APRIL 2024

Commit to Connect Updates

Join Commit to Connect and engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults for a two-day virtual summit during the afternoons of May 14 and May 15. The National Summit to Increase Social Connections will bring together national, state, and local leaders for interactive sessions focused on technology and social connection. Find out more about this free event and register now!

Webinar on Housing and Social Connection

Join Commit to Connect on April 30 from 12:00–1:00 PM ET for a webinar focused on fostering social connection through housing communities. This webinar will highlight the critical role housing plays in supporting social connections and will provide tips and best practices to promote connection and inclusivity for all populations through housing. Attendees will hear from the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC), Front Porch, and Our Stomping Ground. Immediately following, Commit to Connect will host a 30-minute Office Hours session to allow for open discussion with the webinar speakers and participants. The webinar and Office Hours will include CART closed captioning and American Sign Language interpretation.

Did You Miss It?

In March, Commit to Connect hosted an Office Hours focused on strategies to advance social connection as a public health priority. Find a summary of resources shared during this session shared on the Nationwide Network of Champions.

Meet This Month’s Commit to Connect Champion Who is Connecting People Through Better Nutrition

Commit to Connect is pleased to highlight another member of the Nationwide Network of Champions in our bi-monthly blog post series, providing a snapshot of the innovative social connection efforts led by Commit to Connect Champions across the country. This month’s featured Champion is Shana Brierley, a Nutrition Consultant at the Connecticut State Unit on Aging who works to promote nutritious meals and social engagement among older adults in her state. Check out the full blog post here.

Are you interested in having your organization featured in an upcoming blog post? Register to become part of the Commit to Connect Nationwide Network of Champions!

Read the Blog Post

Nationwide Network of Champions: Our Numbers are Growing!

Commit to Connect’s Nationwide Network of Champions continues to grow with 30 new members in the last month! This platform is a no-cost virtual space for passionate leaders and innovators at the local, state, and national levels dedicated to ending social isolation and loneliness. The 422 Champions on the Network represent 379 organizations in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Recent community forum discussion threads focus on topics such as engaging rural older adults and strategies to source sustainable funding. Be sure to log in or sign up to stay up to date on new activities and resources.

Recent Resources and Research

Resource: Four new innovative programs have been added to the Social Engagement Innovations Hub, a clearinghouse of social connection best practices and evidence-based interventions, programs, and services. The Innovations Hub is a joint activity of Commit to Connect and engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults to provide practitioners, implementers, and researchers with information on social connection examples to encourage replication. Visit the Innovations Hub to learn more.
Resource: The World Health Organization's Commission for Social Connection developed a video series to share the lived experiences and impact of social isolation and loneliness on people worldwide. Find the video series and more information on the commission here.
Research: Recreational music making combined with group work is linked to increases in well-being. The article, Collaborative recreational music making, cultural inclusion, health, and healing across disciplines, highlights the innovative efforts the Cincinnati Music and Wellness Coalition (CMWC) is conducting to promote connection. CMWC is a current member of the Commit to Connect Measurement and Evaluation Community of Practice.
Research: In a recently released research brief, the National Center for Elder Abuse identifies social isolation and loneliness as strong predictors for maltreatment of older adults. The research brief spotlights possible interventions and approaches to reduce social isolation and loneliness, noting the importance of a person-centered approach.

Upcoming Events

Webinar: Strategies to Address Social Isolation and Loneliness for People Living with Dementia and Their Caregivers | National Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center | April 23 from 2:00–3:00 PM ET
Webinar and Office Hours: Innovative Approaches to Foster Social Connection Through Housing Communities | Commit to Connect | April 30 from 12:00–1:30 PM ET
Virtual Event: Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium | ACL, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the National Council on Aging | May 2, 2024
Event: Age + Action 2024 | National Council on Aging | May 6–8, 2024
Virtual Event: 2024 Commit to Connect and engAGED National Summit to Increase Social Connections | USAging and ACL | May 14–15, 2024
Event: 2024 National Disability Rights Conference | National Disability Rights Network | June 3–6, 2024
Event: Global Loneliness Awareness Summit | Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness | June 11, 2024
Event: USAging's 49th Annual Conference and Tradeshow | USAging | July 8–11, 2024
Event: NACDD 2024 Annual Conference | National Association of Councils for Developmental Disabilities | July 22–26, 2024
Event: Meals on Wheels America Annual Conference | MOWA| August 12–15, 2024
Event: Home and Community-Based Services Conference | Advancing States | August 18–22, 2024

Funding for this initiative was made possible by contract no. HHSP233201500088I from ACL. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.