Enhancing behavioral health competencies for senior center staff through workforce development and training

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Social Work

Background:

• Growing numbers of older adults present with mental health and substance use challenges.
• Senior centers are vital community hubs for older adults, making them ideal settings for behavioral health education.
• There is a need for effective training to equip senior center staff to address these emerging issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an online certificate program in Behavioral Health and Aging.
• To evaluate the program's impact on senior center staff knowledge and skills.
• To assess the program's effectiveness in improving behavioral health support for older adults.

Main Methods:

• An online certificate program, "Behavioral Health and Aging," was developed and delivered.
• The program targeted 228 senior center staff across Illinois, Florida, and Wisconsin.
• Pre- and post-assessments measured changes in key competencies, supplemented by key informant interviews.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements were observed in key competencies for all courses upon program completion.
• Participants reported enhanced knowledge, skills, and behavioral changes as a direct result of the training.
• The online format proved effective for delivering behavioral health education to a geographically dispersed staff.

Conclusions:

• The "Behavioral Health and Aging" online certificate program successfully enhanced senior center staff's capacity to address the behavioral health needs of older adults.
• This training model demonstrates a scalable and effective approach to improving support for aging populations.
• Further implementation of such programs can strengthen the role of senior centers in promoting older adult well-being.