SUPERVISORY LEADERS IN AGING TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY TO OLDER ADULTS: FINAL PRACTICE CHANGE OUTCOMES

摘要

Social services for older adults are instrumental in addressing vulnerabilities associated with aging. Yet, practitioners report needing expanded geriatric knowledge and better supervision. This poster reports newly available final outcomes of a 3-year implementation study of a social work supervisor continuing education program. The workforce-development program provides advanced training that enhances gerontological knowledge and supervisory skills. Positive outcomes from three pilot programs led to a 2015 expansion, funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation under the auspices of the National Association of Social Workers. Now called Supervisory Leaders in Aging, the program was adopted and tested in four states (IL, FL, MD, and NY). NASW trained 135 MSW supervisors between 2015 and 2017. These supervisors provide support to 1,217 direct practitioners, potentially enhancing the health and well-being of more than 264,000 older clients annually. Trainees self-rated frequency of use of relevant supervisory best-practices was measured with the Practice Inventory for Supervisors in Aging Services, a novel instrument administered prior to the first session and at three and twelve months after the final session. Comparisons of ratings on this 30-item 5-point Likert scale across time periods and workshops demonstrate a range of positive increases (0.16 – 0.52; mean of 0.34 points). Tests of significance support findings that previously used best practices were maintained by participants and underutilized best practices were adopted and maintained as a result of education received during workshops. The program is shown to enhance supervisory practices. Implications of this tested model for enhancing workforce capacity will be discussed.