STUDENTS� GUIDE TO GSWEC

							                            STUDENTS’ GUIDE TO GSWEC
                          (Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium)


This Guide to GSWEC is for social work graduate students interested in developing skills in and
specializing in services for and with older adults and their families.

What is GSWEC?

GSWEC (Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium) is a unique multi-University and multi-
agency collaboration established in 1999. GSWEC provides aging-focused 2nd year field
placements and competency-driven geriatric social work field education.

The GSWEC consortium includes:
    Five Southern California Graduate Schools of Social Work
         California State University, Long Beach
         California State University, Los Angeles
         California State University, Northridge
         University of California, Los Angeles
         University of Southern California

      Nine Centers of Excellence in Geriatric Social Work Field Education:
           Alzheimer’s Association
           Huntington Senior Care Network
           Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles
           Los Angeles City Dept. of Aging/Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging
           Motion Picture and Television Fund
           Pacific Clinics
           Partners in Care Foundation
           SCAN Health Plan
           Veterans Administration Health Systems


Origins of GSWEC

GSWEC was one of six sites funded by John A. Hartford Foundation in 1999 in a nationwide
effort to strengthen geriatric social work education and increase social workers’ competency in
the field of aging. Although Hartford Foundation’s grant funding ended in 2003, the member
agencies and schools have continued their commitment to GSWEC, and the member agencies
continue to provide stipends and Field Instruction for students placed at their sites.

                   For additional information, please visit the GSWEC website:

                                www.geriatricsocialwork.org.



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What GSWEC Can Do For You
GSWEC provides excellent preparation for employment as a professional social worker,
especially for career opportunities in this high demand specialty working with the fastest
growing age group.

   GSWEC students have enhanced employment opportunities. GSWEC is well recognized
    among employers and GSWEC graduates are sought after as employees.

   GSWEC students receive advanced training in skills and knowledge for Geriatric Social
    Work, guided by GSWEC’s nationally recognized Geriatric Social Work Competencies.

   GSWEC students experience both micro and macro practice, and learn to create and present a
    professional quality exhibit of their macro project.

   GSWEC students have opportunity to network with other GSWEC students and alumni

   GSWEC students have opportunity to broaden their field experience with Associate Site
    rotations.


GSWEC Offers Many Different Field Placement Settings
GSWEC offers many different micro, mezzo and macro placement opportunities at its nine
Geriatric Centers of Excellence agencies. Placement settings include
    Mental Health
    Health Care and Health Promotion
    Geriatric Care Management
    Adult Day Health Care
    Dementia Care and Caregiver Support
    Substance Abuse Treatment
    Senior Services Administration
    Civic Engagement and Volunteerism


GSWEC Offers Broad Experience with Micro, Mezzo and Macro Opportunities
During the GSWEC application process, you can specify your preference for a primarily micro,
mezzo or macro experience. Regardless of which focus your Placement is, you will also
experience other levels of practice. For example, macro students will have some micro
experience, and micro students will have some macro experience. Opportunities vary at different
sites, so review the GSWEC Site Descriptions and check with the GSWEC agencies.




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GSWEC Provides Advanced Geriatric Social Work Seminars
All GSWEC students participate together in a series of free Advanced Geriatric Social Work
Seminars during the Placement Year. These include presentations by and discussions with
academic and professional experts, Field Instructors and agency representatives, and GSWEC
alumni. These Seminars broaden students’ learning and provide exposure to many facets of
Geriatric Social Work. Topics vary from year to year, but typically include:
     Biopsychosocial Aspects of Aging and Impact on Older Adults and Their Families
     Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment of Older Adult Clinical Issues
     Normal and Abnormal Cognitive Changes in Aging
     Evidence-Based Practices with Older Adults
     Cultural and Age Cohort Diversity
     Caregiver Stressors and Supports
     Older Adults and Substance Abuse
     Maintaining and Enhancing Quality of Life
     Palliative and End of Life Care


GSWEC Provides Competency-Driven Education
GSWEC developed “Geriatric Social Work Competencies” to use as a foundation for geriatric
field placement experiences. The Competencies, adopted by the Council on Social Work
Education (CSWE), emphasize geriatric social work values, knowledge, and skills encompassing
micro- to macro-level practice in four general areas:
     Values, Ethics and Theoretical Perspectives
     Assessment
     Intervention
     Aging Services, Programs and Policies

GSWEC Field Instructor and student use the Competencies to identify the student’s learning
goals, and to provide the basis for learning assignments and assessment of the student’s progress.

GSWEC Experience May Include Associate Site Rotations

Based on the Individualized Learning Plan developed with the Field Instructor, GSWEC students
have the optional opportunity to experience one or more additional settings serving older adults
in another program or agency. This time-limited “rotation” allows students opportunity to
experience geriatric social work in settings different than those in the Field Placement. This
allows students to learn more about
     the range of community senior programs and service settings
     the array of services provided
     various older adult populations served
     different intervention methods
     variety of professional disciplines and collaborations involved with geriatric social work




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GSWEC Prepares You for Professional Quality Macro Project Presentation
Each GSWEC student will prepare a professional quality Poster Presentation of their Macro
project and present it at the GSWEC End of Year Celebration in April, 2010. Macro projects
may be done individually or as part of a group effort, may be directed entirely by the student(s),
or in conjunction with agency staff. Students and Field Instructors mutually negotiate the nature
of the project to be completed by the student. Training is provided on how to prepare a
professional quality Poster Presentation.

GSWEC Placements Offer Stipends
Most GSWEC agencies provide stipends of $4,000. Two agencies (Pacific Clinics and VA
Health Systems) provide $5,000 or more. One Jewish Family Services site does not offer a
stipend, but the student may apply for a CAL-SWEC II Mental Health stipend.

Two GSWEC agencies have mental health services sites that qualify for the CALSWEC II
Mental Health stipends.
   Jewish Family Services has one GSWEC placement that meets criteria for CAL-SWEC II
       Mental Health stipend. However there is no GSWEC stipend for this placement.
   Pacific Clinics has six GSWEC placements that meet the criteria. If you receive the
       CAL-SWEC II Mental Health stipend it will be in lieu of the $5,000 GSWEC stipend.

Some agencies withhold for taxes, others do not. Some pay biweekly, some at different
intervals. See Site Descriptions in this GSWEC Guide for amounts and check with the agency for
details.

While it is our goal to have GSWEC students go on to work in geriatric social work after
graduation, there currently is no employment obligation incurred. However, GSWEC agencies
are always eager to hire GSWEC graduates!


What does GSWEC look for when selecting Applicants?

          Students who have a respect for older adults
          Students who have a desire to work with and on behalf of the aging population
          Students with leadership qualities


Site-Specific Requirements
Field Placement sites may have specific requirements, such as fingerprinting, physical exam, TB
test, drug screening, U.S. Citizenship, or specific language fluency. Many also require an on-site
interview. See Site Descriptions in this GSWEC Guide, and check with agency for details.

                       WEDNESDAY IS A MANDATORY FIELD DAY
                         AT ALL GSWEC FIELD PLACMENTS!
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                                                     GSWEC Application Process
WHEN                     ACTIVITY                                                        WHAT YOU DO
February 16 & 21,        GSWEC Information meetings will be held during Field            You should attend an on-campus GSWEC Information
2009                     Seminars                                                        meeting.

During CSULB             The Liaison will provide GSWEC Application forms to             Obtain GSWEC Application Form during the
GSWEC Information        interested students.                                            Information Meeting or on line. Return the
meetings                                                                                 completed form to the GSWEC Field Faculty Liaison
                                                                                         by April 4, 2009. This is mandatory.
February 16 – March      Sign-up for a CSULB individual Field Interview on the           During your CSULB Field Interview please tell the
11, 2009                 Field Board                                                     faculty interviewer that GSWEC is one of your 2
                                                                                         agency choices for a 2nd year field agency interview.
                                                                                         Do not at this time identify specific GSWEC sites (that
                                                                                         will come later in the process).
March 25, 2009           GSWEC Orientation to provide an overview of GSWEC,              Attend the GSWEC Orientation to learn more about
                         allow opportunity for you to learn more about individual        GSWEC and to meet and talk with representatives of
                         GSWEC placement sites and to talk with representatives          GSWEC Field Education agencies.
                         from GSWEC agencies.
March 30 and             Some sites have mandatory on-site Interview, for others it      Make arrangements to visit and/or interview at
May 15, 2009             is optional (see listing in this Handbook for each site). The   GSWEC sites that interest you. Site interviews are
                         purpose of on-site visits is for you to learn more about the    mandatory for some sites, optional for others. Bring a
                         sites and the field experience, and to meet Field Instructor    copy of your Student Summary or Resume to the
                         and/or Preceptor. It also allows the site representative to     Interview. The Interview is an opportunity for you to
                         learn more about you and assess whether you would be a          present yourself in a professional manner.
                         good fit at that site.
May 22, 2009             Identify your top 3 GSWEC Field Placement preferences.          Write-in your top 3 GSWEC field placement
                         Effort is made to place students at their preferred site.       preferences under “GSWEC” on you Interview
                                                                                         Response Form and mail/fax it in to the Social Work
                                                                                         Dept.
June 2009                School Liaison will notify each GSWEC applicant                 Late June
                         whether accepted in GSWEC and the GSWEC Field
                         Placement offered.

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