social Work Education Project (GeroRich). The goal of the GeroRich Project is to develop sustainable curricular changes in social work education. These changes will provide experiences and knowledge for social workers with the result of improving the quality of care for older adults and their families.

The commitment of all faculty to the development of social work students' competency in working with older adults is necessary to sustain geriatric social work content in our organizational culture and curriculum. We believe that if the faculty, students, and the community have a sense of ownership of the curriculum changes, then gerontological pervasiveness and sustainability is more viable.

Goals of the CSUC GeroRich Project

The following goals were developed during the planning stage in the Spring of 2001. We are pleased that we met our goals and continue to strive to ensure the changes in our curriculum to increase material on older adults is sustained throughout the coming years.

Goal #1: Infusion of aging content in all nine required BSW foundational courses and all seven MSW foundation courses

• Changes included course objectives, assignments, readings, group activities, use of guest speakers, films, and experiential activities.

Goal #2: Production of a Recruitment Video for Gerontology Social Work to be distributed to High Schools, Community Colleges, and Universities

• The mission of School of Social Work is to recruit students from rural communities. The mission of the University is to collaborate with the community.
  
• Filming began in early September 2002 and was completed in March 2003. For the video, Voices From the Field: Social Work With Older Adults, we interviewed four BSW students, two MSW students, eight consumers, four administrators, five BSW practitioners, nine MSW practitioners, one psychiatrist, three social service workers who work with social workers, and two groups consisting of a total of 20 "extras" for background footage

Goal #3: Development of Resource Library

• The Resource Library is available to all University faculty, students, and the community.
  
• Resources include videos, books, resource notebooks on specific topics (e.g. mental health, adult abuse, caregiving), journals, Secure Project Sensitivity Training kits (visual, tactile, and audio impairments), and guest speaker lists.

Goal #4: Development of 10 additional practicum sites for BSW and MSW students in agencies that serve older adults

• The total number of new sties consist of four for BSW students and seven for MSW students. One existing site was expanded to include MSW students. This was more than our projected goal.
  
• For more information on practicum sites contact Patty Hunter, LCSW, Director of Field Education: phunter@csuchico.edu

GeroRich Advisory Board

Individuals from the community including consumers and service providers, social work educators and students were invited to become members of the Board. The Board was instrumental in the development of the recruitment video production and curricular changes. Current members included:

• GeroRich Project Director
• Director of Field Education
• Chair of the Butte County Elder Services Coordinating Council (consisting of 150 members from 50 agencies that serve older adults) who is a BSW
• Graduate student in the CSUC Social Work program
• Director of the Adult Resource Center that included the regional Area Agency on Aging (MSW)
• Director of the Alzheimer's Association
• MSW Medical/Psychiatric Specialist