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SEPTEMBER 2022

Coming Soon! Join a New Community of Practice on Expanding Availability of Social Engagement Programs and Initiatives for People Living with Dementia

Communities of Practice are collaborative learning experiences that allow for the exchange of ideas and best practices among professionals and result in increasing the availability and use of social engagement programs. Our first Community of Practice, focusing on intergenerational engagement, launched in August and will continue through November. Our second Community of Practice will focus on community programs and initiatives that promote social engagement for people living with dementia. This will be an excellent opportunity to connect with others who have expertise in developing and implementing programming that helps people living with dementia to be socially connected. The application to join the Community of Practice on Expanding the Availability of Social Engagement Programs and Initiatives for People Living with Dementia will open later this fall. Stay tuned!

Members of the Commit to Connect Nationwide Network of Champions interact with other national, state and local experts who are interested in building social connectedness within communities and programs. Champions come from many backgrounds, geographies and perspectives and are diverse leaders and innovators dedicated to ending social isolation and loneliness. The Network Hub allows for the easy exchange of ideas, resources and information about upcoming events. Not a member yet? Visit the webpage to complete your profile so you can engage with others and build strategic connections. 

Last month Commit to Connect joined engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults to hold a two-day Virtual Social Engagement Summit. Both days were packed with expert speakers who are leaders in research and practice in the area of social isolation. If you missed the event, don’t worry! You can view the recordings of the Virtual Social Engagement Summit here. 

Hear what attendees have to say about the Social Engagement Virtual Summit:

• “Thank you for all the excellent information imparted during this Summit.”
• “This Summit has been fabulous! So many resources, ideas and connections. Thank you.”
• “That was fantastic! I cannot wait for the recording so I can integrate some of these ideas in my programs!” 

We welcomed many new members to the Commit to Connect Champion Network Hub, with a 30 percent increase in the last quarter in membership! Use the “Introduce Yourself” thread on the discussion board and reach out and say “hello!” to fellow Champions. You can also use the “Add as a Contact” or “Send Message” features to interact directly with Champion peers.

A current topic of discussion in the Champion Network Hub is programming and data collection. If you are collecting data related to social isolation or loneliness, visit the discussion board and share your work!

The Commit to Connect Nationwide Network of Champions is growing quickly! Currently, there are 40 states represented in the Network, but the goal is to have all 50 states represented. The map below shows the location of current Champions organizations.

Updated Tools from engAGED to Raise Awareness of Social Engagement

With the COVID-19 pandemic prompting many adaptations to social engagement initiatives, engAGED released an updated version of its Community Awareness Toolkit. The Toolkit contains customizable materials including a consumer brochure, infographics, fact sheets, a PowerPoint presentation, sample newsletter and social media language, the UCLA Three-Item Loneliness Scale and a calendar of social engagement opportunities. Learn how your organization can best use these tools.

Healthy Places by Design recently launched a new webpage that houses its Socially Connected Communities report, information about Local Leaders for Socially Connected Communities Network, related Action Guides and more. Healthy Places by Design works with partners to develop socially connected communities by addressing community design, social norms and systemic injustices. Check it out!

1. Become a Commit to Connect Champion by joining the Nationwide Network of Champions. Tell your story and join the conversation!
2. Invite your friends and colleagues to join you as a Commit to Connect Champion! 
3. Apply to join the upcoming Community of Practice where you can learn best practices and address challenges with peers related to socially engaging people living with dementia in the community!

Upcoming Events

End Social Isolation and Loneliness Action Forum: On October 11-13, the Foundation for Social Connection and the Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness will host its annual End Social Isolation and Loneliness Action Forum. This international three-day event will enable attendees to identify key innovations, promote policy solutions commit to action. Participants will also learn how organizations around the world are taking action against social isolation and loneliness.