Step-Up Connections
Connecting and Protecting Our Aging Communities
The Mattering Lab
Practicum Opportunity
The Mattering Lab is dedicated to strengthening social connection, fostering a sense of belonging, and improving well-being among older adults and other vulnerable community members. Through social calling programs, community partnerships, and applied research, the lab works to address social isolation while creating meaningful opportunities for students to engage in real-world public health and aging-related initiatives. Practicum students play an active role in supporting research, program development, volunteer engagement, and community outreach efforts, gaining hands-on experience while contributing to projects that make a meaningful impact.
What are tasks practicum students can help with?
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Conducting literature reviews and evidence summaries
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Supporting program evaluation and data collection activities
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Assisting with data entry, cleaning, and basic analysis
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Developing reports, presentations, and research materials
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Creating educational and training resources
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Supporting volunteer recruitment, onboarding, and engagement efforts
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Managing and updating program documentation
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Assisting with social calling program operations and outreach activities
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Participating in community engagement and partnership initiatives
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Contributing to quality improvement and process development projects
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Attending team meetings and collaborative project discussions
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Completing independent and team-based public health projects
Past Practicum Students
"During my practicum with the UTHealth Institute on Aging, I supported the Step-Up Connections program by redesigning its Wix Resource Locator to make community services easier and more accessible for older adults, caregivers, and families. I also developed a student outcomes evaluation plan using qualitative coding and a human-supervised AI-assisted analysis process to examine growth in empathy, communication, active listening, and preparedness to work with older adults. Direct social connection calls with an older adult participant helped keep my work grounded in the real needs and experiences of the community." - Briana Vesalquez, Summer 2026
"During my practicum with the UTHealth Institute on Aging, I contributed to the Step Up Connections program through the development of caller resources and training materials. I helped redevelop and integrate an online Resource Locator to connect older adults with community services and conducted a narrative literature review examining rural and urban differences in social isolation and implications for culturally responsive communication in social connection interventions." - Cora McNeese, Summer 2026
Interested in joining?
In order to participate, you must be enrolled as a student with the University of Texas Health Science Center. Practicum positions open up a few months before every semester. Reach out to Jordan at jordan.broussard@uth.tmc.edu for more information on practicum details, application deadlines, and process for applying.