Maximizing Social Capital: Applying SE Practices to Community Living

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Maximizing Social CapitalApplying SE Practices
to Community Living

• Presented by Amy Burns
• Issues Forum
• May 10, 2007

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Defining Social Capital

• The collective value of all social networks and
  the inclinations that arise from these networks
  to do things for each other.
• Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone

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Defining Social Capital

• The aggregate of the actual or potential
  resources which are linked to possession of a
  durable network of more or less institutionalized
  relationships of mutual acquaintance and
  recognition.
• Pierre Bordieu, The Forms of Capital

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Defining Social Capital

• A set of attitudes and mental dispositions that
  favor cooperation within society, and that as
  such, it equals the spirit of community
• Patrick Hunout, The Social Capital Foundation

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Key Components of Social Capital

• Networks of relationships
• Reciprocity
• Trust
• Social norms

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Importance of Social Capital

• Social capital is linked to
• Healthier communities
• Better educational outcomes
• Safer neighborhoods
• Productive workplaces
• More effective social services
• Greater individual health
• James House, et. al., 1998

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71 of people who experience developmental
disabilities report feelings of social isolation.

• California Independent Living Center, 1996

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Why are people with disabilities less likely to
leverage their social capital?
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Our social service system has taught the public
that its better to donate money to Special
Olympics than to invite a neighbor to go bowling.

• The Careless Society

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Changing Our Role to Community Developers

• Provider vs. Facilitator

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Overview of Best Practice in Supported Employment

• Get to know customer
• Identify personal interests, goals and potential
  support needs
• Utilize existing networks
• Provide necessary supports
• Continually work to decrease reliance on
  professional staff
• Evaluate outcomes

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Utilize Existing Networks

• Support customer in identifying their personal
  network
• Relationship maps
• Networking worksheet
• Enlist supporters to help person get connected

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Identify Potential Support Needs

• Gap analysis
• Where does the person want to go?
• What is preventing them from reaching that goal?
• What strategies will be implemented to bridge the
  gap?
• Emphasize natural supports first
• Never assume that professional intervention is
  necessary always ask!

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Nurturing Natural Supports

• Use the customers personal connections.
• Follow typical practices of the community.
• Make a good match.
• Serve as a consultant.
• Dont replace any support offered by the
  community.

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Nurturing Natural Supports

• Facilitate new relationships.
• Be unobtrusive, blend in to the culture.
• Dont become a go-between. Facilitate
  conversations when needed.
• Support the customer to participate in informal
  rituals.
• Support the customer to explore additional social
  opportunities.

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When Natural Isnt Enough

• Always look at natural supports first
• Assist
• Modify
• Substitute
• Match supports to fit the environment
• Least intrusive
• Easiest to fade

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Ways to Maximize Social Capital

• Work
• Volunteerism
• Extracurricular Activities
• Voting

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Ways to Maximize Social Capital

• Informal Gatherings
• Internet / Technology
• Fine Arts
• Neighborhood Associations

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"Community cannot long feed on itself, it can
only flourish with the coming of others from
beyond their unknown and undiscovered sisters
and brothers.

• Howard Thurman

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Not armies, not nations, have advanced the race
but here and there, in the course of ages, an
individual has stood up and cast his shadow over
the world.

• Edwin Hubbell Chapin

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Questions, Comments, Discussion
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Thank you for your time!

• Amy Burns
• ServiceLinc Region V Services
• 145 S. 56th Street, Suite B
• Lincoln, NE 68510
• [phone]
• abservicelinc_at_yahoo.com