TRIAD

Stipend Criteria

To be eligible for the TRIAD stipend, students must:

• Be accepted to the campus-based UNE MSW program or already enrolled as an advanced year clinical student by AY 2021/2022.
• Be in academic good standing.
• Demonstrate evidence of and/or exhibit strong interest in working with diverse aging populations in rural and under-served urban areas.
• Submit a TRIAD Application http://www.une.edu/sites/default/files/triad_application_0.pdf that includes
• Contact info
• Narrative Response Statement
• Academic or Professional Reference Letter

Certificate in Aging Diversity

To obtain the certificate, students must:

• Successfully complete (B or better) the required TRIAD course in Aging & Diversity
• Attend two required training sessions during the academic year (Fall and Spring)
• Complete Advanced Year field placement at TRIAD Identified site (your Field Advisor will have this list)
• Participation in at least one interactive interprofessional/shared learning project opportunity
• Maintain good academic standing

Who Should Apply?

ANY current or prospective student interested in the health and well-being of all people and populations with a focus on aging and diverse and under-served populations. Prior experience working with older populations is not necessary, but encouraged. Grant funds can help subsidize housing costs for those who opt for a rural placement.

Nina Williams

TRIAD Placement:

Maine Medical Center's geriatric psychiatric unit or "P6" Portland, ME

"I'll interface with older adults living with dementia and co-morbid mental health issues in an in-patient environment. My goal with this placement is to gain assessment, motivational interviewing, and direct-care skills for supporting patients and their families during their brief yet critical stays on the unit. P6 uses an interdisciplinary team model, so I'm also excited to build upon my communication and team-work skills as I represent the social work perspective on such a team"

https://mainehealth.org/maine-medical-center/services/psychiatry/outpatient-psychiatry/geriatric-psychiatry

*AASJ and TRIAD

Glenn Simpson

TRIAD Placement: Agape Inc. in Portland, ME

"I will have the opportunity to integrate the use of creative arts with men 55+ in both individual and group clinical settings. My goal is to help men become more aware of their feelings through the use of art in order to develop healthy intimate relationships with themselves and others. I look forward to working in an environment with motivational interviewing (MI) expertise and participating in educational MI workshops. In addition, Agape’s commitment to bringing dignity to those who struggle with substance use disorder will give me a unique opportunity to advocate for compassionate solutions, especially in the often-overlooked aging population."

Lila Maycock

*AASJ and TRIAD

TRIAD Placement: The Cedars Retirement Community in Portland, ME

"The placement will focus on creating relationships with clients on an individual basis through the use of legacy work, group interventions using art, music and movement within the occupational therapy program, and the creation of groups for clients and family that address grief, loss and end of life. [. . .] My intention while at the Cedars is to bear witness to this population’s resilience as they age, assist them as they explore their developing identities, and find creative ways to share their experience with family members, caregivers and the community."

http://www.thecedarsportland.org/

UNE's Integrated Clinical Practice Specialization

The UNE School of Social Work offers a distinctive integrated approach to clinical social work education with our new Integrated Clinical Practice Specialization (ICPS). The ICPS is taught within a framework based in social work values of social inclusion, anti-oppression, and contextualizes human experience with consideration to social determinants of health and well-being. Into this framework, we build advanced clinical face-to-face and hybrid experiential learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom with individual, local groups, and global communities. The ICPS prepares students to be leaders in a rapidly-changing world, and with multiple, creative, and flexible programs, we ensure an MSW is attainable for all who aspire to make the world a better place.

UNE's MSW Program offers 3 Certificate Options

*Certificates are completed as part of your program progression plan by taking approved certificate electives along with your core courses at no extra cost.

• TRIAD - Training in Aging and Diversity
• AASJ - Applied Arts and Social Justice
• Trauma Informed Social Work

TRIAD

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AASJ

TRIAD

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Trauma

MSW Progression Timelines:

You can complete our program in as little as one year through our Advanced Standing track if you already hold a BSW, two years as a traditional full-time student, or at your own pace as a part-time student:

• One-year advanced standing track (BSW required)
• Two-year traditional full-time track
• Three- or four-year part-time track

*TRIAD can fit into any of these progression tracks

UNE is a national leader in Interprofessional Education

• Team-based case conferences
• Interprofessional simulations
• Interprofessional service learning
• Co-conducted research and scholarship
• Global immersion experiences
• Arts and health projects
• Interprofessional classroom activities

TRIAD students will graduate with cutting edge Interprofessional Experience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6fLK-o0CKs

Profile of Older Americans

• Life Expectancy in the U.S. has increased from 49(1900) to 78.49 (2017)
• The population of individuals 65+ has increased from 37.2 million to 49.2 million (a 33% increase) in 10 years, and is projected to double to 98 million in 2060.
• In 2017, about 28% (13.8 million) of non-institutionalized older persons lived alone (9.3 million women, 4.5 million men)
• There is a lack of supporting resources
• Roles are evolving (Grandparents - opioid epidemic)
• Life Quantity/Life Quality

https://mainehealth.org/maine-medical-center/services/psychiatry/outpatient-psychiatry/geriatric-psychiatry

https://www.acl.gov/aging-and-disability-in-america/data-and-research/profile-older-americans

Older People in Maine

• Maine's population is the "oldest" in the nation
• Approximately 18.8% of Maine's population is 65 and above
• Some of Maine's rural counties host populations in which more than 35% are 55 or older.

Rurality in Maine

• Maine is predominantly rural with 43.1 people per square mile (some counties 4.4 people per square mile
• 11 of Maine's 16 counties are classified as rural
• In general, people living in rural areas report struggling with more health behaviors (smoking, overweight, lack of physical activity) leading to chronic conditions/mental health needs
• Access to healthcare is problematic

Photo by Steven Rubin

Poverty in Maine

• Maine's median household income is ~$4,000 less than national average
• Maine's most rural counties median household income is 25% lower than Maine's average
• Around 27% of Maine's residents are on MaineCare (medicaid) - some counties 40.3%
• Maine has third highest rate of food insecurity for children in the nation
• Poverty contributes to a range of health issues - mental stress of poverty contributes to: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, mental illness,
• SAMHSA reports rate of adults experiencing mental illness highest among those with family income below Federal Poverty Line

Maine's Diverse Populations

Maine's population is growing increasingly diverse and different populations exhibit different needs.

• Veterans - 8.9% of Maine's population (11.5% in rural counties) *6.2% U.S. Population
• LGBTQ - 4.8% (Gallup poll 2012) Maine as 5th of U.S. states
• Immigrant/Refugee- There are 11,000 + refugees in Maine and growing. In 2015, 44,694 immigrants comprised 3.4 percent of the state’s population.