As we prepare for the impact of the increasing numbers of older adults in New York on our programs, services, and products, one of the pressing issues that calls for attention is preparing the workforce -- reviewing current practices and considering future needs in training and education about older adults. In 2005, the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and the State Society on Aging of New York State (SSANY) surveyed all institutions of higher education in New York State to find out about gerontology-based majors, aging-related programs, and free-standing courses that are available at colleges and universities across the state. The results of that project were stark, indicating a scarcity of degree programs, certificate programs, free-standing courses, and credential in aging studies program1 at New York's colleges and universities. Yet, appropriate workforce training and education are needed for effective aging service delivery, and this need will continue and grow as we see the numbers of older adults increase and diversify in New York State.
In order to provide a forum to engage people in a wide range of locales and disciplines in discussions about such workforce training and education issues, a collaborative partnership was formed in 2006 between the Presidents Circle of the State Society on Aging of New York (SSANY), and the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) (hereafter referred to as the SSANY Presidents Circle-NYSOFA collaborative) to carry out a series of Listening Sessions on the topic.
SSANY is the State's premier state-level association comprised of faculty, policymakers and program leaders from across New York who specialize in gerontology and geriatrics. NYSOFA, the State Unit on Aging for New York State, is the independent state agency for more than 3.4 million New Yorkers who are 60 years of age and older. Its responsibilities include advocating at all levels of government and the private sector, with the involvement of concerned organizations and older persons, on myriad issues affecting older adults. NYSOFA also administers federally funded programs under the Older Americans Act and a variety of state-funded programs that serve older adults and their caregivers.
The SSANY Presidents Circle-NYSOFA collaborative actively sought input from people across the state and across multiple disciplines about training and education needs about older adults for the workforce in our State. The collaborative developed eight Listening Sessions titled, Working with Older Adults: Charting the Future of Workforce Training and Education that took place between October, 2006 and October, 2007. The sessions represented urban, rural, and suburban locations, and were facilitated by members of the SSANY Presidents Circle and NYSOFA.
Members of SSANY and staff at NYSOFA worked collaboratively to sponsor the Listening Sessions, collect information from all eight sessions, analyze the content from the sessions, and develop this Report.
The two primary goals for the Listening Sessions were to:
The Listening Sessions used a common set of questions in each of the Sessions as a basis for discussion. A qualitative content analysis was conducted by the SSANY Presidents Circle-NYSOFA collaborative, which helped identify the major themes emerging from the Listening Sessions and guided the development of the solution ideas that are included in this Report. This Report is a product of collaboration among selected members of the SSANY Presidents Circle and NYSOFA staff to outline the rationale, results, and the strategies and suggested solutions that emerged to address workforce education and training issues through the Listening Sessions.
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