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Let’s Plant the Seeds of Change
Our Framework for a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection calls for action essential to our nation's health, safety, and prosperity. Individuals and organizations can use this framework to address the public health problem of social disconnection and strengthen social connection.
Key stakeholders: Everyone
Social infrastructure refers to the programs (such as those provided by volunteer organizations, sports groups, religious groups, and member associations), policies (like public transportation, housing and education policies), and physical elements of a community (such as libraries, parks, green spaces, and playgrounds) that support the development of social connection.
Here are three key ways individuals, organizations, and governments can work together to strengthen social infrastructure in local communities:
- Design the built environment to promote social connection
- Establish and scale community connection programs
- Invest in local institutions that bring people together
Key stakeholders: Governments
Policy makers understand that while the effects of social connection may be most evident for health, the drivers of connection and disconnection can be found in all types of policies, from transportation and zoning to nutrition and labor. Here are three key ways that national, state, local, and tribal governments can strengthen social connection and community across all sectors:
- Adopt a “Connection-In-All-Policies” approach
- Advance policies that minimize harm from disconnection
- Establish cross-departmental leadership at all levels of government
Key stakeholders: Healthcare systems, public health professionals
It’s critical that we invest in healthcare provider education on the physical and mental health benefits of social connection and the risks associated with social disconnection. We must also create systems that enable health care providers to educate patients and respond to their health-relevant needs. Here are three key ways that healthcare systems can support and advance social connection:
- Train health care providers
- Screen and support patients
- Expand public health surveillance and interventions
Key stakeholders: Governments, technology companies, researchers, media & entertainment companies
We must decide how technology is designed and how we use it. There are many ways to minimize harms. Here are three key ways that governments and technology companies can work together to reform digital environments to foster positive social connection:
- Require data transparency
- Establish and implement safety standards
- Support development of pro-connection technologies
Key stakeholders: Governments, researchers, philanthropists
Deepening our knowledge of social connection and disconnection requires us to further refine and expand our capacity to measure these states via agreed upon standardized metrics. Here are three key ways that governments and researchers can work together to broaden public awareness and education of the drivers and solutions of connection and disconnection:
- Develop and coordinate a national research agenda
- Accelerate research funding
- Increase public awareness
Key stakeholders: Everyone
A culture of connection is vital to creating the changes needed in society. While formal programs and policies can be impactful, the informal practices of everyday life – the norms and culture of how we engage one another – significantly influence social connection. Here are three key ways individuals, organizations, and governments can work together to cultivate a culture of connection:
- Cultivate values of kindness, respect, service, and commitment to one another
- Model connection values in positions of leadership and influence
- Expand conversations on social connection in schools, workplaces, and communities
This list is not comprehensive, nor does including or linking to any specific resource or example indicate endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the Office of the Surgeon General. Rather, these examples and resources are intended to share tools and information that may be helpful in implementing the recommendations contained in the Advisory.

Individuals
Resources
- toolkit
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The National Institutes of Health provides 6 strategies for improving your social health. These strategies include related articles and recommended actions.
- directory
VolunteerMatch
VolunteerMatch provides a directory that allows you to search for local volunteering opportunities that are both in-person or virtual, ongoing or one-off, and span across different interest areas.
- program
AARP Foundation
The AARP Foundation’s Connect2Affect platform provides a network of resources that meets the needs of anyone who is isolated or lonely and helps build the social connections older adults need to thrive.
- directory
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
CDC’s “How Right Now” platform provides a directory of resources for people experiencing loneliness.

Parents & Caregivers
Resources
- tips
Foster Club
A free tool to support permanency for youth in foster care.
- toolkit
Trying Together
The Family Engagement Toolkit helps parents and caregivers strengthen the relationships that best nourish children’s healthy learning and development.
- toolkit
Center for the Study of Social Policy
An overview of protective and promotive factors that strengthen families with actionable tips on how to implement each one.
- directory
Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
A directory to help you find Head Start programs in your community.

Community-Based Organizations
Resources
- toolkit
Children’s Trust Fund Alliance
Building Healthy Communities provides strategies, tools, and resources to help communities ensure that families are engaged and supported.
- publication
Center for the Study of Social Policy
Report and analysis of meaningful resident engagement and leadership.
- toolkit
Center for Inclusion and Belonging
A guide to building meaningful connections between groups in the community.
- toolkit
Ending Loneliness Together
Guide for community organizations to measure loneliness and evaluate programs designed to reduce loneliness.

Schools & Education Departments
Resources
- toolkit
Trying Together
This toolkit supports caregivers in bolstering their family engagement practices.
- publication
Foundation for Social Connection
This report provides evidence-based interventions, identifies gaps in research, and explores opportunities to advance social connection in the education sector through programs and policies.
- tips
Marmalade Trust
The Marmalade Trust provides a lesson plan to teach students about loneliness.
- program
Beyond Differences
Beyond Differences provides a curriculum for teachers to teach empathy and social connection.

Workplaces
Resources
- directory
Health and Human Services (HHS)
The Surgeon General’s resource library provides a collection of resources to promote workplace well-being.
- tips
HERO
These case studies and recommendations summarize best practices in employer mental health and well-being.
- tips
Foundation for Social Connection
This guide provides tactical approaches for business leaders to advance social connection through work.
- tips
Forbes
This article lists case studies and action oriented recommendations to promote social connection in the workplace.

Health Workers, Systems, & Insurers
Resources
- publication
State Health and Value Strategies
This brief provides research, recommendations and case studies for insurers to account for social connection in their payment and quality policies.
- toolkit
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
This toolkit was developed by the NIH to help older adults and caregivers stay connected.
- toolkit
World Health Organization (WHO)
This toolkit provides resources to connect patients to a range of non-clinical services in the community to improve their health and well-being.
- toolkit
Center for Study of Social Policy
These recommendations provide resources and practices in pediatric care to promote healthy social and emotional development of children.

Public Health Professionals
Resources
- tips
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
The CDC outlines strategies and interventions for Native American and Alaska Native communities to improve connection and build resilience.
- directory
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
This directory lists all 20 state health departments and other organizations working to reduce social isolation and loneliness through policies, systems, and environmental changes.
- program
Far from Alone
Far from Alone collaborates with partners in a campaign that drives awareness, action, and advocacy to increase social connectedness.

Governments
Resources
- tips
Center for the Study of Social Policy
The Center for the Study of Social Policy provides examples of “connection-in-all-policies” approaches that allow young adults to meet their basic needs and enable them to participate more fully in their communities.
- toolkit
Nurture Connection
This brief highlights opportunities to promote early relational health through policy change and investments.
- toolkit
Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness
The coalition provides policy recommendations to address social isolation amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and for the long-term impacts of social isolation and loneliness.
- toolkit
Healthy Places by Design
Healthy Places by Designs outlines policy recommendations for more socially connected communities and provides case studies of successful policies that have been shown to reduce social isolation.

Media & Entertainment
Resources
- video
The Foundation for Art and Healing - Project UnLonely
A collection of 35 powerful short films that bring diverse perspectives on loneliness as a step towards connection."

Technology Companies
Resources
- video
No Wrong Door Virginia
This video depicts an innovative solution developed to engage people in virtual conversations and explores how resources and technology can help to improve social health.
- publication
Innovation in Aging
This study reports findings from an intervention called Talking Tech, designed to reduce loneliness and social isolation in homebound older adults through the use of technology.
- digital app
Wisdo Health
This site aims to provide a peer support network for users to connect with others over shared experiences.

Researchers
Resources
- directory
World Health Organization (WHO)
This directory is an evidence and gap map of digital interventions for reducing social isolation and loneliness in older adults.
- assessment
National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine
This chapter examines the use of measurement tools related to social isolation and loneliness in research settings and explores the use of information technology to identify individuals at risk for social isolation and loneliness.
- publication
Keck School of Medicine of USC
This article outlines the benefits of ride sharing in reducing social isolation amongst older adults and recommends use of economic modeling to assess cost-benefits of networked transportation for older adults.
- directory
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
This website highlights funding sources for researchers working on biophysical social factors of social connection.

Philanthropy Groups
Resources
- tips
The Vermont Community Foundation
The Vermont Community Foundations provides three solutions and actions on how philanthropy organizations can reduce social isolation and loneliness.
- toolkit
RRF Foundation for Aging
The plan outlines 4 priorities for grant making, one of which is strengthening social bonds through efforts that promote meaningful social connections.
- program
Social Health Lab
Social Health Lab invests in social connection through providing grants to community projects that aim to improve connection.
- program
Nurture Connection
This platform promotes investments in strong, positive, and nurturing early relationships to build healthier, more connected communities.