Social Prescribing USA & University of Michigan Institute for Social Prescribing present
Connected for Health
The Inaugural U.S. Social Prescribing Conference
March 24–26, 2027 • Ann Arbor, MI
Social Prescribing USA, in partnership with the University of Michigan Institute for Social Prescribing invites colleagues in research, implementation, public policy, and other affiliated areas of interest to convene at the inaugural Connected for Health Conference.
The conference is a place to share ideas, models, findings, and to explore ways to expand social prescribing, especially throughout the U.S. Varied programming will be offered—including panels, workshops, interactive sessions, talks, and small-group discussions—so participants can share expertise, build skills, and form coalitions to advance social prescribing worldwide.
This gathering will be the first public social prescribing conference of its kind in the United States.
-
This broad interdisciplinary convening will benefit from contributions by:
health professionals
researchers
program managers
community-based organizations
practitioners (artists, creative professionals)
health organizations and insurers
philanthropists involved in all aspects of social prescribing for people of all ages
All are encouraged to attend.
-
Strengthen networks and leadership within the field.
Build cross-sector relationships among health professionals, implementers, researchers, community leaders, and other key groups and to celebrate champions advancing the field.Showcase evidence, innovation, and expansion opportunities.
Highlight research on the health impacts of arts, nature, civic engagement, and other forms of social connection while critically exploring the opportunities to expand social prescribing through referrals from a range of health settings and health care professionals.Mobilize resources and catalyze collective action.
Examine opportunities and challenges for expanding social prescribing throughout the U.S., and to build additional momentum for the field.Advance the U.S. social prescribing field through global learning.
Connect U.S. and international practitioners and researchers to exchange evidence, best practices, practical tools, and lessons from established social prescribing initiatives. -
Social connection
Mental health
Research & evaluation
Implementation & practice areas (arts, nature, movement, and service)
Public health
Social determinants of health
Technology & innovation
Health across the lifespan (concentrating on youth, emerging adults, and older adults)
-
We expect registration availability to open around November 15, 2026. Stay tuned for updates!
Sign Up: Please fill out this brief (3-question) conference interest form to receive the first updates about the conference.
-
Several hotels are within walking distance of the conference. Information on accommodations and suggested hotels will be provided soon.
Nearest International Airport:
Detroit Metropolitan (DTW), a 20-minute drive to Ann Arbor. -
The conference is being held at the conclusion of the 25th annual Mental Health on College Campuses Conference, and will require separate registration.
Attendees interested in both conferences will receive a discounted registration rate.
-
Please e-mail us at SocialPrescribingConference2027@umich.edu
Social prescribing is a powerful non-clinical complement for human health that creates community connections—through referrals to activities focused on the arts, nature, and other social pursuits—that enhances the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of people of all ages. Research increasingly underscores the effectiveness of social prescribing, which is now growing rapidly around the globe.
Connected for Health
Call for Presentations
The program committee invites proposals for presentations. We hope to feature a broad variety of voices, including researchers and practitioners, exploring the implementation and impact of non-clinical activities (particularly in the arts, nature, social connection, and civic involvement/service) on human health and well-being. We are planning sessions including reports on current programs and research findings, lightning talks on research in progress, and workshops on particular programs or protocols that will contribute to the base of knowledge on social prescribing in the U.S. and around the World.
-
The conference is open to all, including researchers, scholars, implementers, program facilitators, practitioners (artists or creative professionals), civic, institutional, and community leaders, and policymakers, social workers, public health workers and other health professionals who are either implementing social prescribing or considering its importance in their practice.
-
We are seeking proposals that creatively explore the following questions:
What does the evidence tell us about the health impacts of non-clinical activities, such as arts, nature, movement, and social connection — and where are the gaps?
How can social prescribing be effectively implemented across a range of health care and community settings, specifically in the U.S.?
What partnerships across health systems, community organizations, educational and other civic institutions, government, and philanthropy are needed to expand social prescribing at scale?
What can the U.S. field learn from established international social prescribing models, practices, and practitioners?
Topics of Interest:
Research and assessment of social prescribing programs that are focused on measuring outcomes (short and long term)
The role of the link worker in U.S. healthcare
Evidence, tools, and programs that inspire healthcare professionals and those in their care to engage in social prescribing
Scaling social prescribing work to build pilot efforts into durable and sustained programs
Integrating all facets of social prescribing (campus-based, hospital-based, state-based)
Population health for specific phases of life (youth, students, workers, elders)
Social prescribing programs that utilize art, nature, volunteer service, sports/movement, food and culture
Digital tools that support social needs screening and referral procedures for social prescribing
Community-led approaches and social infrastructure in support of social prescribing
Indigenous and ethnocultural approaches to “culture as medicine”
Health equity-based, antiracist, and/or disability justice approaches to SP programs, considerations for SP among marginalized populations
International projects that will provide context for United States social prescribing practitioners
-
Presentations (60 min.)
45-minute presentations plus 15 minutes of discussion. Introducing a program, experiential activity, evidence-based practice or research study related to social prescribing.Lightning talks (15 min.)
10-minute presentations with an additional 5 minutes of Q&A. Designed to share key insights, innovative ideas, research projects, or research findings in a concise and engaging format.Workshops (90 min.)
Audience is led through a process to advance their own research or implementation goals, using new tools, concepts, ideas, or approaches.Posters
Share a poster summarizing a research study or program related to social prescribing, to be highlighted during a poster session. Each presenter will have an easel and a 30x40" poster board for mounting their poster. -
Strengthen networks and leadership within the field.
Build cross-sector relationships among health professionals, implementers, researchers, community leaders, and other key groups and to celebrate champions advancing the field.Showcase evidence, innovation, and expansion opportunities.
Highlight research on the health impacts of arts, nature, civic engagement, and other forms of social connection while critically exploring the opportunities to expand social prescribing through referrals from a range of health settings and health care professionals.Mobilize resources and catalyze collective action.
Examine opportunities and challenges for expanding social prescribing throughout the U.S., and to build additional momentum for the field.Advance the U.S. social prescribing field through global learning.
Connect U.S. and international practitioners and researchers to exchange evidence, best practices, practical tools, and lessons from established social prescribing initiatives. -
Submit applications online by October 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT. *
If you have more than one presenter, the lead presenter should submit the proposal for the entire group, including all co-presenters.
The application should include a summary of your presentation in 350 words or fewer.
Your summary must contain:An overview of the presentation content and format
Clearly defined learning objectives
Your intended audience
A list of all speakers and brief biographies for each
Disclosure of AI in the creation of any part of the proposal
*You may be asked to create an account on Sched, our conference software provider, to submit your proposal.
-
Proposals will be reviewed by the selection committee and evaluated against specific criteria, including relevance to the theme and presenters' expertise. Our goal is that all applicants will be notified of their proposal status by December 15, 2026.
Speakers are responsible for their own registration, airfare, hotel, and ground transportation expenses.
-
If you have any questions regarding proposal submission or the conference, please contact us at SocialPrescribingConference2027@umich.edu. We'll get back to you as soon as possible!
©2026 The Regents of the University of Michigan