by F. Ellen Netting, Samuel S. Wurtzel Endowed Chair and Professor
In the last few years public discourse about Civic Engagement has been increasing. It may be the buzz around service learning on college campuses and secondary schools, or excited talk about the the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (H.R. 1388) signed into law during National Volunteer Week on April 21, 2009 to reauthorize and reform the national service laws. But whatever the focus, a movement toward greater civic engagement is cutting across age and population groups, and a growing scholarly and professional literature, as well as numerous electronic resources, is available on the subject.
In Virginia, residents aged 65 and older will double between the year 2000 and 2030, from 790,000 to 1,752,000. In the City of Richmond and the surrounding metro area, the population in 2000 of those over 65 was 94,089, or 10% of the population, and it is anticipated that this number will increase to 12.6 %, or 124,457, of the population in 2010 (PD15 Health and Human Services Needs Assessment, Central Virginia Health Planning Agency, 2007). Locally in Richmond and Central Virginia a great deal of momentum has been building to focus on aging and the potential of retiring baby boomers to participate in multiple, creative ways in their communities. Various groups have formed to think about and plan for this Age Wave.
Last year The Community Foundation serving Greater Richmond and Central Virginia and Connect Richmond obtained funding to conduct research and to raise consciousness about the subject. Their efforts included reviewing successful efforts among 30 community foundations; a survey of Richmond-Times Dispatch readers and a Town Hall forum with residents; and input from area civic and community groups. This project aligned well with the work of the Older Dominion Partnership (ODP). The ODP, the Community Foundation, and Connect Richmond joined forces to leverage available resources, talents, and community connections. Thus, the ODP's Implementation Team and Work Group format served as this initiative's organizational resource - to frame, design and direct this research and planning activity.
Last fall the ODP Civic Engagement Workgroup formed. Saphira Baker of Communitas Consulting was appointed by the Community Foundation to orchestrate this initiative and to serve as the Work Group leader. The group's task was to advise the development of research and outreach methods, provide expertise, link staff and members to area resources, determine the next steps based on research results, and to help shape the future of community engagement by Boomers in the Greater Richmond area. Membership came from a mix of business, nonprofit, public, faith-based, and educational perspectives. From VCU faculty members from the Vice President of Community Engagement's Office, School of Social Work, and Department of Gerontology participated in the workgroup process. With funding from the VCU Center on Aging Geriatric Training and Education Initiative, a symposium was conducted on campus last spring, targeting anyone interested in learning about creative strategies to prepare for the age wave by capturing the time and talents of boomers.
Reports coming out of these initiatives may be of interest to social workers who work with and use volunteers, or who are interested in finding meaningful roles for older consumers of service. There is a great deal going on locally, state-wide, and nationally. In addition, there are a number of research studies and a wealth of conceptual literature. As the civic engagement movement gains momentum, social workers, gerontologists, and a host of other professionals and disciplines will be participating in developing policies, designing programs, and working with older persons to prepare for the future both in the Commonwealth and around the country. Recent references appear below and if you are interested in more information on the subject, contact Ellen Netting at enetting@vcu.edu or 804/828-0404.
Recent References on Civic Engagement & Aging
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). (2004). Baby boomers envision retirement II: Survey of boomers' expectations for retirement. Washington, DC: AARP.
American Society on Aging (ASA). (2009). ASA's civic engagement program. http://www.asaging.orgv2/civiceng/reports.cfm Accessed on 7 July 2009.
Butler, S.S., & Eckart, E. (2007). Civic engagement among older adults in a rural community: A case study of the senior companion program. Journal of Community Practice, 15(3), 77-98.
Einolf, C. J. (2009). Will the boomers volunteer during retirement? Comparing the baby boom, silent, and long civic cohorts. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 38(2), 181-199.
Fixler, J. F. , Eichberg, S., & Lorenz, G. (2008). Boomer volunteer engagement: Collaborate today, thrive tomorrow. Colorado: JF Fixler.
Hong, S-I, Morrow-Howell, N., Tang, F., & Hinterlong, J. (2009). Engaging older adults in volunteering: Conceptualizing and measuring institutional capacity. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 38(2), 200-219.
Kaskie, Brian, Sara Imhof, Joseph Cavanaugh, and Kennith Culp. (2008). Civic engagement as a retirement role for aging Americans. The Gerontologist, 48(3), 368-377.
Martinson, M. & Minkler, M. (2006). Civic engagement and older adults: A critical perspective. The Gerontologist, 46(3), 318-324.
Pew Research Center (2005). Baby Boomers Approach Age 60: From the Age of Aquarius to the Age of Responsibility. http://pewsocialtrends.org/assets/pdf/socialtrends-boomers120805.pdf. Accessed on 6 July 2009.
Tan, E. J., Rebok, G. W., Yu, Q., Frangakis, Carlson, M. C., Wang, T., Ricks, M., Tanner, E. K., McGill, S., & Fried, L. P. (2009). The long-term relationship between high-intensity volunteering and physical activity in older African American women. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 64B(2), 304-311.
Tang, F., & Morrow-Howell, N. (2008). Involvement in voluntary organizations: How older adults access volunteer roles? Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 51(3-4), 210-227.
Wilson, L. B. and S. P. Simson. (eds.). (2006). Civic engagement and the baby boomer generation. Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Press.