(Providing real opportunities for gero-rich experience in social work services)
PROGRESS is for students interested in geriatric social work and is open to concentration-year and advanced standing MSW students. This innovative program includes a rotational field internship model that allows you to experience agencies serving older adults. The program, originally funded in part by a John A. Hartford Foundation grant, continues the mission that will help ensure the well-being of older adults and their family members.
According to many sources, including the Hartford Foundation's Geriatric Social Work Initiative social work with older adults and their caregivers is a rapidly growing specialty, and there will continue to be numerous opportunities for employment if you have specialized training in work with the aging population. In fact, geriatric social work ranks as one of the top 20 careers in terms of growth potential!
Clinical practice settings vary widely, from hospitals and hospices to outpatient clinics, psychiatric settings, social service agencies, housing programs and programs focused on wellness. And there are numerous community practice opportunities as well, in program development, advocacy and social policy.
Eligibility requirements
To apply for the PROGRESS program, you must:
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be a full-time MSW student or
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be a part-time MSW student who plans to do all of your concentration-year field internship hours during the regular academic year (fall, winter and spring quarters)
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be entering your concentration year. This includes incoming advanced standing students
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demonstrate academic and field internship merit. Primary considerations will be the student's academic record to date, career goals and field instructor recommendations regarding qualities important for social work
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have the intention to pursue a career in gerontological social work
Students in both the clinical and the community practice concentrations, including those participating in any of GSSW's academic certificate programs, are eligible to apply.
Application procedures (Downloadable application instructions)
Click here for a PROGRESS Information Session Video.
PROGRESS applications are generally accepted in January for the following academic
year.
To apply for the program, you must submit the following:
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PROGRESS Program Application Form (Please use this Student Application). Only electronically submitted applications will be accepted. Type your responses directly on the application form. Please be mindful of the 3000- and 1000-character limits on your responses. Save the completed application form on your computer as a Word document. If you use a Mac, make sure to convert the document properly so it can be opened on a PC.
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a current résumé
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a Field Instructor Nomination Form (Please use this Field Instructor Nomination form) completed by your foundation year field instructor (or, for advanced standing applicants, from your BSW field instructor or a recent supervisor in a human services work setting)
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your undergraduate transcripts or foundation year GPAs
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you may also submit recommendations from recent paid or volunteer work you have done in the human services field.
We will contact you to set up a personal interview.
Submit your application form as an e-mail attachment to Kim Yuskis@du.edu.
PROGRESS program description
If you are selected to be in the PROGRESS Program, you will receive a scholarship,
and your field placement will be in a "hub" internship site where you'll be supervised
by a Primary MSW Field Instructor employed at that site. During the course of the
academic year, you will select from a variety of other aging services agencies in
order to complete your rotations.
You will also have opportunities to participate in integrative seminars and intensive workshops designed to enhance your gerontological social work knowledge and skills. These are held every quarter as part of your field education. You may also be asked to complete additional leadership assignments for PROGRESS.
Learn more
For more information about the PROGRESS program, please contact Kim Yuskis, LCSW, PROGRESS Program Coordinator.
