Peninsula Family Services Aims to Replicate Approach to Loneliness

Loneliness, declared a public health crisis by the SMC Board of Supervisors in January, has profound impacts on the well-being of individuals across all age groups. Peninsula Family Service (PFS) is leading the charge to address this critical issue with the “Overcoming Loneliness Through Care and Connections” initiative. In collaboration with San Mateo County and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), PFS is spearheading a three-pronged approach to overcome loneliness that is already underway.

In June, coinciding with Loneliness Awareness Month, the initiative raised awareness about the mental and physical health impacts of loneliness. The campaign included community outreach and education efforts aimed at destigmatizing loneliness and promoting social connections. Second, PFS is expanding the successful Peer Counseling Program for older adults, which provides weekly one-on-one meetings and group support to help participants build social connections and reduce feelings of isolation. Finally, PFS will double the number of participants and peer counselors within a year, focusing on underserved populations such as African Americans, LGBTQIA+ adults and Pacific Islanders. These three pillars—awareness, peer support and inclusivity—form the foundation of our approach.

By enhancing and publicizing our model, we will create a toolkit for nationwide replication. Working with UCSF, we will track and document the effectiveness of our programs, ensuring that no one in San Mateo County faces loneliness alone. Finally, we will share our findings to help other communities overcome loneliness.