An Organizational Approach to Understanding How Social Enterprises Address Health Inequities: A Scoping Review

Suchowerska, Roksolana; Barraket, Jo; Qian, Joanne; Mason, Chris; Farmer, Jane; Carey, Gemma; Campbell, Perri; Joyce, Andrew

doi:10.1080/19420676.2019.1640771

Cited by 20 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Public health interventions are inherently complex ( Rychetnik et al , 2002 ; Breuer et al , 2015 ) but can act upon the social determinants of health ( Macaulay et al , 2017 ; Suchowerska et al , 2019 ). Such complexity is a result of (i) the magnitude and the range of interacting components; (ii) the flexibility of the intervention and its fit with the local environment; (iii) behaviours, groups or levels and (iv) their outcomes ( Craig et al , 2008 ; Fletcher et al , 2016 ; Grant and Hood, 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social enterprises’ impact on older people’s health and wellbeing: exploring Scottish experiences

Henderson¹,

Steiner

Mazzei

et al. 2019

Health Promotion International

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The global aging demographic is putting pressure on state-delivered health and social care services. As the austerity agenda in the UK cuts state-funded service provision for older people despite increasing demand, social enterprise has become a politically and economically attractive model for the sustainable delivery of some public services. Yet little is known about the impact of social enterprise on the health and wellbeing of older people. In this paper we address this gap in understanding and consider social enterprise activities as complex public health-promoting interventions. Our study aimed to understand what impact social enterprise activities had on the health and wellbeing of participants aged over 50, and also how that impact was created. To achieve this, we conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with a sample (n = 43) of staff, volunteers, clients and carers aged over 50 who were involved in activities delivered by three social enterprises. Using a thematic analysis to explore manifest and latent themes, two antecedents of subjective younger age emerged explaining how benefit was created, namely downward social comparison and identity. The social enterprise activities we studied benefited participants' health and wellbeing, impacting positively on participants' sense of purpose, social support, connectedness and inclusion. These health and wellbeing benefits can be considered as outcomes of complex public health interventions for older people, and we relate these outcomes to beneficial conditions within the intermediary social determinants of health. We conclude by discussing the future impact of social enterprise activities and current UK policy on the structural determinants of health.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social enterprises’ impact on older people’s health and wellbeing: exploring Scottish experiences

Henderson¹,

Steiner

Mazzei

et al. 2019

Health Promotion International

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show abstract

“…Research has called for increased recognition of community-based organisations, and the channelling of public health funds from government and national health authorities to expand their scope and contribution to addressing social determinants of health on a larger scale [4][5][6]. Sheds provide practical and social activities to meet immediate needs of men in communities, especially those with physical and mental health issues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over the past few decades, policy and research has shifted focus to the social determinants of poor health rather than purely the consequences [1][2][3]. Growing research has called for a recognition of the contributions of community-based organisations in addressing social determinants, such as isolation and social exclusion [4][5][6]. Further, there have been calls from the non-profit sector for the channelling of public health funds from Government and national health authorities to expand the scope and remit of such organisations to impact on the health of communities on a larger scale [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Men’s Sheds in Scotland: the potential for improving the health of men

Kelly

Teasdale

Steiner

et al. 2021

J Public Health Pol

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Recent policy focus is on the ‘non-obvious’ role of community-based organisations in tackling causes of poor health, such as social exclusion. Men’s Sheds are a type of community-based organisation offering health and wellbeing benefits to men, despite this not being the explicit reason they exist. A qualitative study was conducted in Scotland to identify sustainability challenges that impact on the ability of Sheds to become a formal healthcare service. Findings showed that a reliance on ageing and retired volunteers to undertake operational tasks and generate income to fund activities affected the ability of Sheds to sustain and develop. Further, members preferred their Sheds to remain informal and flexible to fit their specific needs. Although Sheds are recognised for their health and wellbeing benefits to men, policymakers must recognise that formalising their activities might detract from the Shed’s primary aims. This paper summarises specific policy implications and recommendations, taking into consideration tensions between the expectations placed on Sheds to expand into formal healthcare delivery, and the needs of Shed users. Highlights: Men’s Shed are known for their ability to contribute to men’s health and wellbeing. The potential of Shed to take on a formal healthcare role is questionable because of a reliance on ageing and retired volunteers and a preference to remain informal. Policymakers must recognise that although Sheds might be well placed to offer formal health care this may detract from their primary aims.

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“…Though existing research has begun to identify the impact of social enterprises engaged in mental health services, it has done a poor job at ascertaining specific ways in which these unique organizational forms accomplish these outcomes (Suchowerska et al, 2020). Some possible processes identified in conceptual and qualitative research include examining the role of education and skills development, (Macaulay et al, 2017;Roy, 2017), exploring social interaction (Farmer et al, 2017), and looking at the development of a positive and safe service environment (Calò et al, 2018;Farmer et al, 2017;Macaulay et al, 2017;Roy et al, 2017).…”

Section: Social Enterprise and Mental Health Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Though the social enterprise model is bourgeoning in Canada, research on these models remains incomplete and mostly outcomes-focused (Suchowerska et al, 2020). Consequently, it is incumbent on researchers to engage in the in-depth analyses of social enterprise models that seek to promote mental wellness, with a focus on identifying specific processes regarding how this approach may contribute to individual and structural outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Social Impact of Mental Health Service Accessibility by a Nonprofit Social Enterprise: A Mixed--methods Case Study

Turpin

Shier²,

Scowen³

2021

CJNSER

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The following study sought to examine the social impact of a social enterprise mental health services model by assessing its impact on service accessibility and mental health stigma. A novel approach to case study – a mixed methods design was developed by collecting data from service users, counsellors, and community members of a social enterprise in Toronto, Ontario, using qualitative interviews and the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS) survey. Findings show how the social enterprise increases service access and challenges mental health stigma by engaging in a variety of activities, including providing low--cost counselling, diversifying services, offering a positive and safe non--clinical environment, and engaging with the public directly by utilizing a storefront model. As a result of data triangulation analysis, common themes and discrepancies between respondent groups are identified and discussed. No significant relationships were found between mental health stigma and community member demographic characteristics. Insights on replication of this social impact assessment model are discussed.

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An Organizational Approach to Understanding How Social Enterprises Address Health Inequities: A Scoping Review

Cited by 20 publications

References 48 publications

Social enterprises’ impact on older people’s health and wellbeing: exploring Scottish experiences

Social enterprises’ impact on older people’s health and wellbeing: exploring Scottish experiences

Men’s Sheds in Scotland: the potential for improving the health of men

Assessing the Social Impact of Mental Health Service Accessibility by a Nonprofit Social Enterprise: A Mixed--methods Case Study

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