The BPD Gerontology Committee had a productive meeting at BPD’s Annual Conference in Los Angeles, California, on October 26, 2006. There were more than 20 committee members present. The agenda was full and included items such as an update on the John A. Hartford Foundation’s support for the infusion of aging content specifically at the undergraduate level; the Anita Rosen Student Scholarship Award; an update from the CSWE Gero-Ed Center; an update on the John A. Hartford Faculty Scholars Program; extending and institutionalizing gerontology sessions and awards at the BPD conference; the Mit Joyner Gerontology Leadership Award; the 2008 BPD Gerontology Committee session at BPD’s Annual conference; the relationship between the BPD Gerontology Committee and AGE-SW and the planning for the BPD Gerontology Session at the 2007 CSWE Gero-Ed Forum in Charleston, South Carolina.

            The 2006 meeting at the BPD Conference involved extensive planning of the workshop that the Gerontology Committee will sponsor at the 2007 CSWE Gero-Ed Forum.  The title of the workshop is, Undergraduate Social Work Education: Unique Challenges of Infusing Aging Content in the Classroom and Field.  Anita Rosen will facilitate the workshop and Sally Alonzo-Bell will be one of the presenters.  Other presenters are in the process of being identified.  Ideas for Gerontology Committee sponsored sessions at the 2008 BPD Conference included topics such as, Caring for your Aging Parents and a continuation of the 2006 Gerontology Committee sponsored workshop on retirement. 

            The BPD Gerontology Committee welcomes faculty, students, practitioners and administrators interested in gerontological social work and undergraduate education.  For more information, please contact Cathy Tompkins, 703-993-2838, ctompkin@gmu.edu.