One of SWLI's primary goals is to build leadership in aging care.

In 2008, SWLI began the Leadership Academy in Aging, a leadership training program to engage Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work.

In partnership with the National Association of Deans and Directors, the LAA helps social work deans and directors advance educational models and policies that make it easier for older adults to benefit from the services of trained social workers.

Apply or Nominate a Dean or Director

Leadership Goals

• Raise their school's visibility and status within the university
• Recruit students by strengthening their school/university's presence in the field
• Strengthen legislative outreach and education skills
• Strengthen community development skills while increasing
their school's role in the community and broader environment
• Strengthen capacity-building and management skills
• Build strategic leadership skills
• Increase resource development skills
• Mentor or be mentored by senior deans

"As America ages so must our workforce of social workers to care for them. This program is designed to help you see why enhancing your aging curriculum is good for your students, your school and older Americans."
– Patricia Volland, Social Work Leadership Institute, New York Academy of Medicine

ADVISORY BOARD
James Adams, Jr
Dean and Professor, School of Social Work
University of Alabama

Frank Baskind
Dean Emeritus, School of Social Work
Virginia Commonwealth University

Katharine Briar-Lawson
Dean, University at Albany,
State University of New York

Marilyn S. Flynn
Dean, School of Social Work
University of Southern California

Alberto Godenzi
Dean, Boston College Graduate School of Social Work

Michael A. Patchner
Dean, School of Social Work
Indiana University

Peter B. Vaughan
Dean, Graduate School of Social Service
Fordham University

Elements of the Program

• Leadership: How can you advance your leadership skills? What are best practices in the field? How can improved leadership advance your agenda?
• Skill-building: Best practices sessions on fundraising, interdepartmental communications, capacity-building, organizational and staff management, policy analysis and advocacy, time management, faculty relations, and media outreach.
• Mentorship: A senior dean will mentor each participant.
• Aging Commitment: Each participant will be asked to develop a plan to infuse the aging agenda into their work and school.
• Continued Learning: An online network of participants and alumni, creating a cadre of specialists.

Awardees

Current Cohort List 

Past Cohorts List

Training Schedule for Cohort 5

Session 1: November 6-7, 2012 - Washington DC (in conjunction with CSWE APM)

Session 2: January 15-16, 2012 - San Diego, CA (in conjunction with SSWR Conference)

Session 3: April 6-7, 2013 - Laguna Beach, CA (in conjunction with NADD Spring meeting)

Session 4: June 14-15, 2013 - New York, NY

Conference Calls: There will be individual and group conference calls throughout the course of the year.

 Apply or nominate a dean/director

How to apply

All deans, directors and chairs of social work schools and programs are invited to apply.

Please submit the following materials as e-mail attachments to Patricia Volland, Senior Vice President, The New York Academy of Medicine at pvolland@nyam.org:

• Personal statement about your strengths and aspirations as a leader (500 words);
• Description of your commitment to your school's aging curriculum (500 words);
• Letter of support, including commitment for the costs from your university's provost;
• Curriculum vitae.

For more information, please contact Pat Volland, (212) 822-7207 or pvolland@nyam.org or Katharine Briar-Lawson, (518) 442-5324 KBriarLawson@uamail.albany.edu.

Cost

• There is a $1,500 fee per participant.
• Participants will need to cover travel costs, involving airfare, ground transportation, and hotel.
• The remainder of the cost of the training is covered by the Social Work Leadership Institute's grant from the Hartford Foundation and NADD (estimated value = $8,000 per participant).