First Partner Siebel Newsom launches California’s first Social Health Council to strengthen community connection

What you need to know: First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom convenes state and local leaders through California's first-ever Social Health Council to make social connection a public health priority and develop a roadmap for strengthening belonging across California.

SACRAMENTO - First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom today announced the launch of the first-ever California Social Health Council, bringing together leaders from across the state to advance social connection and address loneliness as a public health priority.

The Social Health Council brings together leaders across sectors-including state and local government, academia, tribal, faith and community organizations - to develop recommendations to strengthen opportunities for Californians to build meaningful connections and feel a sense of belonging.

California has never been afraid to lead, and on an issue as fundamental as human connection, we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to show the rest of the country what is possible. We have put that vision into action through our California Love, California Strong initiative, and now we are thrilled to launch California's first-ever Social Health Council, bringing together the people and institutions who can help build social connection into the fabric of our daily lives.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Why social connection matters

The launch builds on California's commitment to creating healthier, more connected communities through the First Partner's California Love, California Strong initiative and comes as growing research underscores the significant impact of loneliness and social isolation on individual and community well-being.

One in six people worldwide experiences loneliness, with young people among those most affected, and loneliness is associated with approximately 870,000 deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization.

"We know that when relationships, environments, and social conditions break down, the effects of loneliness and isolation can be profound, impacting our health, quality of life, longevity, and the resilience of our communities," said Kim Johnson, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. "Building a healthier California for all means strengthening the social foundations that help people and communities thrive. The Social Health Council brings together diverse perspectives and expertise to deepen our understanding of the connection between social well-being and health and turn that knowledge into meaningful action."

The World Health Organization has identified social connection as a critical component of health and well-being, alongside physical and mental health. Its Commission on Social Connection has called for greater investment in the social infrastructure, policies, and community-level solutions that help people connect and belong.

In the United States, opportunities for everyday connection remain limited. Only 36% of adults report getting together with people in their neighborhood at least once a year to do something positive for the community, while 44% report that they only sometimes, rarely, or never receive the social and emotional support they need.

California is responding by bringing together the innovative leaders, experts, and institutions that can help build connection into everyday life.

Strengthening social connection across California

California has already been working on ways to improve social connection, and this Council will weave those together to recommend a comprehensive approach to combatting social isolation. With more than 1,000 public libraries, 280 state parks, nearly 2,500 community schools, and thousands of places of worship and community centers, California is rich in spaces where people can gather and connect. The state also offers free, statewide mental health resources for children and families through BrightLife Kids and Soluna. Plus, California is home to the nation's largest service corps, underscoring the multitude of opportunities for communities to gather, build connections, and give back.

The Social Health Council will help connect these efforts while identifying opportunities to make connecting with others easier in everyday life - from strengthening third spaces and community programming to expanding opportunities for service, volunteering, and cross-generational connection.

The Council will focus on three key goals:

• Awareness: Elevate loneliness and social isolation as a public health priority in California.

• Connection across sectors: Create a recurring forum for academics, community-based organizations, faith and tribal leaders, mayors, and state agencies to align efforts.

• Roadmap: Develop a roadmap for California to advance the recommendations of the World Health Organization's Commission on Social Connection and strengthen the state's solutions for social isolation.

"At a time when screens dominate our lives and social connection continues to slip away, service has never been more essential," said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. "The Social Health Council brings together experts from state and local government, academic institutions, and nonprofits to create a blueprint for meaningful change. By serving our communities and working together, we can strengthen California's social health and turn the tide for people across the state."

The state has also made efforts through the California Service Corps to engage Californians in service, volunteering, and civic action, combating loneliness by actively rebuilding social networks. By focusing on a shared purpose, Californians can build a stronger sense of belonging and social connection.

Through service, California Service Corps members continue making a difference in the neighborhood that they serve.

• In 2024- 2025, members served more than 6 million hours: diverting tens of thousands of pounds of organic waste from landfills, planting over 40,000 trees, and tutoring and mentoring tens of thousands of K-12 students.
• To meet the increased need at food banks when SNAP benefits were delayed because of the federal shutdown, more than 100 California Service Corps members supported families at food banks.
• Last year, California Service Corps deployed 320 members to support disaster response and recovery efforts connected to the Los Angeles wildfires by taking donations and distributing food and clothes.

California's Social Health Council

California's first-ever Social Health Council consists of leaders from state and local government, community organizations, and academia to foster social connection throughout the state. Here are the council members:

Co-chairs

• First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom
• Secretary Kim Johnson, California Health and Human Services Agency
• Josh Fryday, Director, Chief Service Officer, Governor's Office of Service and Community Engagement

State Government

• Brooks Allen, Executive Director, California State Board of Education
• Michelle Baass, Director, California Department of Health Care Services
• Peter Cervinka, Director, California Department of Developmental Services
• Greg Lucas, State Librarian, California State Library
• Erica Pan, Director, State Public Health Officer, California Department of Public Health
• Armando Quintero, Director, California Department of Parks and Recreation
• Dr. Diana Ramos, California Surgeon General
• Kim Rutledge, Director, California Department of Rehabilitation
• Nicole Shimosaka, Chief Deputy Director, California Department of Aging
• Darcy Totten, Executive Director, California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
• Jen Troia, Director, California Department of Social Services

Local Government

• Mayor Karen Bass, City of Los Angeles
• Mayor Jerry Dyer, City of Fresno
• Mayor Gabe Quinto, City of El Cerrito

Community, Tribal, and Faith Leaders

• Nakeya Bell, Executive Director, SistaBees
• Luz Gallegos, Executive Director, TODEC
• Virginia Hedrick, Chief Executive Office, California Rural Indian Health Board
• Tony Hoang, Executive Director, Equality California
• Michael Pappas, Executive Director, San Francisco Interfaith Council
• Noe Paramo, Director of Sustainable Rural Communities Project, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
• Kiran Savage-Sangwan, Executive Director, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network

Academia

• Dr. Carla Perisonotto, University of California San Francisco
• Dr. John A. Powell, University of California Berkeley
• Dr. Daniel Siegel, University of California Los Angeles
• Dr. George Slavich, University of California Los Angeles
• Dr. Robin Wang, Loyola Marymount University
• Dr. Niobe Way, New York University