Fellowship Opportunities for Social Workers in Aging and Health

NASW is pleased to advise its members of two fellowship programs, unaffiliated with NASW, for professionals specializing in aging and health care.

Practice Change Fellows: Leaders in Geriatric Care

The two-year Practice Change Fellows Program provides leadership training, individual mentoring, structured peer feedback, and funding to support each participant in developing leadership skills and content expertise that will enhance care for older adults. Fellows complete a project aimed at implementing a new geriatric program or service line integrated within their organization, allowing them to remain at their full-time jobs throughout the two-year program.

Social workers, nurses, and physicians who hold a leadership role in a health care delivery organization (including long-term care residences), health-related institution, or community-based organization—and who have both direct responsibility for geriatric services or aging-related programs and enough seniority in their organizations to have decision-making authority and be able to effect change—are eligible to apply. Eight social workers have been selected as fellows since the program’s 2007 inception.

The Practice Change Fellows Program is funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies and the John A. Hartford Foundation and is administered by the Division of Health Care Policy and Research at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, in partnership with the National Council on Aging. 

Health and Aging Policy Fellows

The Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program offers practical experience and professional mentoring in health policy development and implementation on behalf of older adults. Fellows may complete one of two tracks:

  • A residential track that includes a nine- to 12-month placement in Washington, DC, or at a state agency. One of these placements will be completed in partnership with John Heinz Senate Fellowship in Issues of the Aging
  • A nonresidential track that includes a health policy project in the fellow’s own community and brief placement(s) throughout the year at relevant sites

Social workers and other clinical professionals with practice experience in health and aging and a desire to be involved in health policy at the federal, state, or local level are eligible to apply. Two social workers have been selected as fellows since the program’s 2008 inception. Applicants may be at any career stage, and previous experience in policy is not required.

The Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program is supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies and is administered by the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry in collaboration with the American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship Program.