The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University

10/19/2026

The Heller School is proud to be a part of the School of Social Sciences and Social Policy at Brandeis University. Our top-ranked graduate programs are preparing the next generation of changemakers to lead with evidence-based knowledge, inspired by social justice.🎓

Brandeis offers rigorous programs through four schools, combining the strengths of a liberal arts education with professional preparation at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

10/15/2026

Next Wednesday, October 21: Join the Lurie Institute for the third session of their virtual convening, “Ensuring the Future of Direct Care Supports for People with Disabilities: Combating the Workforce Crisis.” During the event, Professor Daivd Weil and fellow expert speakers will discuss the topic “Big-Picture Solutions and Cross-Sector Strategies.”

Learn more about the series and register for session 3 here: TinyURL.com/DCWconvening

Meet the speakers for Session 3, ‘Big-Picture Solutions and Cross-Sector Strategies,’ of our upcoming Virtual Convening, 'Ensuring the Future of Direct Care Supports for People with Disabilities: Combating the Workforce Crisis!'

Moderators 💬
Serena Lowe: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, AnereS Strategies
Syd Pickern: Project Manager, Community Living Policy Center, The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy

Panelists 🎤
David Weil: Samuel F. and Rose B. Gingold Chair in Human Development and Economics, Brandeis University
Lisa Harootunian: Managing Director, Health Policy Program, Bipartisan Policy Center
Jake McDonald: Senior Policy Advocacy Specialist, PHI
Maura Porcelli: Senior Director of Workforce, National Council on Aging
Sue Swenson: President, INCLUSION INTERNATIONAL

Learn more about the series and register for this session happening on 10/21/26 from 1-2:30: TinyURL.com/DCWconvening

About the session:
This session will explore strategies to expand and diversify the direct care workforce, including engaging early and younger retirees, as well as recent graduates, and exploring public/private partnerships in which vocational programs and community colleges serve as pipelines into direct support professional (DSP) roles. The session will include an overview of potential immigration programs designed to recruit and retain DSPs and other caregivers and explore technology-enabled strategies to strengthen recruitment, retention, and job quality in the direct care workforce.

Accessibility:
We will have live American Sign Language interpretation and closed captions. For any other accommodations, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.
The webinar will be recorded and made available on our website and YouTube channel following the webinar.

This series is produced by the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University, in partnership with the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center, and with support from the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation.

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Image description: Logos for the Nancy Lurie Marks Foundation, The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University’s Heller School, and the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center. Icons for ASL and closed captioning are visible indicating it will be available during the webinar.


The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University

10/14/2026

The Institute on Healthcare Systems at Heller recently introduced the US and Massachusetts Social and Health Policy Datasets, resources generated through projects led by Professor Rajan Sonik at the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy and Research. Explore the datasets to access free, publicly available data on policy and empirical indicators across public health, health care delivery, social welfare, and economics from 2019–2025 here. ⬇

To download the datasets, please submit the Download Request Form. If you have questions, please email [email protected]. 

10/09/2026

Next Wednesday, October 14: Join the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University for the second session of their virtual convening, “Ensuring the Future of Direct Care Supports for People with Disabilities: Combating the Workforce Crisis.” During the event, expert speakers will discuss the topic “Supporting People with IDD and Family Caregivers—Challenges and Opportunities.”

Learn more about the series and register for session 2 here: TinyURL.com/DCWconvening

Meet the speakers for Session 2, 'Supporting People with IDD and Family Caregivers—Challenges and Opportunities,' of our upcoming Virtual Convening, 'Ensuring the Future of Direct Care Supports for People with Disabilities: Combating the Workforce Crisis!'

Moderators 💬
Kris Foss: Director of Direct Support Workforce Solutions, Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota
Teresa Nguyen: Director, Community Living Equity Center, The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy

Panelists 🎤
Molly Morris: Executive Director, The Self-Direction Center
Marvell Adams: Chief Executive Officer, Caregiver Action Network
Joe MacBeth: Chief Executive Officer and President, National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals - NADSP
Greg Johnson: DSP Paid Family Caregiver
Jeff Keilson: Senior Vice President of Innovation and Partnerships, Advocates, Inc.

Learn more about the series and register for the session happening on 10/14/26 from 1-2:30: TinyURL.com/DCWconvening

About the session:
This session will focus on persistent training gaps among direct support professionals (DSPs), as well as innovative approaches to workforce development, including tiered credentialing and payment structures linked to advanced training, alongside strategies to better support family caregivers.

Accessibility:
We will have live American Sign Language interpretation and closed captions. For any other accommodations, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.
The webinar will be recorded and made available on our website and YouTube channel following the webinar.

This series is produced by the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University, in partnership with the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center, and with support from the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation.


The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University Brandeis University Administration for Community Living

10/08/2026

Heller faculty and Center for Global Development and Sustainability researchers Joseph Assan and Rajesh Sampath will be presenting at the upcoming International Development Ethics Association (IDEA) conference on October 15-16. Kennedy Messado, MA GSPM’26, and Rowena Sandy, a student in the MA Global Sustainability Program Management program, will also share insights at the event, which will take place in Martinique and online. This year’s conference will explore the critical ethical challenges and dilemmas of development in insular territories, with particular attention to how organizations and development projects shape sustainable, resilient responses.

Learn more about IDEA 2026 here ⬇

10/06/2026

Improving Equity and Person-Centered Care for Older Adults with Serious Illness 🎓

As an immigrant from Japan and first-generation college student, Masami Tabata-Kelly, PhD’26, chose the Heller PhD program for the school’s core value of knowledge advancing social justice. Read Masami’s alumni profile to learn more about her dissertation research on aging and palliative care, her current role in the Lindvall Lab in Supportive Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and how training for a marathon paralleled her experience in the Heller PhD program. ⬇

I grew up in Japan and came to the United States as an undergraduate to attend college in California. I got really sick when I first arrived. At the time, I didn’t speak English very well or have health insurance, so I learned firsthand how difficult it can be to access adequate health care. It wa...

10/01/2026

Next Tuesday, October 7: Join the Lurie Institute for the first session of their virtual convening, “Ensuring the Future of Direct Care Supports for People with Disabilities: Combating the Workforce Crisis.” During the event, expert speakers will discuss the topic “State-Level Innovations to Address the Direct Care Workforce Crisis.”

Learn more about the series and register for Session 1 here: TinyURL.com/DCWconvening

Meet the speakers for Session 1, ‘State-Level Innovations to Address the Direct Care Workforce Crisis,’ of our upcoming Virtual Convening, 'Ensuring the Future of Direct Care Supports for People with Disabilities: Combating the Workforce Crisis!'

Moderators 💬
Joe Caldwell: Director of the Community Living Policy Center at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy
Nicole Howell: Director of Direct Care Workforce Development at the National Council on Aging

Panelists 🎤
Alison Giannini: Aging Services Branch Chief, California Department of Developmental Services
Jaime Spencer: Director of Workforce Initiatives, Maine DHHS, Office of Aging and Disability Services
Susan Brooks: Chief Innovation Officer, RCM of Washington Inc
Megan McKinney Todd: Executive Director, GoodLife University
Alison Pingelski: Associate Commissioner, Division of Administration, New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
John Barbuto: Executive Deputy Commissioner, New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities

Learn more about the series and register for the session happening on 10/7/26 from 1-2:30: TinyURL.com/DCWconvening

About the session:
This session will provide an overview of state-led programs and technological innovations aimed at addressing workforce shortages.

Accessibility:
We will have live American Sign Language interpretation and closed captions. For any other accommodations, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.
The webinar will be recorded and made available on our website and YouTube channel following the webinar.

This series is produced by the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University, in partnership with the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center, and with support from the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation.

Image description: Logos for the Nancy Lurie Marks Foundation, The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University’s Heller School, and the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center. Icons for ASL and closed captioning are visible indicating it will be available during the webinar.



Brandeis University The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University Administration for Community Living

09/29/2026

This Thursday, October 1, the Eli J. & Phyllis N. Segal Citizen Leadership Program will be hosting a lunch panel and discussion on "Art as Social Justice: Celebrating The Power of Art Across The Segal Network and Brandeis" from 12:45-2:00 p.m. in the Zinner Forum and online.

Join us for a conversation about art as social justice as we celebrate the many ways art contributes to community building and social change across the Brandeis community, the Segal Citizen Leadership Program, and beyond. The event will include a panel discussion facilitated by Segal Fellow and IERE Research Communications Director Sylvia Stewart, MPP’18.

Register to attend in person or via Zoom here: https://brandeis.zoom.us/meeting/register/I1GfHX3LROiuKlgyE5Sz1w

09/24/2026

The SSSP community kicked off the semester with the fall launch of our Coffee with the Deans event series on September 9th. Students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Zinner Forum to connect with the community, enjoy seasonal snacks, and leave goals, wishes, and intentions for the new term on our semester harvest tree.

📆 Don’t forget to save the date for the next Coffee with the Deans on Tuesday, October 27, at 12:15 p.m.!

09/23/2026

Next Wednesday 🗓️ Students and alumni are invited to join the Alumni Club of Greater Boston for a special panel on careers in public service. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain clarity on career paths, understand the power of local government, and network with influential alumni.

Register to attend here: bit.ly/DeisPublicService

On Wednesday, September 30, the Alumni Club of Greater Boston will be hosting a special event highlighting alumni with careers in public service. The event will feature four alumni panelists, including Alexandra Pineros Shields, PhD’07, associate professor and director of the Master of Public Policy Program at Heller, a Q&A session, and time for networking with fellow alumni and current Brandeis students.

This is a great opportunity to return to campus as the fall season begins, and connect with Brandeisians of all ages! Register to attend here: bit.ly/DeisPublicService