Denise Burnette

Experts predict that 30 years from now, Americans age 65 and older will comprise more than 18 percent of the U.S. population -- and many more professionals must be trained now to prepare for this demographic trend. In an effort to realize that goal, the John A. Hartford Foundation of New York City and The Gerontological Society of America have selected 10 talented mid-career social work educators nationwide to serve in leadership and mentoring roles for the development of a force of geriatric social work professionals. The group includes Professor Denise Burnette of Columbia University's School of Social Work.

Burnette, an associate professor who has taught at the School of Social Work since 1990, is one of the nation's leading researchers on grandparenting in changing American families. In a recent study, she examined the social and economic conditions of Latino families in New York City in which grandparents have assumed the care of young children. She has also examined health and social issues of older adults who are members of ethnic minority groups. For the Faculty Scholars Program, she will conduct research on the health care practices of African-American elderly.

It is estimated that there are over 600,000 practicing social workers in the United States. In committing funds for the Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholars Program, the Hartford Foundation recognized that while most practicing social workers reported that geriatric knowledge was required in their professional work, only a handful (2.7 percent) of the nearly 35,000 students pursuing masters degrees were taking a specialized geriatric curriculum. The Faculty Scholars Program is a major step toward ensuring that America will have the necessary pool of trained and skilled geriatric social workers to meet the growing and specialized needs of an aging population.

The $2.4-million program is one of three 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 other two programs are focused on developing model geriatric social work practicum sites and improving education and training programs in geriatric social work.

Over a two-year period, the Scholars will participate in five faculty development institutes to further enhance their research, teaching and leadership skills. In addition, they will undertake a research project focused on improving geriatric health care outcomes. Each Scholar will be paired with a National Research Mentor and a school-based mentor who will help and support the Scholar's professional leadership and research career development.

In addition to Columbia, the other social work educators teach at Boston, Fordham, Indiana, Virginia Commonwealth and Washington universities, the Universities of Georgia, Wisconsin, and Washington, and the State University of New York at Albany.

More information about the Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholars Program is available at the web site: http://www.geron.org.