Increasing Social Connectedness
A 2023 U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory highlights the critical role of social connection in supporting individual health and community well-being. The Advisory defines social connectedness as:
“the degree to which any individual or population might fall along the continuum of achieving social connection needs.”
Low levels of social connection are associated with an increased risk of disease, poor mental health, and premature death. Higher levels of social connection are associated with better health, resilience to natural disasters, feelings of safety, economic prosperity, and civic engagement.
Many rural communities are taking steps to promote practices, programs, and features of the built environment that support social connection and address social isolation, also known as social infrastructure. Approaches to building social infrastructure include:
- Intergenerational programming builds social connections between older adults and youth. For example, in rural Minnesota, the Northland Foundation's AGE to age program brings older adults and young people together on a variety of projects focused on health and wellness, community service, youth enrichment, education, technology learning, and more.
- Time banking refers to when community members use their skills to provide a service to the community and "bank" their time, which they can later "withdraw" in the form of a returned service in the future. The Onion River Exchange in central Vermont is an example of a time bank where participants receive one credit for one hour of service, such as providing a ride or shoveling snow.
- Social prescribing is when individuals are given a prescription that facilitates connection to fulfill social needs. Prescriptions should consider an individual's available resources and need, such as language or transportation needs. For example, a family doctor in Madison, Minnesota has prescribed her patients with a visit to the local coffee shop, the Madison Mercantile, a community hub for social connection.
Examples of Rural Programs That Increase Social Cohesion
- The Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative launched the Maryland Faith Health Network to improve patient care during and after hospitalization. The Network features a collaboration between faith communities and hospitals, including those serving rural communities in central Maryland. Volunteers from participating congregations serve as liaisons between patients and hospital employees to support patients after discharge.
- The Chatham County Council on Aging developed the Men's Conversation Group for local retired men seeking social connections in rural North Carolina. The group meets at a local rural senior center to participate in social activities, such as playing board games and sharing meals. Assisted living facilities provide transportation to group members.
- The Coffee Break Project in southeastern Colorado supports farmer mental health and emotional well-being by encouraging checking-in with oneself and others. The project hosts twice-weekly gatherings with free donuts and coffee to promote socializing among farmers and ranchers. The project also conducts trainings and promotes an awareness campaign that educates on the importance of mental health.
- The Rural Alaska Community Action Program (RurAL CAP) fosters social connectedness through a variety of community development programs. The Elder Mentor initiative, part of RurAL CAP’s AmeriCorps Seniors Program, uses elder mentor volunteers to serve local schools, Head Start programs, and afterschool programs across Alaska. Volunteers connect with children, serving as positive role models and teaching skills, stories, and vocabulary important to the community.
Implementation Considerations
To promote social connection, one common strategy is "activating" public spaces to encourage positive social interaction. To achieve this, rural communities can identify gathering spaces that promote connection, such as libraries or town halls. Examples of rural spaces designed to respond to community needs include the Mercantile, a coffee shop in Madison, Minnesota, and a hospital co-located with a YMCA in Gothenburg, Nebraska. Programs can be developed to create intentional places for connection. For example, Youth 360 was formed in response to a lack of spaces for teenagers to gather outside of school, a potential factor contributing to substance abuse and criminal activity identified through community listening sessions.
In rural areas, some people, such as older adults and people with disabilities, may be more susceptible to social isolation due to transportation and mobility barriers. When designing programs, rural communities should consider the unique needs and challenges of these groups. For example, community partners who have close or frequent contact with older adults, such as mail carriers and faith leaders, could be engaged to recognize signs of social isolation. The Rural Aging in Place Toolkit has additional considerations for community integration.
Leveraging virtual technology and social media may help increase social connectedness in rural communities. For example, rural community members and organizations can use social media to share information such as local news, events, and experiences regarding specific topics. This can serve as a positive space for bringing people together to discuss common challenges and successes.
Program Clearinghouse Example
Resources to Learn More
Healthy
People 2030 Social Cohesion
Website
Highlights the importance of social cohesion as a social determinant of health and describes objectives related
to social cohesion to be reached by 2030.
Organization(s): Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Strengthening
Social Connectedness in Rural Communities: A Webinar
Video/Multimedia
Shares discussion on information and strategies to address challenges related to social connectedness and
building on the strengths of rural communities from researchers, policymakers, and professionals in the
field.
Organization(s): Visible Network Labs
Date: 7/2022