By Natasha Bryant
LeadingAge members in three states are working with educational partners to attract high-quality, diverse applicants to aging services and build provider capacity.
Partnerships between providers of aging services and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) and minority-serving institutions (MSI) can be rewarding and beneficial for students, educational institutions, and employers seeking to connect with high-quality, diverse applicants and strengthen and build their organizational capacity. Here are a few examples of how providers and HBCUs/MSIs are collaborating to provide opportunities for students to work and learn about the aging services sector.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), an HBCU, and Aldersgate United Methodist Retirement Community Inc., a life plan community, are in Charlotte, NC. They are connected through their work on the Advisory Board for the HBCUs-LTSS Careers Initiative.
In Fall 2022, Constance McKinley, a social work student at JCSU, completed an internship at Aldersgate, working with residents across the continuum. McKinley shadowed social workers and interacted with residents and families. During the spring 2023 semester, she worked with Aldersgate social workers to complete assessments for nursing home residents, assist with discharging residents, and interact with families.
“Being an intern at Aldersgate has been a beautiful experience,” says McKinley. “With this experience, I can work in the health field as a social worker. I look forward to continuing to work and learn about helping vulnerable populations and communities.”
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
United Church Homes (UCH) and Tougaloo College have a connection based on their affiliation with the United Church of Christ. Tougaloo College is a historically Black liberal arts college located north of Jackson, MS. United Church Homes provides affordable housing, independent living, long-term care, rehabilitation, and memory care through more than 80 communities in 15 states and two Native American nations.
UCH and Tougaloo College developed an educational partnership that allows Tougaloo College students to gain professional experience in healthcare and other disciplines. During the summer of 2021, Dennis Kyles, a recent political science graduate of Tougaloo College, interned as a service coordinator at one of UCH’s communities in Jackson, MS. Kyles connected residents with person-centered services and helped them find the resources they needed within their community.
“I witness the daily lives of older adults and learn the types of services they need,” says Kyles. “I am passionate about where I place my effort, time, and energy. I was looking for an opportunity to engage in the nonprofit services professional environment, and United Church Homes has been the perfect opportunity for me to learn and grow.”
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Spelman College, an HBCU, and A.G. Rhodes, which provides skilled nursing care, have been part of the Atlanta, GA, community for over a century. In the Fall of 2022, Demi Collins, a recent Spelman graduate, participated in a six-month paid internship program with A.G. Rhodes. Collins shadowed social workers at all three A.G. Rhodes skilled nursing communities in Atlanta, conducted assessments, attended care plan meetings, and completed dementia care training.
“My internship with A.G. Rhodes provided me with hands-on professional development in the rehabilitation and long-term care field,” says Collins. “The A.G. Rhodes staff and care partners were instrumental in and supportive of my learning. As a social worker, I was able to broaden my ability to coordinate and provide supportive services. I was also able to advocate for and develop meaningful relationships with the older adult community and other care partners. Having the opportunity to implement the skills and knowledge gained from each A.G. Rhodes location was extremely valuable to me. Overall, the A.G. Rhodes internship program allowed me to work at all levels in the long-term care field and explore different areas of social services.”
Natasha Bryant is managing director of the Washington, DC, office of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston. Her work focuses on developing, testing, and disseminating workforce improvement initiatives to attract and retain quality staff at all levels of aging services organizations.