Connection: To Grow Up Without It Costs More Than You Think
Why Connection?
Connection shapes how children see themselves, how they cope, and how they move through the world. It protects their mental and emotional health, strengthens resilience, and gives them a sense of belonging. And when it’s missing, the cost is far greater than most people realize.
The U.S. Surgeon General issued a landmark advisory warning that social disconnection isn’t just an emotional burden—it’s a life-threatening one.
“Lacking social connection is as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day”
Let that sink in. Something as simple and human as not feeling connected can be as damaging as a pack-a-day habit.
The Surgeon General calls loneliness and isolation an “urgent public health concern” impacting nearly half of U.S. adults and many young people even more. Disconnection increases the risk of depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and emotional dysregulation. Children who lack meaningful social connection often struggle academically, socially, and emotionally (U.S. Surgeon General, 2023).
Simply put: connection isn't a “nice-to-have.” It’s a protective factor. A lifeline. A foundation for lifelong health.
At BIO Girls, connection is a cornerstone of our program. As we approach Giving Hearts Day, we’re inviting our community to invest in the power of connection because when girls feel seen, supported, and valued, everything changes.
Connection at BIO Girls
12 sessions. Girls from grades 2-6 come together in an enviornment where they not only experience connection, but they also learn skills to maintain and build upon it outside of BIO Girls.
Girls experience connection through making new friends in an environment that celebrates uniqueness, by gaining a mentor who believes in them, and by belonging to a small group where they feel seen and valued every single week.
Our curriculum directly addresses the skills the Surgeon General identifies as essential to social connectedness.
The Surgeon General highlights effective communication as essential for forming and maintaining healthy relationships. BIO Girls teaches:
How to express thoughts clearly
How to listen actively
How to resolve conflict with kindness
How to communicate needs and boundaries
The advisory notes that strong emotional regulation helps young people manage stress and engage in healthy connection. BIO Girls teaches:
Naming emotions
Understanding emotional triggers
Strategies to calm the body and mind
Responding thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively
Healthy coping is foundational to mental well-being and relationship stability. BIO Girls teaches:
Tools for managing stress and anxiety
Positive self-talk
Mindfulness practices
How to navigate setbacks and disappointment
The Surgeon General emphasizes the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships. BIO Girls teaches:
What healthy friendships look like
How to be a good friend
How to navigate peer conflict
How to build trust and belonging
Every week, girls build their tool kids and practice the habits that create healthy, lifelong relationships.
BIO Girls participants often start the season feeling unsure of themselves. Some don’t know anyone. Some are terrified to speak in a group. Some carry loneliness they don’t yet have words for.
But connection changes them. They start confiding in a mentor, they cheer for a peer, they celebrate small wins and big goals together. Girls don’t just hear about how to find connection, they practice it, feel it, and carry it into school, friendships, and home.
This Giving Hearts Day
Your Giving Hearts Day gift directly fuels one of the most protective factors in a girl’s life: connection. We invite you to give the gift of life-changing connection during a time when girls need it most.
Will you be a giving heart for BIO Girls?
Thank You Wells!
Thanks to our Giving Hearts Day partner, Wells!
Thank You Partners!
An additional thank you to our Giving Hearts Day matching donors.
