LINKING NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO GERONTOLOGICAL OUTREACH TRAINING-PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

To address the systematic linkage between gerontological higher educat ion and continuing education, the University of Georgia Gerontology Ou treach Program's needs assessment model is designed to be process and outcome oriented, ongoing, and based on the input from a variety of co nstituents. In the final of three articles, synthesis of the results f rom focus groups and a telephone survey are informed by gerontology co re principles to comprise the framework for the educational model of t he Outreach program. The qualitative data from the focus groups provid ed the opportunity for elaboration of issues identified through the te lephone survey. The educational model presented in this article addres ses pertinent issues as well as a multi-level curriculum to address th ree levels of trainees in gerontology.