Cycle 1 Request for Proposals Has Closed

The application deadline for Cycle 1 of the BSW Experiential Learning (BEL) Program was Friday, May 16, 2008. The Gero-Ed Center is currently reviewing Cycle 1 applications and cannot accept additional proposals. If you wish to apply for Cycle 2 of the BEL Program, we encourage you to attend the information session at the 2008 CSWE Annual Program Meeting and return to this Web page in January 2009 when the Cycle 2 Request for Proposals (RFP) will be posted.

BSW Experiential Learning (BEL) Program

The BSW Experiential Learning (BEL) Program will promote innovative experiential learning in up to 40 BSW programs. It aims to infuse gerontological and intergenerational content throughout the BSW foundation curriculum and to recruit undergraduates to gerontological social work field placements and careers.

The Need

By 2020, one in six Americans are projected to be age 65 and older, with the most dramatic growth among those over age 85, elders of color, and women. As a result, social workers interact with older adults and their families in nearly all practice settings – child welfare, substance use, health and mental health, and schools, – but are typically not formally prepared to do so. Recognizing this, the Gero-Ed Center promotes foundation-level gerontological competencies for all social work graduates. The gap between the growing employment opportunities for BSW-level social workers and the limited number of BSW graduates who are gerontologically-competent provides the rationale for the BSW-only BEL Program. The job market is strong for BSW-level social workers in the aging network and in long-term care settings. Yet relatively few BSW programs offer course content to prepare graduates to work effectively with older adults and their families.

Involving older learners in the classroom, service learning, intergenerational programs, oral histories, or field placements with older adults are typically positive experiences for BSW students. These experiences often dispel misconceptions, negative attitudes, and fears about aging. Additionally, they may result in students’ pursuit of gerontological social work courses and employment or an MSW with a focus on older adults. By funding BSW gero experiential learning, the BEL Program aims to recruit undergraduates to social work field placements, graduate level education, and careers working with elders and their families

What Is Experiential Learning?

Experiential learning is a philosophy and methodology in which student learners engage in structured activities that address human and community needs, and in focused reflection about these activities.

Examples include:

• Conducting oral histories with elders
• Practicing interviewing and observation skills with older residents of a housing complex
• Developing a community outreach or marketing plan for an adult daycare center
• Completing a community needs assessment for a local naturally occurring retirement community (NORC)
• Setting up and participating in intergenerational programming

Eligibility

• Applications are welcome from faculty in CSWE-accredited BSW programs. Only BSW programs are eligible to ensure that students early in their generalist curriculum have exposure to diverse groups of older adults.
• Funding priority will be given to programs that have not participated in prior Hartford curricular development initiatives, those serving students from underrepresented populations, and those documenting evidence of their capacity to sustain their innovation after funding ends.
• Social work faculty at a minimum 50% FTE at any rank, including lecturers and practicum faculty based in academic programs, are eligible to apply. Adjunct/auxiliary faculty members are not eligible.

Funding Guidelines

• Approximately 20 BSW programs will be funded in 2008 and 2009 (for a total of 40 programs).
• The focus is on infusing experiential learning into one or more foundation courses or other existing mechanisms available to all students (e.g., social work club) congruent with your program’s needs and structure.
• Programs may apply for up to $7,500 over two years, to be matched with funding at 50% (see institutional match below). Funds may be allocated across both years, or programs may plan an unfunded second year.
• Programs design how to use funds for experiential activities that best fit their curriculum and organizational culture. Examples of the use of funds include:
• Release time for faculty to develop and implement gero experiential learning
• Incentives to recruit students to service learning with older adults or intergenerational activities
• Recognition for student participants, such as practicum awards or travel to conference presentations
• Programs will evaluate and disseminate their experiential learning innovations in Year 2. In addition, the Hartford Foundation requires that programs submit brief progress reports every six months.

Institutional Match

Programs are to demonstrate their commitment to the BEL Program by providing a 50% funding match (monetary or in-kind), to help cover associated costs. The nature of the match will be evaluated as an indicator of the program’s commitment to achieving their goals and sustaining changes after funding ends.

Anticipated Timeline

Funding will be provided in two cycles for 20 programs as illustrated below:

Questions?

E-mail gero-edcenter@cswe.org

Please also plan to attend the BEL Program information sessions at the BPD Annual Meeting in March 2008. Meeting times will be in the conference program and can be accessed in February 2008 on the BPD Web site: www.bpdonline.org.

If you would like to print this information, download our overview flyer (PDF).