Staying Close from a Distance: Strengthening Social Support Amid COVID-19

Join special trainings offered by CSSW faculty as part of their COVID-19 ACTION initiative; open to the School of Social Work’s community.

CEs available. See registration page for more information

About the Approach

Psychoeducational models draw on an evidence-based approach and can be adapted for multiple settings and populations. The approach can be tailored to fit specific circumstances and focuses on a learning exchange between facilitator and participant. It is strengths-based and attends to coping, stress management, increased insight, grief and loss, social support, and personal and community advocacy, while maintaining a social justice and anti-oppressive perspective.

About the Session

Led by CSSW professor Susan Witte (bio) and NYU assistant professor Carolina Vélez-Grau (bio), this session is designed to examine social support—an exchange of assistance through social relationships— in its many forms, and as it has become at once compromised, yet more important than ever amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We will examine the impact that the pandemic has had on our ability to connect socially and the consequences of this impact; and explore how we may help individuals, families, and communities to maintain, restore and strengthen social networks as we adapt to new social norms with resilience.

Subsequent sessions will use a psychoeducational and anti-oppressive lens to address issues related to grief and loss, social support, sleep, interpersonal violence, and stigma as related to the current and ongoing crisis.