title: Mentoring the Next Generation of Social Workers in Palliative and End-of-Life Care: The Zelda Foster Studies Program.
abstract: As Americans live longer with chronic illnesses, there is a growing need for social workers with the knowledge and skills to deliver quality palliative care to older adults and their families. Nevertheless, there remains a critical shortage of social workers prepared to provide quality palliative and end-of-life care (PELC) and to maintain the field into the next generation. Formal mentorship programs represent an innovative approach to enhancing practice, providing support and guidance, and promoting social work leadership in the field. This article reviews the literature on mentorship as an approach to professional and leadership development for emerging social workers in PELC. The Zelda Foster Studies Program in Palliative and End-of-Life Care bolsters competencies and mentors social workers in PELC over the trajectory of their careers, and enhances the capacity in the field. Findings from the first six years of two components of the ZF Program are examined to illustrate the feasibility, benefits, and challenges of formal mentorship programs. The authors describe the background, structure, and evaluation of the initiative's mentorship programs, and discuss the implications of mentorship in PELC for social work education, practice, and research.
authors.affiliation: a Silberman School of Social Work and Hartford Silberman Center of Excellence in Aging and Diversity , Hunter College of The City University of New York (CUNY) , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: b Zelda Foster Studies Program in Palliative and End-of-Life Care , New York University Silver School of Social Work , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerbino
authors.affiliation: b Zelda Foster Studies Program in Palliative and End-of-Life Care , New York University Silver School of Social Work , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Jocelyn Warner
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Walls
authors.affiliation: b Zelda Foster Studies Program in Palliative and End-of-Life Care , New York University Silver School of Social Work , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chachkes
authors.affiliation: a Silberman School of Social Work and Hartford Silberman Center of Excellence in Aging and Diversity , Hunter College of The City University of New York (CUNY) , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Meredith J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Doherty
mesh_terms: D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008611:Mentors; D009518:New York; D065126:Palliative Medicine / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012947:Social Work / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D000068217:Social Workers / Q000193:education*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*
keywords: mentoring; mentorship; palliative care; professional development; program evaluation; social work