MHLP Associate Professor Receives Fulbright Scholarship

Amber Gum, PhD, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar Award from the U.S. Department of State. Dr. Gum and her family will spend four months in Israel, from January through April, 2016. Dr. Gum will be affiliated with Bar-Ilan University, in the Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, where she will engage in research and training. Israel is a forerunner of a growing global trend, by employing over 50,000 migrant home care workers to care for its older citizens. Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have documented depression and burden for both migrant home care workers and the older adults to whom they provide care. Working with a long-time colleague at Bar-Ilan University, Professor Liat Ayalon, Dr. Gum will pilot-test a behavioral intervention designed to benefit migrant home care workers and their care recipients. In group sessions, home care workers will learn to identify and engage in personally valued, meaningful activities, and they also will learn to apply the same skills with their care recipients. Dr. Gum also will conduct training workshops on behavioral interventions and mentor graduate students. This Fulbright experience is expected to support the workforce in Israel, inform research and practice in the U.S. involving home care workers, and lead to future international collaborations.