Social Workers Mentoring the Next Generation to Improve the Health of Older Kentuckians

At the University of Louisville Trager Institute, social workers are doing more than providing care, they are helping prepare the next generation of professionals who will support Kentucky’s aging population.

Through the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) and the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program, social workers serve as field supervisors and mentors for social work students completing practicum placements across the state. As practicing medical social workers and behavioral health therapists, they guide students through real-world experiences that address the complex medical, behavioral health and social needs individuals face across the lifespan.

Students train alongside their supervisors in both clinical and community settings, including the Optimal Aging Clinic and partner sites across Kentucky. Through these placements, students gain hands-on experience in care coordination, behavioral health services and resource navigation while learning to address the social determinants of health that impact healthy aging. Supervisors also involve students in specialized programs such as the Brain Health and Dementia Clinic and the GUIDE Model for dementia care, where they help connect patients and caregivers with education, resources, and coordinated support.

Beyond clinical settings, social workers mentor students as they support and facilitate community-based programs, such as Flourishing Together, the Diabetes Self-Management Program, the Volunteer Friendly Visitor Program and caregiver education initiatives. These experiences highlight the vital role social workers play in strengthening both health care systems and community supports.

In addition to training social work students, Trager Institute staff also contribute to workforce development by supporting the training of peer support specialists and community health workers, expanding the behavioral health and care coordination workforce across Kentucky, particularly in rural and underserved communities where access to services is often limited.

Through mentorship, clinical training and community engagement, Trager Institute social workers are not only improving the health and wellbeing of older Kentuckians today, they are building a stronger, more prepared workforce to serve communities across the commonwealth for years to come.