Student Yesterday, Leader Tomorrow Supporting Emerging - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Student Yesterday, Leader Tomorrow Supporting Emerging Professionals Jaimie Robinson, MSW, LSW Gayle Shier, MSW Alixandra Burns, MSW, LSW Courtney Bouker, LNHA Michael Kocher, MSW, LSW Aging in America Conference March 2010

Overview  How we began…  How we developed…  How we do what we do…  How what we do affects our members…  How you can do it, too…

Emerging Professionals  Imagine, you ʼ ve been a student, or in a different career  Suddenly entering a new field with limited experience, relationships, influence  Finding place in a tight knit aging community, like that in Chicago  What can emerging professionals do to support each other and themselves?

Beginnings  Formed in 2003 at ASA/NCOA- Chicago  Modeled after San Francisco NextWave  Early Meetings  Home based  Focused on direct practice as well as leadership  The Bridge is born

We are…  An affinity organization with no membership dues  Emerging professionals and students in the field of aging  First five to ten years of career in aging  Interdisciplinary  Members of all ages

Member Survey 2009  After 6 years of growth, self-reflection became necessary  Conducted Summer 2009 (n=48)  Learned important lessons about Bridge  Role in members ʼ professional lives  Areas for improvement  Opportunities for expansion

Member Survey 2009  62.5% learn about the Bridge through a colleague  What do you want from the Bridge?  95.8% seeking professional development  89.6% seeking networking opportunities  Members also look to the Bridge for information about aging and professional support from peers

Strategic Planning 2009  Brought together creators, past and present leaders, active members  Utilized survey feedback from members  Engaged in strategic planning session  Identified the Bridge ʼ s guiding principles  Determined key program elements  Emerged with a revised mission and vision

The Chicago Bridge  Mission: Chicago Bridge provides opportunities for professional development, leadership, and support to emerging professionals in the field of aging.  Vision: To inspire and invigorate connected, passionate, and informed professionals to be a part of the transformation of an aging America.

Who?  63.8% of members participating in the 2009 survey are employed full-time  Entry to mid-level administrators of community agencies, hospitals, and long-term care providers  Gerontological research, policy, and program management  Financial services  Clinical social workers, case managers, and counselors in hospitals, hospices, skilled nursing facilities, and the community

Why?  Networking with like-minded peers  Developing our knowledge of aging topics through information exchange  Decreasing the intimidation factor of entering a field with many “superstars”  Increasing leadership opportunities that may be lacking in entry-level positions

How?  A unique mix of virtual and in-person interactions  Google group  Educational and networking events  New initiatives  Blog  Support and social program  Mentorship program  Rotating leadership core

Google Group  A list-serve which serves as the primary source for information exchange  Job postings  Event announcements  Interesting articles  Clinical practice/resource questions

Google Group

Google Group Membership  268 members registered since May 2008  Over 300 discussion threads, constantly increasing  Members can post and respond to all messages  Messages can be delivered to any e-mail address  Becoming a member  Visit www.thechicagobridge.org  Complete new member form  Once approved by Communications Director, member will begin to receive and can post messages

Monthly Events  Educational and networking events  Diverse presentation topics  Rotating host locations  Planning the events  Topics driven by member interest  Members plan and organize events  Examples…

Chicago Bridge Blog  Generates informative posts for the aging community  Professionals in the field of aging  Families and all others seeking information  Content provided and edited by Bridge members and established professionals  All posts must keep within our mission and vision  Provides opportunity for publication  Launched first quarter 2010

Chicago Bridge Blog  Three important groups that make this blog work  The Writers  The Editors  The Blog Team Management  Guidance to maintain most quality blog  Training and monthly meetings  Educational documents help  Minimum of post a week  We will increase this number every quarter  We work to connect and link to other aging blogs to participate in conversations online regarding professionals in the field of aging

Blog Success  Definitive ways to describe success in the blog world  Writers receiving recognition from the community for their contribution  Other blogs linking to the site or using the article as a source  Traffic numbers and time spent on the blog  Indirectly, skill-building for those participating in the blog • Writers, editors, team managers

Chicago Bridge Blog

Support and Social  Supports new and existing members in smaller group activities  Adds additional networking events to ensure greater group connections  Planning summer picnic and year end celebration

Mentorship Program  Connecting established and emerging professionals in the field of aging  To develop core competencies with a focus on leadership opportunities  To capitalize on the knowledge and experience of established professionals  Inspiring emerging professionals to think about the role of mentors in their development

Mentorship Program  Six-month pilot launched just prior to Aging in America Conference  Subcommittee runs the Mentorship Program  Program manager  Matchmaker  Monitors  Evaluation manager  All develop and edit materials and oversee sustainability with focus on replication

Mentorship Program  Program allows members to:  Take on leadership opportunities  Meet at least established professionals  Evaluate a program and engage in quality improvement  Publish articles on blog related to mentorship program

Mentorship Program  Examples of mentors  Director of Professional Training at a national disease-related association  Director of Older Adult Programs at an academic medical center  Director of a long-term care reform research group  Hope to expand program in the next few years based upon pilot findings

Opportunities for Leadership  Rotating leadership core  Managing group activities and mission  Recruiting new members  Creating new initiatives  Leadership opportunities for members  Teams for new initiatives  Coordination of Chicago Bridge events

Bridge Outcomes: Jobs  70.6% learned about job through Chicago Bridge  45.8% of those people applied for the job  45.5% of those applying were hired • More offered a job but accepted a position elsewhere  Offered internship opportunities, as well “I wasn't looking for a new position, so I likely wouldn't have known about this opportunity if it weren't for the Bridge. The position has been a great fit, and I've been with it for 3 years.”

Bridge Outcomes: Resources  91.5% learned about an aging resource through the Chicago Bridge  53.5% of those people have utilized one or more of those resources  48.8% of those people have referred a colleague to one or more of those resources “Chicago Bridge has connected me with aging resources that improve the level of service that I am now able to offer the seniors that I serve.”

Bridge Outcomes: Events  93.8% have learned about an aging- related event through the Bridge  73.3% of those people attended an event learned about through the Bridge  75.6% informed a colleague about the event “I went to a seminar at the Art Institute and one of the speakers was from the Alzheimer's Association. It was about a program for people with dementia and their caregivers in New York City.”

Bridge Outcomes: Networking  80.4% met a peer they did not know through Bridge  69.5% met a seasoned professional they did not know  50.0% felt more comfortable at a professional event because other Bridge members were there “Chicago Bridge made me feel welcome when I moved to Chicago from a different state. I didn't know many people in the field -- and the field is small. Chicago Bridge helped me feel more comfortable breaking into the Chicago aging network.”

Replication  Connect with the peers you already know  How can you all work together?  Create a web presence  Start small with a listserv or a Google Group  Find a seasoned professional to act as a champion  Build relationships with local universities with aging-related programs

Replication  Plan events that provide networking and professional development activities  Work with local agencies who are willing to host events  Solicit feedback from members and respond accordingly  Allow for flexibility so members can continue to shape programs and future of the group