Practicum Partnership Program, Social Work Leadership Institute

Posted by on November 11, 2005

[posted from Higher Ed Service-Learning listserv]

The Social Work Leadership Institute is pleased to announce their Second Funding Cycle for master’s level schools of social work to apply for funds to establish a Practicum Partnership Program (PPP). This summer, they funded ten schools across the United States, and next Spring, will fund another 25 schools to better prepare social workers to meet the needs of older adults.

The PPP request for proposals is available online on November 1. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.socialworkleadership.org">http://www.socialworkleadership.org</a>. The application deadline is January 15, 2006.

Assistance and feedback on the application, process specifics, or the peer review, is available. They also have several tools and information on the website to assist in preparing applications. Please visit the website or send questions to [email protected]

The goal of the PPP is to increase the number of students who specialize in working with older adults by developing aging rich field internships in graduate social work education programs. Ultimately, the goal is to increase the number of social workers to be leaders in the field of aging.

The program is founded on the belief that the practice community must, of necessity, respond to changing needs in the community more quickly than academia. Therefore, to educate students effectively, both the community agencies and practitioners and academe must work together as educational partners. The benefits of a university-community partnership will have a transforming effect on social work education in geriatrics.

The primary outcomes of the PPP model are:

*Creation and implementation of an excellent field education program for graduate social work students specializing in aging.
*Increased interest in aging as a field of practice among students, due to the intensive effort of faculty, increased presence of practitioners in the universities, collaboration and openness of agencies.
*An increased cadre of well-qualified geriatric social workers available to work in the community.