Jennifer Crittenden
Assistant Professor of Social Work; Assoc. Dir, UM Center on Aging, University of Maine
Chapter Member: Maine SSN
Areas of Expertise:
Connect with Jennifer
About Jennifer
Dr. Crittenden's research focuses on older adult health and well-being, prevention and quality improvement across the care continuum, kinship families, and older adult civic engagement. Overarching themes in Crittenden's writings include productive aging and program evaluation. Dr. Crittenden serves as the evaluation director for the Maine Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program, and a co-PI for the Mayer-Rothschild Foundation Designation of Excellence in Person-Centered Long-Term Care. She also serves as an evaluator for the MOTIVATE oral health program and Maine's kinship navigator program.
Contributions
The Value of Volunteer Engagement by Older Americans
Key Findings Brief,
In the News
Guest to discuss training older adults on Maine National Public Radio, Jennifer Crittenden, January 18, 2016.
"The Advantages of Being an Older Dater, and Tips for Finding Romance," Jennifer Crittenden, Bangor Daily News, July 29, 2015.
"Retirees: These Gadgets Will Help You Stay in Your Home Longer," Jennifer Crittenden, Bangor Daily News, June 26, 2015.
"Maine’s Older Adults Need Affordable Housing Options," Jennifer Crittenden, Bangor Daily News, March 5, 2015.
"Dig Those Gardens: Maine Seniors Fight Food Insecurity," Jennifer Crittenden, Interview with Mark Scheerer, Maine Public News Service, May 19, 2014.
"Will You Still Need Me When I’m 64: Maine Volunteer Group Says Yes," Jennifer Crittenden, Interview with Mark Scheerer, Maine Public News Service, March 13, 2012.
Jennifer Crittenden quoted on Maine’s drug disposal legislation by Brett Walton, "Unprescribed: Legislation to Keep Drugs Out of Water Thwarted by U.S. Pharmaceutical Lobbying" Circle of Blue, November 10, 2011.
Guest to discuss "Encore Leadership Corps" on WVOM’s Senior Talk, Jennifer Crittenden, June 1, 2011.
Guest to discuss "Caregiver Needs and Resources" on WVOM’s Senior Talk, Jennifer Crittenden, August 17, 2010.
Publications
"Encore Leadership Corps Evaluation Report," (with ), University of Maine Center on Aging, 2013.
Outlines findings from the Encore Leadership Corps program evaluation including community and personal impacts of this volunteer older adult leadership development effort.
"Invisible Older Men: What We Know about Older Men’s Use of Healthcare and Social Services" (with ). Generations 30, no. 1 (2008): 9-14.
Provides an overview of the special issues faced by older men and how health and social service providers can best reach and engage this population.
"Reducing Prescription Drug Misuse Through the Use of a Citizen Mail-Back Program in Maine: Safe Medicine Disposal for ME, a Handbook and Summary Report," (with ), University of Maine Center on Aging, 2010.
Provides pilot study results from the first-of-its-kind medicine mailback program, Safe Medicine Disposal for ME. The report includes an analysis of the number and types of drugs collected as well as a procedural outline of the program.
"Principles of Clinical Practice with Older Men" (with ). Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare 32 (2004): 99-124.
Reviews key clinical issues faced by older men along with suggested practice techniques and approaches for front line providers in social work and counseling practice with older men.
"Substance Abuse Exposure among Youth Being Raised by Grandparents in Rural Communities: Findings from a Three-Year Evaluation" (with ). Journal of Intergenerational Relationships 7, no. 2 (2009): 291-305.
Covers evaluation findings from a three-year project that supported grandparents raising their grandchildren in rural Maine. Themes from the research include the need for careful relationship building between staff and grandparents in rural areas as well as a low-barrier service approach for engaging this population.
"Building a Rural Community Caregiver Network: Student Learning in Small Town America" (with ). Gerontology and Geriatrics Education 35, no. 3 (2014): 240-245.
Discusses a unique rural student practicum program for MSW and undergraduate students interested in aging.