Developed in partnership with our Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) of interdisciplinary experts.
Research indicates the severity of social disconnection, but we lack a roadmap to help individuals, communities, and society at large become more connected and less socially isolated and lonely. Our Systems Approach of Cross-sector Integration and Action across the Lifespan (SOCIAL) Framework facilitates and accelerates progress toward a society that values social connectedness across the lifespan and in all societal domains.
The SOCIAL Framework works to:
In a socially connected community:
• Children are taught social and emotional skills in schools;
• Individuals are employed by workplaces that support the connectedness of their employees;
• Daily systems that are integral to our lives such as food and transportation, and the environments and neighborhoods in which we live, are intentionally designed to foster social connection.
This is a result of society and policies reflecting the significance of connectedness for our collective health and wellbeing.
Review our research on each sector below
Clinical and population health provide touchpoints to identify individuals who are socially disconnected and provide them with the resources and support they need.
Our experiences in early educational settings influence the development of our social skills and feelings of belonging. These experiences shape our abilities to form meaningful social connections throughout our entire lives.
American adults spend on average a third of their lives at work. Since we spend so much time at work, there are key opportunities for social connection.
Research highlights the critical role of well-designed, intentional, and inclusive spaces in addressing social isolation, loneliness, and connection. By prioritizing human-centric design, such spaces become catalysts for community engagement and social integration.
Report Coming Soon
Report Coming Soon
A brief overview of how the Foundation is putting the framework into action:
We are excited to host this webinar to present our findings from the fourth report in our series of sector-based social connection reports – The SOCIAL Framework: The Built Environment Sector.