Coalition for Social Connection

“Being connected to others is widely considered a fundamental human need, crucial to both well-being and survival.”

— Carla Perissinotto, MD, U.S. Senate Hearing June 2020

About Us

The Northern California Coalition for Social Connection at UCSF facilitates collaboration among community organizations to address the impacts of social isolation and loneliness among older adults. The Coalition represents a variety of influential groups, including local governments, non-profits, grassroots community initiatives, for-profit businesses, medical professionals, and academics. We work to increase the quality of older adults’ livelihoods through general meetings, community-focused research and evaluation projects, and resource sharing. Situated in Northern California, a hub for academic and social innovation, the Coalition serves as a model for future collaborative work to increase social connection among older adults. 

Our Mission

The Coalition brings together diverse community partners across Northern California to address social isolation and loneliness among older adults through unified, cross-sector actions. 

Our Vision

We envision a Northern California, and beyond, where cross-sector collaboration enables older adults to lead quality lives enriched with engaging social connection programs.

Goals

  • Serve as a resource for evidence-based research and programming   
  • Facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing among programs, institutions, and other community agencies
  • Increase awareness of social isolation and loneliness as critical public health issues
  • Enhance social connection and resource utilization among older adults
  • Advocate for funding and policies to support social connection initiatives

Values

  • Inclusivity: We foster connection by uniting institutional and community-based partners serving diverse older adult populations across Northern California. While our coalition comprises program leaders, we actively seek to represent older adults directly through community outreach and program evaluations.
  • Collaboration: The coalition promotes community building and collaboration through regular meetings, networking opportunities, shared goals and objectives, and mentorship.
  • Integrity: The Coalition operates as a non-hierarchical and collaborative space for all members. All members and leadership practice transparent communication and adhere to community-set guidelines.

Founding Partners