Events
Looking for ways to connect with peers across the nation who are interested in reducing social isolation and loneliness? Commit to Connect webinars include an expert speaker or program example, with time for Q&A between speakers and participants. Commit to Connect also facilitates virtual Office Hours. These networking opportunities are open forums for discussion, ensuring participants can connect with others, share ideas, and learn from each other.
Upcoming Events
Commit to Connect Office Hours: Supporting the Social Connection Needs for Individuals with Autism
Join ACL’s Commit to Connect initiative for an Office Hours session to learn from Tiffany Neal, director of the HANDS in Autism® Interdisciplinary Training and Resource Center. The HANDS center, based out of Indiana University, offers training and resources to support the needs of individuals with autism. During this Office Hours session, Tiffany will discuss two programs that the center supports to help individuals with autism stay socially connected in their communities:
- The HANDSmade™ Vocational, Social Engagement, and Independent Living Program provides vocational training and social engagement opportunities for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
- The PEER Potential™ Program is a peer-to-peer social engagement and mentoring program that reduces isolation, strengthens belonging, and promotes community participation among individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Office Hours sessions are 30-minute virtual events that feature subject matter experts on best practices, strategies, and model programs for increasing social connections.
This event will include CART closed captioning and American Sign Language interpreting. The Office Hours will be recorded and shared publicly after the event. If you have any questions or additional accessibility requests, please email info@committoconnect.org.
Former Events
The Impact of Falls Prevention Programs on Social Connectedness (May 12, 2026)
- Organizations: National Council on Aging, Trellis, MAC Inc.
- The slides are available here
Commit to Connect Office Hours: Highlighting Innovative Social Connection Programs (February 25, 2026)
- Organizations: FriendshipWorks
- Resource Recap
- The recording is available here
Capturing Data to Measure the Impact of CDSME on Social Connection (February 11, 2026)
- Organizations: Indiana University School of Public Health, Illinois Pathways to Health, and The North Country Healthy Heart Network
- The slides are available here
Commit to Connect Office Hours: Highlighting Champions of Social Connection (January 7, 2026)
- Organizations: 50 Forward Mohawk Valley
- Resource Recap
- The recording is available here
Supporting Social Connection of Caregivers Webinar (September 26, 2025)
- Organizations: Caregiver Action Network, AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services, and an individual serving as a “Carefluencer”
- The slides are available here
Commit to Connect Office Hours: Social Connection and Engaging People with Disabilities in Rural Communities (September 4, 2025)
- Organizations: University of Montana’s Research and Training Center (RTC)
- Resources Recap
- The recording is available here
Supporting Social Connection Through Volunteerism (September 3, 2025)
- Organizations: National Community Care Corps, The Oasis Institute, and Lori’s Hands
- The slides are available here
Commit to Connect Office Hours: Social Connection and Assistive Technology (August 20, 2025)
- Organizations: Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP)
- Resources Recap
- The recording is available here
Promoting Social Connection Among Veterans (June 4, 2025)
- Organizations: Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VA Bedford Healthcare System, and Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc.
- The slides are available here
Commit to Connect Office Hours: Social Connection and Nutrition (April 18, 2025)
- Organizations: Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs at the Administration for Community Living (ACL)
- Resources Recap
- The recording is available here
Social Connection as a Protective Factor for Fraud and Exploitation (December 19, 2024)
- Organizations: USAging, Administration for Community Living (ACL), National Center on Elder Abuse, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Area Agency on Aging 3
- The slides are available here
Outcome Evaluation in Social Connection Programming (September 18, 2024)
- Organizations: California Department of Aging, Cincinnati Music and Wellness Coalition, Meals on Wheels of Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky, and Texas A&M School of Public Health
- The slides are available here
Advancing Social Connection Through Art and Creative Expressions (June 27, 2024)
- Organizations: National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), Central Vermont Council on Aging, and Dances For A Variable Population
- The slides are available here
Strengthening Social Connection in Housing Communities: Innovative Approaches (April 30, 2024)
- Organizations: American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC), Front Porch, and Our Stomping Ground
- The slides are available here
Commit to Connect Office Hours: Advancing Social Connection as a Public Health Priority (March 19, 2024)
- Organizations: National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), Mississippi State Department of Health, and Washington University in St. Louis
- Resources Recap
- The slides are available here
Promoting Social Connection Among Older Adults Living with HIV/AIDS (February 27, 2024)
- Organizations: Los Angeles County Commission on HIV, Detroit Area Agency on Aging, and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation
- The slides are available here
Commit to Connect Office Hours: Intergenerational Engagement (January 30, 2024)
- Organizations: Generations United (GU)
- Resources Recap
No Wrong Door Virginia’s Social Health Connector Platform (December 13, 2023)
- Organizations: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia 2-1-1, and United Way Worldwide
- The slides are available here
- Find more information on the Social Health Connector and the Administration for Community Living’s MENTAL Health Innovation Challenge
Innovative Volunteer Models to Promote Social Connection (August 1, 2023)
- Organizations: Give 5 program, SAGE, and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
- The slides are available here
State-Level Leadership in Promoting Social Connection (June 15, 2023)
- Organizations: ADvancing States, Georgia Department of Human Services, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
- The slides are available here
Supporting Independence and Inclusion through a Community Participation Measure: A University and CIL Collaboration (April 21, 2023)
- Organizations: Temple University and the Alliance of Disability Advocates—North Carolina
- The slides are available here
- Find more information on the Temple University Community Participation Measure
Commit to Connect Office Hours: Outreach and Social Engagement (April 19, 2023)
Commit to Connect Office Hours: Technology and Social Engagement (February 23, 2023)
Navigating the Nationwide Network of Champions (January 26, 2023)
- Organizations: Administration for Community Living and USAging
2023 engAGED and Commit to Connect: Social Engagement Virtual Summit
engAGED and Commit to Connect hosted a two-day Virtual Summit that took place May 9 and 10 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm ET. The Virtual Summit brought together nearly 800 national, state, and local leaders for interactive sessions highlighting the latest research, innovative programs, tools, and resources for the aging and disability networks. The Virtual Summit highlighted the topics of social engagement in rural communities and supporting the social connectedness needs of family caregivers. View recordings and slides from the Summit to learn about creative solutions, spurring ideas for replication in your community!
To find the Virtual Summit recordings and slides, a brief agenda for each day and speaker profiles, please visit the Virtual Summit webpage. Watch a video message from the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy, below.