The Massachusetts Councils on Aging (MCOA) is deeply committed to ensuring that Council on Aging (COA) staff and directors across the Commonwealth have access to the best possible professional development. This dedication is especially evident in our recent collaborative “Behavioral Health Training” series with McLean Hospital, a program meticulously designed to equip COA professionals with the essential skills and knowledge to address the growing mental health needs of older adults.
Andrea Cordis, MCOA’s Training and Education Manager, emphasizes the organization’s member-centric approach to professional development. “Professional development’s effectiveness hinges on meeting participants’ needs,” she states, highlighting how MCOA actively seeks input from its membership to shape its training initiatives. This commitment to understanding the network’s needs led to the pilot partnership with McLean Hospital, directly addressing the significant demand for behavioral health training identified through member surveys and focus groups.
The Value of McLean Trainings: Real-World Impact
The behavioral health training series, delivered in five locations across Massachusetts, has been a resounding success due to its highly customized and practical nature. McLean Hospital’s team, led by Dr. Ipsit Vahia and Marie Clouqueur, tailors each session based on a pre-registration survey and real-life scenarios submitted by COA staff. This ensures the training content is immediately applicable to the daily challenges faced by those on the front lines.
Attendees consistently praise the direct applicability of the training. One particularly impactful piece of feedback highlights the immediate utility of the skills learned: “They love that it’s customized to them that they can take what they’ve learned on a Thursday and put it into practice on a Friday.” This sentiment underscores MCOA’s goal of providing tangible tools that empower COA staff to effectively manage mental health crises and support the well-being of older adults.
The interactive nature of the in-person sessions fosters a supportive environment for learning and shared experience. As Andrea notes, “the in-person trainings bring a lot of discussion, a lot of camaraderie and real-world scenarios. It’s a nice way for them to talk to each other as well as the experts from McLean.” This emphasis on peer-to-peer learning, coupled with expert guidance, creates a rich and valuable training experience.
Beyond the in-person sessions, MCOA and McLean Hospital have implemented virtual “office hours,” providing an ongoing platform for COA staff to seek guidance and debrief on challenging situations. This innovative approach offers a unique form of support, as one social worker attendee shared, “she said that attending the office hours felt like the supervision she was missing.” This continuous learning opportunity further reinforces MCOA’s dedication to holistic professional growth.
A Call to Action for MCOA Membership
MCOA is committed to continually evolving its professional development offerings to meet the dynamic needs of its membership. As Andrea Cordis eloquently puts it, “Don’t be afraid to reach out and tell me what you’re looking for… because I can’t guess what the network needs. I rely on the network to tell me what they’re looking for and what they feel will help their professional development. Chances are, if you need it, somebody else is looking for it too.”
Your input is invaluable! We encourage all COA staff and directors to actively communicate their educational and training needs to MCOA. Whether it’s a specific topic, a new program idea, or a format preference, your voice helps shape the future of professional development for the COA network in Massachusetts.
