Graduate School of Social Work
Aging Services & Policy
The Aging Services & Policy concentration prepares you to practice across the continuum of services that promote quality of life and independence for older adults and their families.
Social workers interested in working with older adults provide clinical care in health, behavioral health, memory care, community and residential settings. Additionally, social workers intervene in social justice issues impacting older adults through educational, management, program development, advocacy and policy work. This concentration emphasizes culturally responsive practice needed for the increasing diversity among older adults locally, nationally and internationally.
Field education takes place in a variety of settings such as community service agencies and government agencies, home health and hospice agencies, outpatient and inpatient medical care settings, residential facilities across the continuum of care, skilled nursing facilities, gero-psychiatry services and advocacy agencies. Clients are predominately older adults and their families, but may include clients of all ages. These placements offer you opportunities to gain skills in clinical interventions, care management, group work, program and policy development, advocacy and administration.