Model and Strategy
The Foundation for Social Connection (F4SC) is a catalyst and field builder advancing the social connection movement — translating evidence into practice, aligning cross-sector efforts, and driving systems-level change nationwide.
As loneliness and isolation rise to the level of a public health crisis, communities and institutions increasingly recognize the problem — but lack clear, actionable solutions. F4SC bridges this critical gap by equipping leaders with practical tools, mobilizing a national ecosystem, and supporting implementation across sectors and geographies.
F4SC operates through three integrated strategies:
Translating evidence into action. F4SC develops and disseminates evidence-based frameworks, tools, and guidance that enable real-world implementation. Signature resources — including the Action Guide for Building Socially Connected Communities and the SOCIAL Framework — help leaders design interventions that foster repeated, meaningful social connection with measurable impact.
Galvanizing and aligning the field. Positioned at the center of a rapidly growing ecosystem, F4SC convenes leaders across public health, government, philanthropy, business, and community organizations. Through national convenings, working groups, and a nearly 100-member ambassador network spanning 27 states, F4SC builds shared language, accelerates learning, and catalyzes cross-sector engagement into coordinated action.
Driving systems change and community implementation. F4SC works across national, state, and local levels to embed social connection into policies, systems, and environments. This includes contributing to foundational efforts such as the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory and supporting communities in translating strategy into sustained, locally driven action.
By equipping those who design programs, shape policy, and lead institutions — and supporting communities as they implement evidence-based strategies —F4SC is uniquely positioned at the leading convener of this ecosystem to advance the social connection movement at scale.
Impact
F4SC is accelerating a cultural shift from awareness to action — transforming how social connection is understood, prioritized, and implemented across the United States.
Its tools and frameworks are widely used by community leaders, institutions, and policymakers. The Action Guide for Building Socially Connected Communities has engaged more than 27,000 users and generated over 69,000 visits, enabling communities to design and implement locally tailored strategies that foster sustained social connection.
F4SC also plays a central role in aligning and activating the field. Its Social Connection Conference convened more than 300 leaders across sectors, with 94% reporting they formed connections that would further their work and 78% identifying concrete actions to implement. These outcomes reflect F4SC’s ability to transform isolated initiatives into coordinated, cross-sector progress.
At the community level, F4SC supports place-based efforts that translate evidence into locally driven solutions. In Little Rock, Arkansas, for example, F4SC partnered with a resident-led community hub to identify drivers of isolation and co-develop initiatives that now include ongoing gatherings and resident-led groups focused on mental health, public safety, and economic opportunity.
Nationally, F4SC helps shape the field’s trajectory, including contributing to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory and mapping the ecosystem of organizations advancing social connection. These efforts inform funding, policy, and implementation decisions across sectors.
Taken together, F4SC’s impact is multiplicative: by strengthening the field and supporting those who shape systems and communities, it catalyzes the conditions for social connection.
Leadership
-
Jillian Racoosin
Executive Director