Increased automation and longevity demand new thinking by employers and employees regarding productivity. Young people are increasingly disconnected from education or work and the labor force faces significant retirements in the next decades. Throughout the lifespan, fuller engagement in education and paid and unpaid productive activities can generate a wealth of benefits, including better health and well-being, greater financial security, and a more vital society.

• Join the Grand Challenges for Social Work

Network Co-Leads to Advance Long and Productive Lives: Guillermo Ernest Gonzales, Jaquelyn James, Christina Matz- Costa, Nancy Morrow-Howell, , and Michele Putnam.

 

Morrow-Howell, N., Gonzales, E., & Matz-Costa, C. (2016, September). Policy recommendations for meeting the Grand Challenge to Advance Long and Productive Lives (Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative Policy Brief No. 4). Cleveland, OH: American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare.

Policy Action Statement

“Advance long and productive lives.” Actions target expansion of paid family and medical leave.

Our Leadership Working Teams

Team Leaders

• Jacquelyn B. James (Boston College): Employment
• Christina Matz-Costa (Boston College): Volunteering
• Michelle Putnam (Simmons College): Care giving

Strategic Advisors

• Brian Lindberg (Gerontological Society of America)
• Linda Harootyan (Harootyan²)
• Bob Harootyan (Senior Service America)

Publications

Gonzales, E., Angel, J., Galea, S., Fredman, L., Marchiondo, L.A., Harootyan, R., Choi, J., Levine, N., Choudhury, N., Carolan, K., Lee, K., Butts, D., Tan, E., Yu, P., Shea, E., Matz-Costa, C., Morrow-Howell, N. (forthcoming). Integrating health equity and productive aging perspectives to guideefforts to improve health of an aging population. American Journal of Public Health.

Gonzales, E., Butts, D., Harootyan, R., Tan, E., Yu, P., Shea, E., Angel, J., Fredman, L., Galea, S., marchiondo, L.A., Choi, J., Levine, N., Choudhury, N., Carolan, K., Lee, K., Keefe, B., Matz-Costa, C., Morrow-Howell, N. (forthcoming). Charting an agenda for a healthy and productive aging society. American Journal of Public Health.

Halvorsen, C.J. (2017). Self-employment in later life: Implications for financial, physical, and mental well-being. Boston, MA: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

Morrow-Howell, N., Gonzales, E., Harootyan, B., Lee, Y. J. & Lindberg, B. (2016). Approaches, Policies, and Practices to Support the Productive Engagement of Older Adults. Journal of Gerontological Social Work.

 

Upcoming Symposiums & Abstracts

Matz-Costa, C., Morrow-Howell, N., Pitt-Castouphes, M., & Gonzales, E. Equipping Social Workers to Promote a Social Development Response to Population Aging. Grand Challenges Teaching Institute, CSWE Annual Program Meeting, Dallas, TX, on October 19 at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel.

Gonzales, E. & Morrow-Howell, N. Affiliate Group Meeting: American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare’s Grand Challenge: Advancing Long, Healthy & Productive Lives. The 2017 IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics, San Francisco, CA on July 24 from 8 AM to 10 AM.

Gonzales, E. & Harootyan, B. Chairs. Raising Awareness about Health Equity, Productive Aging, and At-Risk Older Adults. Symposium presented at the International Association for Gerontology and Geriatrics, San Francisco, CA, on July 27, 2017 at 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM, location TBA

Wang, Y. Gonzales, E., Shen, H. & Perry, T. E. Does Volunteering Buffer Health During the Relocation Process? A Propensity Score Analysis. Paper presented at the International Association for Gerontology and Geriatrics, San Francisco, CA, on July 27, 2017 at 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM, location TBA.