Click here to read the chat transcript.
Join the next in a series of #MacroSW Chats about the Grand Challenges from the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. Our chat on Thursday, May 12 at 9:00 PM EST will be co-hosted by the AASWSW (@AASWSWorg) and Laurel Hitchcock (@laurelhitchcock), focusing on social isolation.
Social isolation is correlated with an array of negative health outcomes. It can happen at any age but is more common among older adults. Social isolation is a silent killer—as dangerous to health as smoking. According to a 2013 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study, social isolation was associated with a more than 25 percent likelihood of premature death.
Eradicating social isolation represents one of the 12 Grand Challenges for Social Work (GCSW) announced by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare earlier this year.
Our May 12th Twitter chat will discuss questions related to this critical issue such as:
- What are the health and other effects of social isolation?
- What are the most important risk factors for social isolation?
- What are innovative strategies for reducing social isolation and increasing social engagement?
- What is the role of social work in reducing social isolation?
Further reading on Social Isolation
- Social Isolation Presents a Grand Challenge for Social Work (AASWSW, 2015)
http://aaswsw.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/WP7-with-cover.pdf - The Dangers of Social Isolation (Wired, 2013) http://www.wired.com/2013/03/social-isolation/
- Social Isolation quiz (AARP Foundation, 2014): http://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/our-work/isolation/info-2012/loneliness-quiz.html?intcmp=AE-FOU-RELBOX
- Social Disconnectedness, Perceived Isolation, and Health among Older Adults (NIH, 2009) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2756979/
Learn More about the Grand Challenges for Social Work
You can read more about the Grand Challenges and join the initiative at: http://aaswsw.org/grand-challenges-initiative/.
You can also read the blog posts from previous GSCW-themed Twitter chats on:
- Smart decarceration (https://macrosw.com/2016/04/08/macrosw-chat-4-14-16-smart-decarceration-a-grand-challenge-for-social-work/);
- Mental health (https://macrosw.com/2016/03/09/march-10th-chat-on-ensuring-healthy-development-for-youth/);
- Technology for social good (https://macrosw.com/2016/02/08/lets-chat-on-211-about-leveraging-technology-for-social-good/); and
- Financial capability (https://macrosw.com/2016/01/14/macrosw-1-14-2016-social-work-grand-challenge-financial-capability-and-asset-building-for-all/)
About #MacroSW:
#MacroSW is a collaboration of social workers, organizations, social work schools, and individuals working to promote macro social work practice. Macro social work practice focuses on changing larger systems, such as communities and organizations. It encompasses a broad spectrum of actions and ideas, ranging from community organizing and education to legislative advocacy and policy analysis. The chats are held weekly on Twitter every Thursday at 9 p.m. EST (6 p.m. PST). Click here for a list of chat partners. For information about how to participate in the #MacroSW chat, view our FAQs. For chat schedule and chat archives check out: http://macrosw.com
