title: Preparing the workforce for healthy aging programs: the Skills for Healthy Aging Resources and Programs (SHARP) model.
abstract: Current public health and aging service agency personnel have little training in gerontology, and virtually no training in evidence-based health promotion and disease management programs for older adults. These programs are rapidly becoming the future of our community-based long-term care support system. The purpose of this project was to develop and test a model community college career technical education program, Skills for Healthy Aging Resources and Programs (SHARP), for undergraduate college students, current personnel in aging service and community organizations, and others interested in retraining. A multidisciplinary cross-sector team from disciplines of public health, sociology, gerontology and nursing developed four competency-based courses that focus on healthy aging, behavior change strategies, program management, an internship, and an option for leader training in the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. To enhance implementation and fidelity, intensive faculty development training was provided to all instructors and community agency partners. Baseline and postprogram evaluation of competencies for faculty and students was conducted. Process evaluation for both groups focused on satisfaction with the curricula and suggestions for program improvement. SHARP has been piloted five times at two community colleges. Trainees (n = 113) were primarily community college students (n = 108) and current aging service personnel (n = 5). Statistically significant improvements in all competencies were found for both faculty and students. Process evaluation outcomes identified the needed logical and component adaptations to enhance the feasibility of program implementation, dissemination, and student satisfaction. The SHARP program provides a well-tested, evidence-based effective model for addressing workforce preparation in support of healthy aging service program expansion and delivery.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA jcfrank@ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Janet C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altpeter
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: JoAnn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damron-Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Mt. San Antonio College, Fullerton, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Joann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Driggers
authors.affiliation: National Council on Aging, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lachenmayr
authors.affiliation: Goodman Research Group, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Dana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D004651:Employment; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017146:Models, Organizational; D016730:Program Development; D012648:Self Care; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: competence; evidence-based programs; gerontology; healthy aging; workforce development