SFIC ONLINE BRIEFING FOR FAITH LEADERS SHINES A LIGHT ON
THE INSTITUTE ON AGING'S "FRIENDSHIP LINE"
AND ITS EFFORTS TO COMBAT LONELINESS AND SOCIAL ISOLATION

Thursday, January 14, 2021
8:30 am - 9:45 am

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One of the most significant psychological and social effects of the coronavirus pandemic and its containment measures includes the disruption of social connections. At a time when we all need to be as resilient as we can, many have not had access to a key ingredient of resilience: in-person social support. Not surprisingly, many have reported feeling lonely and depressed during the pandemic. For over forty-five years, The Institute on Aging's Friendship Line has been a vital lifeline for people aged 60 years and older and adults living with disabilities to connect with a caring, compassionate voice ready to listen and provide emotional support. As the nation’s only accredited hotline of its kind, the need for this service has increased with the arrival of COVID-19 and the host of emotional well-being issues related to social isolation. This week's Online Briefing for Faith Leaders, hosted by the San Francisco Interfaith Council and supported by the COVID Command Center's Joint Information Center Virtual Outreach Team, will shine a spotlight on this critical program whose reach has expanded statewide in efforts to respond to the pandemic.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY ONLINE BRIEFING MODERATOR

Michael G. Pappas, M.Div.
Executive Director, San Francisco Interfaith Council

WELCOME & READING OF SFIC STATEMENT

Kaushik Roy
Executive Director, Shanti Project

REFLECTIVE MOMENT

Rabbi Barnett Brickner

(Introduction of Guest Presenter and Presentation
by SFIC Executive Director Michael Pappas)

Institute on Aging’s 24-hour toll-free Friendship Line is the only accredited nation-wide crisis line for older adults, and adults living with disabilities. The Friendship Line is both a crisis intervention hotline and a warmline for non-emergency emotional support calls. Founded in 1973 by Dr. Patrick Arbore, and accredited by the American Association of Suicidology, Friendship Line provides round-the-clock crisis support. In addition to a 24- hour crisis line and warmline, Friendship Line make on-going outreach calls to older adults experiencing loneliness, grief, loss, isolation, and cognitive decline. The call-out services act as an intervention to prevent suicide in the long term by improving the quality of life and connectedness of isolated callers. Any aging adult or person living with disabilities, who experiences depression, loneliness, isolation, anxiousness, or may be thinking about death or suicide, is encouraged to connect with our compassionate Friendship Line staff and volunteers.
Mia Grigg, LMFT
Senior Director at Integrated Behavioral Health

Mia Grigg, LMFT, Senior Director of Integrated Behavioral Health at Institute on Aging. Her passion for working with older adult and diverse populations stems from growing up in rural Hawai’i. Prior to coming to IOA, she worked for over 12 years serving clients with severe and persistent mental health diagnoses and substance use issues. She has been with the Friendship Line since 2016. She received her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco. She and her partner have two boys and live in San Francisco.
FAITH PANELIST

Rev. Trent Thornley
Executive Director/Director of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

CLOSING REMARKS

SFIC Executive Director Michael Pappas

The SFIC extends special thanks to the COVID Command Center's Joint Information Center Virtual Outreach Team for facilitating technology support 
for this weekly series of Online Briefings for Faith Leaders.

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is a Cooperation Circle of the United Religions Initiative. 
San Francisco Interfaith Council | https://www.sfinterfaithcouncil.org/