Healthcare and supportive care provider Samaritan announced that it will host its inaugural Social Connections Conference on Dec. 10.
The half-day symposium will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation campus, located at 50 College Road East in Princeton. The event will convene community organizations, service agencies, researchers, and public policy experts to address the growing public health impacts of social isolation and loneliness across New Jersey.
The conference comes as healthcare providers place increasing emphasis on social determinants of health, particularly among older adults, individuals managing serious illnesses, and family caregivers.
“Social isolation and loneliness can have tremendous, adverse impacts on an individual’s mental and physical health. Samaritan welcomes leaders, advocates, and individuals throughout the state to attend our inaugural Social Connections Conference as an opportunity to spur broader discussion, encourage networking, and explore innovative ways to address these issues for better health outcomes. Moments of connection truly matter,” Mary Ann Boccolini, Interim President and CEO, Samaritan, said.
Kaylee McGuire, MBA, Deputy Commissioner for Aging and Disability Services for the New Jersey Department of Human Services, will deliver the keynote address. The conference schedule also includes panel discussions, dedicated networking sessions, and specialized breakout workshops.
The event program offers continuing education units (CEUs) for multiple professional disciplines, including social workers, nurses, physicians, and pharmacists.
Breakout sessions and facilitated discussions will focus on five key tracks:
- Lived Experience: Understanding the personal impacts of loneliness, isolation, and belonging.
- Community-Based Solutions: Real-world models and actionable frameworks to reduce isolation.
- Supportive Environments: Preventing isolation within affordable housing and expanding access to nature and respite in underserved communities.
- Lifespan Support: Collaborative interventions addressing cognitive impairment, mental health challenges, and suicide prevention.
- Cross-Sector Innovation: Turning clinical and social insights into community-level programs.
The event is supported by the Social Isolation, Loneliness and Connection Collaborative (SILCC), a statewide coalition of major health systems and more than 40 nonprofit organizations convened by Samaritan in 2024 to combat social isolation.
Early bird registration is available for $59 per person through Nov. 25, after which general admission tickets will be $79. Discounted tickets for students and caregivers are priced at $39. All proceeds from the conference will directly fund Samaritan’s patient care and family support programs across South Jersey.
Sponsorship opportunities remain open through Nov. 20. Registration and event information are available online through Samaritan’s event portal or by contacting project coordinator Erika Thomas.
