For All Ages Inc

CT HIGHER EDUCATION TASK FORCE TO IMPROVE STUDENT SOCIAL AND MENTAL HEALTH - FOR ALL AGES WILL CONVENE AND LEAD A STATEWIDE HIGHER EDUCATION TASK FORCE TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS, REDUCE LONELINESS, AND SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS AT CONNECTICUT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, PRIMARILY AGES 18–24. THE TASK FORCE WILL ENGAGE COUNSELING PROFESSIONALS, STUDENT AFFAIRS LEADERS, AND OTHER HIGHER EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY EVIDENCE-BASED AND EVIDENCE-INFORMED PROGRAMS, PRACTICES, AND STRATEGIES; DEVELOP AND PILOT PROMISING APPROACHES; AND SHARE LESSONS LEARNED FOR BROADER ADOPTION. THE INITIATIVE WILL FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK FOR LONELINESS, SOCIAL ISOLATION, STRESS, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND RELATED CONCERNS BY STRENGTHENING BELONGING, ENGAGEMENT, AND SOCIAL CONNECTION WHILE COMPLEMENTING EXISTING COUNSELING, CRISIS RESPONSE, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS WILL IMPLEMENT SELECTED PILOT ACTIVITIES, AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS DIRECTLY ENGAGED WILL DEPEND ON THE PILOTS CHOSEN. FOR ALL AGES WILL ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE NETWORK FOR COLLABORATION AND SHARED LEARNING, PRODUCE AN INVENTORY OF PROMISING APPROACHES, FACILITATE PILOT IMPLEMENTATION, AND COLLECT, ANALYZE, AND DISSEMINATE IMPLEMENTATION FEEDBACK AND OUTCOME INFORMATION ACROSS CONNECTICUT’S HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM.