The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64854

Charles R Howard, MSW, PhD, CHarles Howard & Associates, 8104 Felbrigg Hall Rd., Glenn Dale, MD 20769, 301 805 2990, crhowardandassociates@msn.com and Kenneth J. Jaros, PhD, MSW, Division of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 223 Parran Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15202.

The basic premise for the workshop on Social Work Leadership in Public Health is that effective leadership is essential in the changing public health environment, and that "leaders can never give you what they have not received". Social Work Public Health leadership development needs to be strongly connected with professional education. It must have relevance for practicing public health professionals and begin early in the educational process.

The presentation will report information from an informal survey of social work leadership training programs around the United States. The survey will determine where formal leadership development education is being taught and identify gaps where training is limited or in high demand. This presentation will address the following critical issues:

a.) How do leaders develop, and what skills are required. b.) What are the sources of leadership education? c.) What are the identified gaps and strengths in leadership education? d.) Which strategies are the best ones for collaboration and building coalitions towards addressing educational and training needs?

The general goals are to disseminate viable research-based information on leadership; identify effective leadership programs; strengthen the Scholar/Practitioner connection; encourage collaborative research in Public Health and Social Work by building on and promoting existing leadership programs and resources; expand the multicultural focus to increase involvement of diverse audiences in leadership programs and roles; lay the groundwork for an inventory of existing internal and external leadership programs and development of a fact sheet for dissemination thru APHA; and share information on existing leadership programs.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) Participants will understand the challenges facing social workers in leadership positions in the changing public health environment.
• 2) Participants will understand the types of leadership skills required for effective practice
• 3) Participants will become familiar with some of the effective leadership development training strategies and resources identified through this research.
• 4) Participants will be able to knowledge that will assist them in addressing training needs in their local organizations.

Keywords: Social Work, Leadership

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.