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As political polarization, voter fatigue, and public distrust in institutions continue to shape the national conversation, @uconnsocialwork`s Shannon Lane believes one message is more important than ever: democracy only works when people participate. 🗳️🏛️📥☑️🇺🇸

Lane, director of the Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work at the UConn School of Social Work, recently shared that message during an appearance on Democracy Does: The Civic Power Playbook, a podcast hosted by journalist Robin N. Hamilton that explores how public policy affects everyday life and what citizens can do to become more engaged in their communities. 📥☑️🇺🇸

Read more in this UConn Today article: https://today.uconn.edu/2026/06/lane-discusses-civic-engagement-voting-rights-power-of-community-on-national-podcast/

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📚 New research by @uconnsocialwork Assistant Professor Rupal Parekh examines advance care planning among “solo agers” — older adults who may not have family or close friends available to make decisions for them if they become incapacitated. 👴

The study, published in the May 2026 issue of Educational Gerontology, found that older adults who were older and more highly educated were more likely to complete advance care planning documents. At the same time, many participants expressed hesitation about planning for future care because of uncertainty about the process, financial concerns, and discomfort discussing end-of-life decisions.

The findings highlight the need for targeted education, support, and policy solutions to help solo agers prepare for future health and care needs.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03601277.2026.2663334

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UConn School of Social Work @uconnsocialwork offers a fully-online, affordable MSW program. We award more than $1 million in scholarships each year and are committed to providing transparency when it comes to cost and can help you navigate financial barriers.

Application Deadline: July 1, 2026

https://socialwork.uconn.edu/masters-social-work/apply-msw/ ...

Are you planning on attending the 2026 National Association of Social Workers Conference? Be sure to join @uconnsocialwork’s Milagros Marrero-Johnson, MSW, senior director of strategic initiatives and community engagement at the Closing Plenary Session, starting at 10:15 a.m. June 13.

Milagros will be speaking on “Defending Equity and Inclusion: Social Work’s Role in Advancing Anti-Racism, Collective Liberation, and Justice-Centered Leadership.”

The 2026 NASW National Conference — Beyond the Breaking Point: Connection Through Purpose and Power — brings thousands of social workers, clinicians, advocates, and thought leaders together in Washington, DC.

https://www.socialworkers.org/Events/NASW-Conferences

#NASW2026 #UConnSSW ...

The @uconnsocialwork Doctoral Fellowship Awards Committee recently announced seven winners of doctoral program internal awards. This year, the committee awarded $32,500 across five funding programs.

These students are researching how asylum law shapes LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, influences on adolescents with uncertain cancer prognoses, juvenile justice policy reform, social service interventions for survivors of child labor in Zambia, cigarette dependence and among gender minority emerging adults, and more.

“This was one of the most competitive cycles we have seen in the history of the doctoral program, with 14 applications received,” says committee member Cristina Mogro-Wilson, Zachs Endowed Professor, director, Ph.D. Program, School of Social Work.

Learn more about the winners and their projects: https://today.uconn.edu/2026/06/7-school-of-social-work-doctoral-students-awarded/ ...