ODL 337: Beyond Isolation – The Science of Social Connection and Scalable Solutions for Ending the Loneliness Epidemic

1 CREDIT HOUR APPROVED FOR:

Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 1 General CE Credit
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 1 Contact Hour
Counselors
NBCC ACEP – 1 Contact Hour
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 1 Contact Hour
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 1 Contact Hour
Case Managers
CCMC – 1 Contact Hour

Please make sure to check with your own state board to ensure the transferability of CE credit for an asynchronous course. Some state boards may place restrictions regarding the modality of training required for ethics credits to be awarded. If this training indicates ethics credits are available, please verify that your state allows them to be earned through an on-demand course format.

Created On: 4/25/25

Target Audience:

This course is targeted for social workers, counselors, nurses and case managers.

Overview:

Loneliness is more than just a feeling—it has profound impacts on whole health, comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Understanding the mechanisms of loneliness and effective interventions is crucial for improving client well-being. This session will explore the latest research on loneliness, its effects, and how we can help others foster meaningful social connections. We will also discuss scalable solutions, including peer support, technology-driven interventions, and innovative community-based approaches that professionals can integrate into their practice.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participant will be able to:

• Analyze the science of loneliness and its impact on whole health
• Evaluate different modern interventions that help combat loneliness
• Identify practical strategies to help clients build meaningful social connections using virtual tools

Presenter:

Weston Ballard, MBA, Founder and CEO of Goldie

Weston Ballard is the founder and CEO of Goldie, a mental health platform leveraging AI to deliver personalized group support for family caregivers across America. Prior to launching Goldie, Weston served as a research fellow with the Stanford Center on Longevity’s New Map of Life initiative, where he examined how social connections evolve with age and advanced public-private strategies to address the loneliness epidemic. Weston received his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and was honored with the Miller Social Change Leadership Award for his work in longevity and social innovation.

His leadership experience spans roles as a partner at Prufrock Ventures, an engagement leader in Deloitte Consulting’s applied innovation practice, and a board member at The Center on Colfax, the largest LGBTQ+ community center in the Rockies. Weston now joins the Stanford Center on Longevity advisory council, bringing a proven record of mission-driven innovation and a commitment to fostering healthier, social capital-rich communities.