09. Programming & Evaluation - Social Support Groups

Establish social support groups

Rationale: Free, publicized and regular support services help occupants navigate complex issues and planning needs, fostering enhanced community engagement and reducing stress levels and feelings of isolation, contributing to diminished risk of anxiety and depression.

For the most accurate strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Social Support Groups (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements:

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+), Low-Rise Residential with no shared interior spaces (LR)

1. Identify a minimum of one life-stage or interest social support group that meets within a 1/2 mile or 800-meter walking distance of each main building entrance within the project.

   Qualifying life-stage and interest groups may include but are not limited to the following:

   • bereavement or loss
   • parents
   • solo dwellers
   • caregivers
   • managers
   • essential workers
   • expectant mothers
   • special interest groups such as advocacy, athletics, or arts.

2. Identify a minimum of one identity social support group that meets within a 1/2 mile or 800-meter walking distance of a main entrance of each main building within the project.

   Qualifying identity groups may include but are not limited to the following:

   • gender
   • race
   • illness
   • (dis)ability
   • LGBTQIA+.
3. Ensure the identified groups meet at minimum once per month.
4. Publicize the social support groups to all residential occupants through one of the following methods:
   • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
   • communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters.
5. Establish a process for the creation of new groups.

Option 2 - Virtual Support Groups (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating compliance with all of the following requirements:    

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+), Low-Rise Residential with no shared interior spaces (LR)

1. Provide virtual access to a minimum of one life-stage or interest social support group.

   Qualifying life-stage and interest groups may include but are not limited to the following:

   • bereavement or loss
   • parents
   • solo dwellers
   • caregivers
   • managers
   • essential workers
   • expectant mothers
   • special interest groups such as advocacy, athletics, or arts.

2. Provide virtual access to a minimum of one identity social support group.

   Qualifying identity groups may include but are not limited to the following:

   • gender
   • race
   • illness
   • (dis)ability
   • LGBTQIA+.
3. Ensure that the social support groups are offered free of charge to all residential occupants.
4. Ensure the identified groups meet a minimum of once per month.
5. Publicize the social support groups to all residential occupants through one of the following methods:
   • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
   • communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters.
6. Establish a process for the creation of new groups.

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway (LR+, LR)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload a description of the planned life-stage or interest social support group(s).       
  • Upload an annotated map showing the distance between the life-stage or interest social support group meeting location and a main entrance of the farthest main building entrance within the required distance.       
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload a description of the planned identity social support group(s).       
  • Upload an annotated map showing the distance between the identity social support group meeting location and a main entrance of the farthest main building entrance within the required distance       
• Requirement 3:
  • Checkbox to certify that the groups will meet a minimum of once per month.       
• Requirement 4:
  • Checkbox to certify that information about the social support groups will be shared with all residential occupants through the following methods (select all that apply):       
    • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
    • communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters   
• Requirement 5:
  • Checkbox to certify that a process will be established to ensure the creation of new groups.        

Option 2:

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload a description of the planned life-stage or interest social support group that will be offered.       
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload a description of the planned identity social support group that will be offered.       
• Requirement 3:
  • Checkbox to certify that the social support groups will be accessible free of charge to all residential occupants.       
• Requirement 4:
  • Checkbox to certify that the groups will meet a minimum of once per month.       
• Requirement 5:
  • Checkbox to certify that information about the social support groups will be shared with all residential occupants through the following methods (select all that apply):      
    • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
    • communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters   
• Requirement 6:
  • Checkbox to certify that a process will be established to ensure the creation of new groups.       
  • Upload a description of the process that will be used to ensure the creation of new groups.        

Built Pathway (LR+, LR)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload a description of the life-stage or interest social support group(s).      
  • Upload an annotated map showing the distance between the life-stage or interest social support group meeting location and a main entrance of the farthest main building entrance within the required distance.      
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload a description of the identity social support group(s).      
  • Upload an annotated map showing the distance between the identity social support group meeting location and a main entrance of the farthest main building entrance within the required distance      
• Requirement 3:
  • Checkbox to certify that the groups meet a minimum of once per month.      
• Requirement 4:
  • Checkbox to certify that information about the social support groups is shared with all residential occupants through the following methods (select all that apply):      
    • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
    • communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters  
• Requirement 5:
  • Checkbox to certify that a process is established to ensure the creation of new groups.        

Option 2:

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload a description of the planned life-stage or interest social support group that are offered.      
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload a description of the planned identity social support group that is offered.      
• Requirement 3:
  • Checkbox to certify that the social support groups are accessible free of charge to all residential occupants.      
• Requirement 4:
  • Checkbox to certify that the groups meet a minimum of once per month.      
• Requirement 5:
  • Checkbox to certify that information about the social support groups is shared with all residential occupants through the following methods (select all that apply):     
    • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
    • communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters  
• Requirement 6:
  • Checkbox to certify that a process is established to ensure the creation of new groups.      
  • Upload a description of the process that occupants can use to create new groups.