Continuing Education Programs
The Network for Professional Education
The Network for Professional Education offers high-quality trainings and tools that help health and social services professionals and organizations meet the diverse, ever-changing needs of individuals and communities. The Network’s mission—inspired by the long-standing history of BU’s School of Social Work’s Professional Education Programs (PEP) and the Center for Aging & Disability Education & Research (CADER)—is to develop a highly trained, well-supported health and social services workforce. The Network combines PEP’s portfolio of workshops and postgraduate certificate programs with CADER’s work supporting and strengthening organizations working with older adults and people with disabilities, creating a centralized resource for innovative training, tools, and resources for professionals and organizations.
Programs are offered in a variety of different learning formats, including online courses, certificates, webinars, and in-person seminars. Training and workforce solutions cover a wide range of topics, including key practice areas with older adults, cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral health, and evidence-based practice skills.
In addition to training learners in a variety of modalities, the Network also offers customized workforce development programs for organizations and new opportunities for alumni seeking to advance their careers as training professionals.
The Network’s programs meet rigorous credentialing requirements for continuing education credits (CEs). Trainings are relevant and applicable, providing expertise and knowledge derived from real-life experience and grounded in current research. Each offering is skill-based, targeting specific competencies, and user-friendly.
Webinars & Seminars
Webinars and seminars, which take place throughout the year, cover a wide range of topics including racial justice, clinical practice, working with adolescents, and health-based social work. Webinars are offered nationally online, and in-person seminars are offered regionally.
Online Certificate Programs
Cognitive and Behavioral Interventions (CBT) Certificate Program
The online certificate program in cognitive and behavioral interventions is a postgraduate program that combines self-paced study and live weekly online meetings to help experienced practitioners strengthen their skills and competencies in the multiple roles required of them. Participants’ professional backgrounds include private practice, healthcare settings, and schools, among other areas.
Train-the-Trainer Certificate Program
Individuals with expertise in social work and other health and human service fields can join the BUSSW Trainers Hub to partner with the Network to develop new training categories, delivery formats, and workforce development tools. In order to join the Trainers Hub, individuals must register for the Train-the-Trainer Certificate.
The Train-the-Trainer Certificate is a self-paced, online certificate program developed to ensure that Network Trainers are ready to deliver the best practices in training, designing course content, and evaluating training outcomes.
This certificate provides 3 CEs and is comprised of three self-paced courses to be completed in sequence:
- Preparing for Successful Training
- Curriculum Design & Implementation
- Assessment & Evaluation
Upon successful completion of the Train-the-Trainer Certificate program, trainers are invited to join the Network Trainers Hub. The goal of the Trainers Hub is to match training needs with available resources, connecting organizations looking for expert workforce trainers with experienced practitioners who want to share their expertise, experience, and research to support health and social services professionals.
Center for Aging & Disability Education & Research
Established in 2002, the Center for Aging & Disability Education & Research (CADER) at Boston University School of Social Work is a leading provider for online training and certificate programs for the aging and disability care workforce. To date, over 25,000 health and social services practitioners and more than 500 agencies and organizations around the country have participated in CADER programs to strengthen the workforce that provides health and long-term supports and services to older adults and people with disabilities.
Courses & Certificates
CADER has worked with individuals and agencies from all 50 states and globally, providing high-quality, skill-based online courses and certificate programs in key content areas related to aging & health and social services & supports. These online courses combine the knowledge and experience of leaders in the field of aging with the latest in online learning technology.
All courses and certificates offer continuing education credit hours (CEs).
Certificate Programs
CADER offers the following online certificate programs:
- ADRC/No Wrong Door Key Principles Certificate
- Behavioral Health in Aging Certificate
- Case Management Certificate
- Foundations in Aging & Disabilities Certificate
- Key Practice Areas in Interprofessional Teams Certificate
- Person-Centered Case Management Certificate
- Practice in Aging: Ethics and Legal Principles Certificate
Additional information is available on the CADER’s website.
Training Partners
CADER has delivered online training to those working with older adults and persons with disabilities for more than 20 years. CADER’s training partners include area agencies on aging, state units on aging, independent living centers, senior centers, housing providers, behavioral health organizations, nursing homes, assisted living centers, hospitals, community health centers, social service agencies, and adult day health centers.
Training & Evaluation
Demonstrating that learners have mastered the competencies needed for effective practice is a key objective of our program. Competence requires professional judgment, critical thinking, and translation of knowledge, skills, and values into professional practice. CADER’s Training Evaluation methods analyze the effectiveness of its programs. In addition to offering courses and certificate programs, CADER also has an active grant portfolio and conducts research to strengthen the workforce that provides supports and services to older adults and people with disabilities. CADER is continually looking for ways to advance its research efforts through innovative partnerships with state- and community-based organizations.
