The nine-to-12-month Program offers fellows the opportunity to participate in a residential track or a non-residential track. The residential track allows fellows to participate in the policymaking process on either the Federal or state level as legislative assistants in Congress, professional staff members in executive agencies or policy organizations. The non-residential track allows fellows to work on a policy project and brief placement(s) throughout the year at relevant sites. Core program components focused on career development and professional enrichment are provided for fellows in both tracks. Fellows also have the opportunity to apply for second-year funding to continue components of their fellowship experience/project either at their placement sites, at the state/local levels, or with non-governmental organizations.

Up to six fellows will be selected for the inaugural class of 2008-2009.

The Health and Aging Policy Fellows program is administered by the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University and made possible by the generous support of The Atlantic Philanthropies.

The mission of The Atlantic Philanthropies is to bring about lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people. Through its Ageing Programme, The Atlantic Philanthropies aims to help transform how aging is viewed within society and improve the way older persons are treated by society. They focus on aging in Bermuda, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the United States. General aims include ensuring that older adults:

• are treated with dignity and respect;
• are fully empowered to shape their own destinies;
• have access to health and support systems;
• are represented by a strong cadre of leaders; and
• are able to contribute actively their expertise and abilities for the good of society.