Civic Engagement for Older Adults with Physical and Cognitive Limitations: Social Work’s Roles and Responsibilities

December 10, 2009
9:00 AM – 12:15 PM
3 CEU/clock hours
Location: COAAA: 174 E. Long Street, Columbus, OH  
REGISTER: ($55.00 early registration)

COAAA is providing registration for this training:

If you have any questions, contact a member of the COAAA team at 614-645-7250
 

From the perspective of academics and a practitioner in the field, this workshop will provide participants with information they need to implement a civic engagement project for older adults with disabilities.  Through interactive discussion and the presentation of a case study, participants will understand the definitions and benefits of civic engagement; name the barriers and solutions for older adults to be engaged in civic activities; and identify specific examples of how social workers can assist in facilitating community involvement by older adults with mental and physical limitations.

At the conclusion of this training, participants will:

1.       Recognize the growing older adult population with physical and mental disabilities.

2.       Understand the definitions and benefits of civic engagement.

3.       Name the barriers and solutions for older adults to be engaged in civic activities.

4.       Identify specific examples of how social workers can assist in facilitating community involvement by older adults with mental and physical limitations.

Presenters, Dr. Holly Dabelko-Schoeny, Dr. Keith Anderson and Andrea Santoni

 

Keith A. Anderson, PhD, has served as Assistant Professor in the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University since 2007.  Prior to returning to academia, he worked as a clinical social worker at The Washington Home, a nursing home and hospice located in Washington, DC.

Keith received a BA in Economics from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, an MSW from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and a PhD in Gerontology from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.  His doctoral dissertation focused on the grief experiences of nursing assistants and was funded through a John A. Hartford Doctoral Fellowship in Geriatric Social Work.

As a scholar, Keith’s research focuses primarily on the well-being of older adults and their caregivers, understanding and improving quality of life in long-term care settings, and death, dying, and bereavement issues.  His research has been funded both publicly and privately and his work has been published in a number of peer-reviewed journals and books.  He has presented his research findings at local, state, and national conferences.  Keith was recently named a Faculty Scholar in Geriatric Social Work by the John A. Hartford Foundation.

In addition to teaching at The Ohio State University, Keith has taught in the colleges of social work at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville.  His teaching focuses on aging, social gerontology, social welfare policy, and death, dying, and bereavement.  Keith was awarded the Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award in the College of Social Work for years 2008 and 2009.

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Andrea Santoni, BA in Human Development and Social Relations, is a licensed social worker who works with older adults at Heritage Day Health Center.  Previously, she worked with children and families both in child welfare at the Licking County Department of Human Services and in mental health at Moundbuilders Guidance Center.  While working with children and families, Andrea was part of coordinating two mentoring programs, matching college students and coommunity members with children served by the mental health system.  In her work with both children and families as well as older adults, she has interfaced with a variety of  community agencies and entities.  Most recently, she was involved with the Civic Engagement Project between Heritage Day Health Centers and Ohio State University.