DRAFT- June 20, 2023
By Roberto García Rodríguez
CEO of Triple-S Management and President of Triple-S Foundation
The Triple-S Foundation announced recently it granted $25,000 each to 10 community projects to address social isolation and loneliness in the population in an event in which representatives of the selected organizations shared their projects.
During the event, I was impressed by the scope of each of the projects. As I listened, it became clear to me that in working to counter social isolation and loneliness in their target populations they are building and strengthening communities by weaving social connections.
Many of the selected organizations have a long history of social service. Yet in responding to our RFP, they are stretching their capabilities to embrace new challenges. In the case of SER, they will use the funds to implement an evidence-based program for young autistic adults developed by UCLA. The PEERS program helps develop social skills among participants so they may experience independent and full lives.
Fondita de Jesús has long been recognized for its work with the homeless population. As we all experienced the frightening isolation of the pandemic, they realized it was critical to develop new ways to connect the homeless and the elderly to their communities. With funding from our Foundation, they are creating Conexión Saludable, a program to reduce disparities in access to health and wellness services in more than 25 municipalities of Puerto Rico, by providing workshops that teach how to use cell phones, tablets, computers, and the Internet to access services as well as to be in contact with their loved ones and facilitate the creation of social networks.
Then there is the Fundación del Hospital Pediátrico, which for years has worked to provide the public children’s hospital with needed medical equipment, and realized there was a need to support the mothers who spent days and weeks accompanying their chronically ill children. Thus, they designed the Connecting Mom’s program to create support groups, provide educational workshops and webinars designed to help them navigate the healthcare system and access the resources they need to help improve their mental health and overall quality of life.
Due to demographic changes that have included massive migration, many of our seniors have stayed and lost family support groups. We currently have the highest proportion of people 65 or above and have the highest median age in the U.S. Thus, many of our seniors are alone, often socially isolated, and sometimes lonely. The Association of Former Employees of Partners in Action, Inc. (AESA) is responding to this challenge with their program “Learning to live managing the quality of life of the elderly through Integral Health.”
Nuestra Escuela is one of a handful of projects to which we extended funding a second year. Their “Listen, Understand and Share” project combined youth from Nuestra Escuela and seniors in Villas Peregrino Center in Caguas. With additional funding this year, they will extend their project to two housing and care centers.
Those are five of the 10 incredible projects we are funding this year. Countering social isolation and loneliness is critical to reduce health risks in our population. We hope these projects can achieve that and, in the process, create vibrant communities that are inclusive and allow all members to live full lives.
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