Together Across Generations (TAG)

The Together Across Generations (TAG) initiative, funded by the CDC with $5 million over five years, addresses loneliness and social isolation among older adults in Arizona’s rural, border, and tribal communities. The project focuses on enhancing existing intergenerational programs in Yuma, Santa Cruz, and Cochise counties, as well as within the Hualapai Tribe. These programs encourage youth to teach technology skills to older adults, who, in turn, share cultural knowledge and traditions.

TAG is designed to provide financial resources, technical assistance, and data collection to strengthen these community-driven programs. Guided by a community action board primarily focused on community health workers (promotoras), the initiative ensures strategies are tailored to the specific needs of each community.

The project also includes the development of a statewide plan to raise awareness about social isolation and promote evidence-based interventions that foster intergenerational connections. By building on local cultural assets and leveraging community collaboration, TAG aims to reduce loneliness and enhance social resilience in underserved areas across Arizona.

The CDC Prevention Research Center (PRC) network is a national system of academic research centers dedicated to reducing health disparities and improving public health through applied prevention research. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the PRC network works collaboratively with communities to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based strategies that address pressing public health issues. Each center focuses on community-driven solutions, emphasizing health equity and the social determinants of health. As part of this network, the Arizona Prevention Research Center (AzPRC) leverages its expertise in community-based participatory research to address the unique health needs of Arizona's rural, border, and tribal populations. The TAG (Together Across Generations) project is one of the AzPRC’s core initiatives, aligning with the PRC network's mission by using evidence-based strategies to combat loneliness and promote intergenerational connections in underserved communities.