In the fall of 2007, Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) will become the first university in the nation to offer a certificate program specifically focused on training leaders to overcome “the Caregiving Crisis” in America. The 18-credit “Caregiving Specialist” certificate program includes courses in psychology, nursing, special education and sociology as well as a community practicum and leadership training.

“We are taking this step to address what is widely regarded as an emerging crisis in America: in short, we do not have the workers or leaders in place to provide quality care to the large number of individuals who require support to remain in the community. These individuals include people living with chronic illness and disability of all ages, as well as individuals who require assistance because of aging.” says Richard Birkel, executive director of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI).

The RCI worked in conjunction with university faculty to develop the curriculum for the certificate program. In addition, the university and RCI are working together to develop additional programs to train leaders in long-term, home and community-based care at the graduate and mid-career levels.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 45 percent increase in demand for new long-term care workers between 2000 and 2010 alone — the equivalent of approximately 800,000 new jobs.

“There’s a tremendous workforce shortage in caregiving professions,” Birkel says, “and this will become an even bigger problem as baby boomers retire.” The RCI considers the workforce shortage to be a crisis situation. “Every community today needs leaders who can develop systems of care including home visiting, respite, counseling, stress management and access to the most effective caregiver supports, and they have to do this with significant limits on available funds; that is the focus of our training and leadership development” says Birkel.

The number of individuals in our society requiring personal assistance due to ill health, chronic conditions and disabilities is at an historic level and growing. However, the number of individuals in our society available and trained to provide this assistance ("caregivers") has not kept pace with the need.

GSW hopes to educate a group of individuals who have the skills and knowledge to address the growing crisis in the workforce, and offers students a unique leadership program not available at other universities. The initial group of students the Caregiving Specialist certificate program for the 2007-08 school year includes four freshman and four upper class students in psychology, nursing, education and pre-medicine. Classes begin Aug. 14.