Boston GEM Consortium
Field Placements
Students
Boston GEM Consortium Students 2006-2007
Students' Reflections on their Participation in the Boston GEM Consortium Project
BUGS Reflection Paper
Hope Maynard
Due to my interest in working with older adults, the GEM program was one of the primary reasons that I applied to Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW). I was attracted to the idea of having an internship with older adults that would allow me to have both a primary placement and a secondary placement in two different agencies. No other field placement at BUSSW offers this opportunity. I was also attracted to the idea of having an opportunity to meet monthly with other students, who shared the same interest in working with this special population. I have found that the interest in gerontological social work among my peers in the classroom is rare and therefore, it has been a good opportunity to meet with a group of students who are also interested in working with older adults.
Hearth - Home for Good Reflection Paper
Sara Tribe
I had a list of goals for the year when I went into the Hearth interview around this time last year. I wanted to make sure that Hearth was going to be a place that I could gain experience and build skills in areas that I was not particularly familiar with. My list included: Grant writing, creative fundraising, experience with Hearth budgeting and finances, increasing my comfort with lobbying, advocacy and political action skills, working on agency diversity trainings, attending board meetings and co-facilitating a group for older adult women. I was able to do all of these this year.
IGSW Reflection Paper
Jody Miesel
In reflection on my experience in the GEM program, I have gained clarity on what sorts of competencies geriatric social workers need, as well as in what areas social workers and students tend to feel most strong in their practice. For example, many social workers feel strong in the competency domains of values and ethics, as well as assessment. On the other hand, they tend to feel less confident in their knowledge of aging services, programs and policies and how to intervene in those areas. This awareness and familiarity with the Hartford PPP competency scale will be a great asset to me in my future work with the Gero-Ed Center when I am at the University of Washington.
Kit Clark Reflection Paper
Christine Marre
My placement at Kit Clark Senior Services has truly been wonderful and a great learning experience. The staff at Kit Clark are amazing and just so welcoming to all. From the first day of placement, I was welcomed by all and made to feel very comfortable. I never hesitated to ask any of the staff questions if my supervisor was unavailable as I knew they would always take the time to help me. The staff seem to really love what they do and truly care about the clients. The older adults who come to Kit Clark are also so amazing and exhibit such strength despite the numerous hardships most have faced in their lives. Seeing their smiling and welcoming faces on a nearly daily basis was a blessing and I feel honored that they welcomed me into their lives and allowed me to hear their stories.
Thoughts on GEM
Erin R. Boggs
Before joining the GEM program my only significant contact with older people had been with my grandparents. I was nervous initially that I would not be able to relate to the older people that I would be working with at my agency-that our age gap would be too much to overcome and I would not be able to form a bond with them, never mind a therapeutic relationship. I can still remember vividly my first day when I was terrified of entering the day center where all the seniors were sitting and introducing myself to everyone. I was so fearful that they would only see me as a young, naïve girl and that I would feel some dormant ageism rising up in me. I hesitantly approached the first table in the center and instantly everyone was smiling at me and asking who I was and where I came from.
Reflection on GEM
Lisa Hunegs
The GEM program was a unique opportunity for me to learn about working with elderly clients in two settings, Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE) and Boston Housing Authority (BHA). I had a great experience interning at JCHE. One of the highlights of my experience was facilitating an English conversation group for native Russian speakers. Watching my group go through the stages of group development was a wonderful learning opportunity. Although most of my group members did not know each other before the group, they formed a unique bond. Today, many of them are friends outside of the group. I really enjoyed facilitating this group and would love to run more groups in the future.
