Nine chosen to receive funding for geriatric social work research

The John A. Hartford Foundation chooses nine faculty scholars

This year's selection was very competitive, with 25 applicants and only nine scholars selected to receive funding. During the next two years, the Faculty Scholars will conduct a research project focused on evaluating and improving the field of geriatric social work.

This year's scholars will administer projects ranging from diabetes and depression in older adults, to exploring successful aging while combating a chronic illness. Race and minority issues are also a prominent theme in the scholars' research projects, with the scholars looking at aging issues related to Korean, Japanese, African American, and Latino older adults.

In addition to completing their research project, the nine scholars will participate in institutes and workshops to further enhance their teaching, research and leadership skills. Each Scholar will be paired with a National Research Mentor and a school-based sponsor who will support the Scholar's professional leadership and research career development.

The Hartford Faculty Scholar's Program is administered by The Gerontological Society of America and directed by Dr. Barbara Berkman, Helen Rehr/Ruth Fizdale Professor, Columbia University School of Social Work.

The nine individuals selected for the prestigious Hartford Faculty Scholars Program in Geriatric Social Work are as follows:

Maria Aranda, PhD
University of Southern California
Research topic: A Sociocultural Stress and Coping Model for Mental Health Outcomes Among Older Latinos in Long Term Care: Contributors to and Mediators of Depression in a US-Born and Immigrant Sample

Li-Mei Chen, PhD
University of Houston
Research topic: Aging in Place: Exploring the Impact of a Texas Waiver Policy on the Health and Well-Being of Older Assisted Living Facility Residents

Richard Benoit Francouer, PhD
Columbia University
Research Topic: Comorbid Diabetes, Vascular Conditions, and Masked Depression in Older Adults

Chang-ming Hsieh, PhD
University of Illinois at Chicago
Research Topic: Using Client Satisfaction to Improve Case Management Services for the Elderly

Karen Lincoln, PhD
University of Washington
Research Topic: Race Differences in Social Relations Among Older Adults

Sandra Magana, PhD
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research Topic: Latino and African American Aging Caregivers

Carmen Morano, PhD
University of Maryland
Research Topic: A Longitudinal Design Testing the Effectiveness of a Culturally Informed Psychoeducational Intervention with African American AD Caregivers

Mitsuko Nakashima, PhD
University of Maryland
Research Topic: Japanese and Koren Elders' Use of Traditional and Western Health Services in the US: Cultural Values, Beliefs and Behaviors in Health Maintenance

Philip Rozario, PhD
Adelphi University School of Social Work
Research topic: Successful Aging with Chronic Illness: Examining Activities and Strategies in Maintaining Well-Being and Personal Meaning in Later Life

The Scholars were selected by a National Program Committee of well-respected leaders in the field of social work: Dr. Amanda Barusch, University of Utah; Dr. David Biegel, Case Western Reserve University; Dr. Nancy Hooyman, University of Washington, Seattle; Dr. Amy Horowitz, The Lighthouse, International; Dr. Rosalie Kane, University of Minnesota; Dr. James Lubben, University of California, Los Angeles; Dr. Deborah Padgett, New York University; and Dr. Marsha Mallick Seltzer, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

It is estimated that there are over 600,000 practicing social workers in the United States. While most social workers report that geriatric knowledge is needed in their professional work, less than 5% of all masters level students in social work, and approximately 7% of doctoral level students specialize in aging. The Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholars Program is a $5.4 million dollar project to ensure that the country will have the necessary pool of trained and skilled geriatric social workers by creating faculty leaders specialized in geriatric research and teaching.

The Faculty Scholars Program is a major step toward increasing the visibility and desirability of geriatric social work so as to increase faculty commitment to training social workers to meet the growing and specialized needs of an aging population.

The John A. Hartford Foundation, Inc. of New York City is a private philanthropy established in 1929 by John A. Hartford, who was a chief executive of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company. Nearly all of the Foundation's grants are directed to its Aging and Health Program, which addresses two major areas: Academic Geriatrics and Training; and Integrating and Improving Services for Elders.

The Faculty Scholars program is one of five funded as part of a Hartford Foundation initiative to enhance the capacity of social work education to meet the needs of the nation's older adults. The Initiative collaborates with social work education programs to prepare needed, aging-savvy social workers and improve the care and well being of older adults and their families. The other programs are focused on providing dissertation support, mentorship and leadership development for promising graduate students; developing and testing innovative, aging-rich field experiences for graduate students that connect communities and schools of social work; and improving curriculum and faculty development so that all social work students are prepared to meet the needs of older persons and their families.

The Gerontological Society of America, the national organization of professionals in the field of aging, is dedicated to the promotion of the scientific study of aging, to encourage exchanges among researchers and practitioners and to foster the use of gerontological research in forming public policy.

For ongoing information about the Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholars Program and information and links to the other Hartford Foundation programs under this initiative, see the GSA web page at http://www.geron.org (click on social work).