Operation Family Caregiver - Laura J. Bauer, MPA

Laura is the National Program Director for Operation Family Caregiver at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW). Co-author of the RCI’s signature training program, Caring for You, Caring for Me – Education and Support for Family and Professional Caregivers, 2nd Edition; Laura has co-authored numerous journal articles and contributed chapters to Voices of Caregiving (LaChance Publishing, 2008) and Re-Creating Neighborhoods for Successful Aging (Health Professions Press, 2008).  Laura also teaches several courses in the RCI’s Certificate in Caregiving Program, housed at GSW. 

Laura has previously worked as a counselor for at-risk youth at an outdoor therapeutic program and as a child abuse investigator. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Public Administration from Columbus State University and also holds a Certificate in Gerontology from GSW. Laura serves as Vice-President of the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation in Rockville, Maryland and sits on the Board of Governors of the We Are Family Foundation in New York City.  She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Alpha Alpha, and the American Association of University Women.

An advocate for social justice, the environment, caregiving issues, and peace; Laura enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, photography, bird-watching, dancing, and music of all genres. She and her dog Katie are a certified Pet Partner animal therapy team; regularly volunteering their services at local elementary schools, hospices, hospitals and nursing homes.

http://www.operationfamilycaregiver.org/