Training Bachelor of Social Work Students to Meet the Needs of Grandparent Caregivers

This paper discusses the infusion of aging into the service learning of bachelor of social work (BSW) students. A model for training generalist practitioner BSW students to adopt a life span developmental approach to working with older adult kinship caregivers is discussed. The paper focuses on a review of the significance of the grandparent caregiving situation, developmental issues unique to grandparent caregivers, and an empowering approach toward the grandparent caregiver situation. Next, we propose a model integrating BSW curriculum and service-learning experience using a grandparent caregiver program. We also describe the student training process, and offer case examples of the students’ developmental process.