Community Innovation

Community leadership matters.

Leaders from all sectors - public, private, and nonprofit - are realizing that community service and community partnerships are keys to success in the new economy.  Community Innovation provides knowledge, ideas, and tools to help leaders from all sectors achieve excellence in community-focused leadership.

The Innovation Center for community & youth: Involving Youth in Communty Development

 Involving youth in community development activities can provide youth with skills while developing their commitment to the community. The Innovation Center for community & youth development specializes in training community organizations to integrate youth into community development programs.

The Innovation Center works towards social justice through approaches such as community building, organizational development, and promoting youth-adult relationships.  Their free on-line resources include:

• Leadership stages resources: "get ready, plan, implement, and sustain"
• Toolkits/Resources that "offer strategies and lessons from the field on identifying the unique strengths within any community as a foundation for creating lasting change—both in the community and in the individuals of all ages who participate in these efforts." (Innovation Center)
• Reports/Research based on the Innovation Center's experience.

Community leaders will want to learn more about the successes of the Innovation Center's programs detailed on their web site in case studies/stories. The free tools and resources can assist all organizations/individuals involved in working towards community improvement.

To learn more about the Innovation Center, at their web site, click here.

MACDC Web Site: "Readings on Community Development Innovations"

Across the country communities are working to improve their capacity to improve health, education, and economic conditions. In Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) is "the policy and capacity-building arm of the community development movement in Massachusetts." (MACDC) This organization supports economic development, community-building strategies, affordable housing, and works to empower low/moderate income people to achieve greater economic/social/racial justice.

The MACDC web site includes valuable resources on its "Readings on Community Development Innovation" web page. Topics included among these readings are:

• Networked nonprofits--how small nonprofits are having success by staying small and focusing on like-minded, long-term partners.
• The use of social innovations to transform community systems--provides case studies and describes the challenges to achieving impact through social innovations.
• From place-based to people-based community development--reviews how ethnic-based community development corporations reflect changes in America.

Leaders of communities, nonprofits, and others involved in increasing community capacity will want to check out the above articles along with others that MACDC has to offer. Each reading provides an opportunity to learn and gives insights into innovative approaches being used around the country.

To access these readings, at the MACDC web site, click here.

Collaboration that Works - The Impact of Community Development Corporations on Urban Neighborhoods

This new study from the Urban Institute describes how community development corporations are working across sectors to bolster the economy and improve the quality of life in five urban neighborhoods across the country.  This study is a source of inspiration and practical ideas for leaders engaged in sustaining or rebuilding neighborhood vitality.  Click here to read the summary and download the report.

UW Extension's Learner Resource Center: Social Entrepreneurship Assessment Tool

Are you looking for a tool to help your organization clarify its progress towards social entrepreneurship?  The University of Wisconsin has, as part of it's Nonprofit Organizational Assessment Tool, a section that guides organizations through a discussion/review of entrepreneurship.  The tool's author, Andrew Lewis, suggests that board members, staff, volunteers, and service recipients all be involved in the process but adds that anyone associated with a nonprofit can use the tool for self-assessment.

The Social Entrepreneurship Assessment Tool tool includes assessment forms on the following topics:

• Programs
• Basic Principles
• Organizational Culture
• Critical Success Factors
• Action Plan Development

The free assessment tool is available on UW Extension's Learner Resource Center web site.  This concise tool will be useful to nonprofit leaders and others involved with social entrepreneurship as a means to reflect on accomplishments and to determine areas in need of improvement. 

To go to the UW Extension Learner Resource Center web site and check out the assessment tool, click here.

Virtue Ventures On-Line Resources Assist Social Entrepreneurs

Virtue Ventures is committed to "furthering the field of social entrepreneurship" through technical services, action research, and their own initiatives.  This organization's web site includes on-line resources to assist social entrepreneurs in their efforts to be successful.

On-line resources include documents such as:

• The Four Lenses Strategic Framework-Toward an Integrated Social Enterprise Methodology
• Social Enterprise Typology
• Managing the Double Bottom Line
• The Integrated Approach to Social Entrepreneurship

Other on-line resources include case studies as well as links to other social enterprises/non profit organizations that have worked with Virtue Ventures in the U.S./other countries. This web site offers stimulating reading for social entrepreneurs looking for new ideas, concepts and methodologies.

To go to the Virtue Ventures web site and learn more, click here.

"4 Entrepreneurs" Article: "Top 10 Social Networks for Entrepreneurs"

A variety of social networks are available for you to use to connect with other entrepreneurs and to spread the word about your social venture.  The web site 4 Entrepreneurs has an article, by Dan Schawbel, titled "Top 10 Social Networks for Entrepreneurs".  This article reviews 10 different social networks and provides background information. The author also describes the similar and unique features of each social network.  

Social entrepreneurs will want to review this top 10 list to see if using a social network could assist you in spreading the word the about your organization and in sharing ideas with others in similar ventures.

To read this 4 Entrepreneurs article, at their web site, click here.

Business Week Special Report Features Promising Social Entrepreneurs

Social entrepreneurship is the focus of an April 2009 Business Week special report titled "Social Entrepreneurship Takes Off".  This report includes 8 articles on current issues related to social entrepreneurship such as:

• "Making a Profit and Making a Difference"
• "America's Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs"
• "Social Entrepreneurship: Resources for 'Patient' Capital'"

The report has descriptions of the 25 most promising American social entrepreneurs as well as a video report on one successful social entrepreneur.  Social entrepreneurs will want to review this report to find out more about current issues and to learn about social ventures that are succeeding.

To read this special report, at the Business Week web site, click here.

The Chronicleof Philanthrophy Guides Nonprofits in the Use of Social Media

Wondering how social-media tools can help your organization?  The Chronicle of Philanthropy web site has resources on Social Good that provide information on "how charities and foundations can more effectively use social-media tools to spread their messages and raise money" (Chronicle of Philanthropy web site).  Social Good resources consist of podcasts, available for free download, and are hosted by nonprofit leader Allison Fine. 

Nonprofit leaders can listen to experts speak on topics such as:

• Social Media Strategy
• "Using Text Messaging to Raise Money"
• "Building a Network that Works"
• "Philanthropy in the Virtual World"

Nonprofit leaders who want learn how social media can benefit their organizations will want to visit Social Good.  To go to the Chronicle of Philanthropy web site and listen to the podcasts, click here.

Social Enterprise Institute: "Leaders Supporting Leaders"

"Leaders Supporting Leaders" is how the Social Enterprise Institute (SEI) describes it's approach to supporting social sector leaders.  SEI facilitates regional peer to peer forums for social entrepreneurs to learn from others' experiences in the field. 

The SEI web site offers opportunities for membership and also has free resources available, such as:

• Definitions relating to the social enterprise
• Articles on SEI and social enterprise
• Links to useful web sites

The SEI web site will be beneficial to leaders who are looking to connect with other social entrepreneurs, want to find out more about social enterprise, or needing resources on social enterprise.

To visit the SEI web site, click here.

Social Enterprise: Juma Ventures Gives Youth Employment/Skills for the Future

Most social entrepreneurs developing new ventures plan to be functioning for the long term. What do sustainable social enterprises look like?  One successful example is nationally recognized Juma Ventures.  Since the early 1990's, this nonprofit has been developing/operating businesses to provide jobs/training for economically disadvantaged youth in San Francisco. 

As the first nonprofit to be awarded a corporate business franchise, Juma has operated a numerous businesses that employ youth in a variety of positions. Recently, the program has expanded to include Oakland, San Diego, and Washington D.C. To achieve Juma's mission of assisting youth in successful transition to adulthood, Juma provides the following to its youth employees:

• business skills training
• financial literacy & asset building
• college exposure & career exploration

Most youth involved in Juma Ventures go on to college and many have started their own businesses.  The Juma Ventures web site provides details on its history, programs, and partners. Learning more about how Juma Ventures became a sustainable social enterprise can teach valuable social enterprise lessons to social entrepreneurs.

To learn more about how Juma Ventures works, at their web site, click here.

Springboard Innovations' Programs Assist Youth/Adults Initiate Sustainable, Innovative Solutions

"Launching community led change" is the aim of Springboard Innovations.   This Portland, OR-based "social profit" organization focuses on assisting youth and adults to address local problems with sustainable, innovative solutions. Springboard Innovations has 4 types of programs that assist "launchers" over a 6-12 month period:

• a program for youth
• a community-based adult program
• a program for persons in the second half of their lives
  
• a university program

Each program includes workshops, technology-based learning tools, resource materials, and support.  Some of Springboard Innovations past partner programs have included Girls Scouts of America, The New Heroes PBS series on social entrepreneurs, and Room to Read.

The Springboard Innovations web site will be of interest both new and experienced social entrepreneurs with its detailed description of their programs, resources, and promising approach. 

To learn more about Springboard Innovations, at their web site, click here.

Social Innovations Conversations Podcast on "Evaluating Social Venture Ideas"

It can be difficult to take the first steps towards beginning a social venture.  How do you know if your idea is viable?  What makes a social enterprise sustainable?  The Social Innovation Conversations podcast titled "Evaluating Social Venture Ideas" can help answer these questions.  This 2005 Net Impact panel discussion, organized by the Stanford Graduate School of Business, includes a funder, a serial social entrepreneur, and a professional consultant who discuss specific aspects of the early-stage of social enterprises.

The discussion includes topics such as:

• how to evaluate social venture ideas
• tools, measures, and techniques currently used to evaluate social ventures
• how to predict and measure social impact

Social entrepreneurs and others seeking to enter the field will find this podcast thought-provoking and useful in planning new social ventures.

To listen to the podcast, at the Social Innovations Conversations web site, click here.

The University Network for Social Entrepreneurship Web Site

 The University Network for Social Entrepreneurship has web-based resources for persons working, teaching, or learning about social entrepreneurship.  Designed as a "resource hub and action-oriented discussion forum" the University Network seeks to widen education and participation in social entrepreneurship around the world. 

Founded by ASHOKA, the SKOLL Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, the Social Enterprise Knowledge Network, and the EMES European Knowledge Network; the web site includes resources on research, teaching, action, and social entrepreneurship in the news.  The University Network's electronic journal is produced with the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) and provides access to articles on topics such as:

• courses, cases, and teaching notes
• issues in social enterprise
• social entrepreneurship behavior
• social entrepreneurs
• theoretical approaches

Social entrepreneurs will want check out all that that the University Network has to offer in resources, connecting to others in the field, and opportunities to share your expertise.  To learn more about the University Network, at their web site, click here.

Social Enterprise Alliance Provides Resources for Social Entrepreneurs

The organization, Social Enterprise Alliance (SEA), is a member organization that seeks to bring together the diverse field of social enterprise.  SEA is an advocate for the field, which includes social entrepreneurs, and serves as a hub of information/education.  The SEA web site resources include:

• directories
• products/tools
• services/assistance
• learning opportunities
• knowledge center

SEA also hosts teleconferences and produces an e-newsletter. Some resources are restricted to members but many are available, for free or for a fee, to web site visitors.  Social entrepreneurs, and other leaders in the field of social enterprise, will want to check out this web site to access information/learn more about the latest social enterprise innovations.

To go to the Social Enterprise Alliance web site, click here.

Echoing Green: Funding Bold Ideas for Social Change

Bold ideas are what make social entrepreneurs different from other social/business ventures.  Echoing Green is a non profit organization that funds social entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for social change.  For 21 years Echoing Green has been annually selecting "fellows", from the U.S. and around the world, to receive:

• seed money over 2 years
• health insurance/other benefits
• strategic planning/leadership support
• legal/financial modeling assistance
• mentoring from Echoing Green network of alumni/other social change professionals

The Echoing Green web site provides details, gives access to information on current/past "fellows", and has podcasts on social entrepreneurship.  Social entrepreneurs with a bold idea that needs start-up funding will want to check out this organization.  Anyone interested in social entrepreneurship will want to explore this web site to learn the latest on new innovations in the field.

To learn more about Echoing Green, at their web site, click here.

The Institute for Social Entrepreneurs Web Site Offers Free Resources/Tools

Social Innovators need low-cost, easily accessible resources that can enable them to improve the quality of services they offer.  The web site for the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship can provide valuable resources, free for download, such as:

• videos
• case studies
• tools
• articles

The web page also offers an extensive list of social enterprise terminology, links to other useful web sites, and news on social enterprise news around the world.

To check out all that the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship web can offer, click here.

Social Innovation Forum Connects Social Innovators with the Social Impact Investment Community

Social entrepreneurs have ideas that can bring positive change to communities but finding resources to implement these ideas can be difficult. The Social Innovation Forum was created as a pilot project to connect social innovators, in the greater Boston area, with resources to allow the development of sustainable programs.  The success of this pilot project launched the Social Innovation Forum into an initiative now under the wing of Root Cause.

How does the Social Innovation Forum work?  The Social Innovation Forum recruits, reviews, and selects social entrepreneurs to participate in training over 12 months that culminates with an event to meet with social investors.The Social Innovation Forum web site provides more details about the program and gives links to previous/current Social Innovators' web sites.

While the Social Innovation Forum focuses its work in the greater Boston area, the web site will be useful others in the field who want to learn more about best practices in social entrepreneurship/how to appeal to funders.  Resources include:

• Summaries of Social Innovators programs/funding,
• Prospectus of Social Innovators,
• Video recordings of past Social Innovators' "pitch" to investors.

To learn more about the Social Innovation Forum, at the web site, click here.

Social Innovation Conversations Web Site Podcast on Philanthrophy Today

Persons who have successfully guided their organizations through years of social innovation have experience and skills that they can share with others.  The web site Social Innovation Conversations, from the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, facilitates this transfer of knowledge through podcasts available for free download.

One notable podcast is with social venture leader Laura Arrillaga, the founder and chairman of the Silicon Valley Venture Fund (SV2).   In this 2008 interview "Arrillaga describes "the dramatic growth of foundations and philanthropic giving, highlighting important new giving vehicles and products. She notes changes in the general profile of the donor, developments such as venture philanthropy and the social capital marketplace, the increasing internationalization of philanthropic efforts, and other signs of progress in this area." (Social Innovation Conversations web site)

This podcast will be of special interest to leaders/managers of foundations who want to learn about how philanthropy has changed over the past 10 years and the current trends in the field. Arrillaga's interview will also be useful to others who lead organizations that look to foundations/philanthropic giving for support.

To access the podcast with Laura Arrilaga, on the Social Innovation Conversation web site, click here.

The Phoenix Project Links Next Generation of Social Entrepreneurs with Communities in Need

The Virginia nonprofit organization, The Phoenix Project, aims to ease poverty through creating a sustainable partnership between Virginia higher education and some of the state's most needy communities. To achieve this goal The Phoenix Project "operates at the intersection of social entrepreneurship, poverty and technology." (Phoenix Project). 

The Phoenix Project programs include:

• Development of nonprofit leadership/social entrepreneurship development programs for undergraduate/graduate students.
• University-community partnerships that use Virginia university resources (e.g.staff, students) to assist distressed communities with economic/development challenges and offers universities with opportunities in teaching, research, and service.
• The Phoenix Project is partnering with other organizations to develop strategies to using existing/new social media technology to better connect communities in need with persons/universities seeking social change.

The Phoenix Project web site will be of interest to leaders looking to engage the next generation of social entrepreneurs with an educational/practical strategy.  The web site also includes articles/resources/links relating to social entrepreneurship that can provide useful information for leaders.

To find out more about how The Phoenix Project works/lessons learned, at their web site, click here.

Net Impact Web Site Provides Resources to Strengthen Community of Social Entrepreneurs

Social entrepreneurs need to be well versed in different approaches, theories, and aspects of social entrepreneurship. The web site, Net Impact, offers information and resources that give social entrepreneurs a solid overview of the field.

Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization whose "mission is to make a positive impact on society by growing and strengthening a community of leaders who use business to improve the world" (Net Impact).  One feature of the Net Impact web site is the Learning Center which includes resources on social entrepreneurship. 

Resources are drawn from leaders in this field and include recent articles/reports such as:

• "Rediscovering Social Innovation"
• "Everyone's a Changemaker: Social Entrepreneurship's Ultimate Goal"
• "Creating Social Change: 10 Innovative Technologies"

Net Impact will be a valuable resource for social entrepreneurs looking for a broad overview on the topic of social entrepreneurship.  The web site enables users to acquire in-depth knowledge/opinions from experienced social entrepreneurs and it provides links to other useful resources.

To explore all that Net Impact has to offer, at their web site, click here.

"Hands On Articles" Available on Root Cause Web Site

The Root Cause web site offers numerous resources on topics such as social impact research, inner city entrepreneurs, and public innovators. Root Cause's "Knowledge Sharing Resources" have been developed to give practical and thought-provoking information based on experience. Included in "Knowledge Sharing Resources" are "Hands On Articles": a series of how-to articles to assist social entrepreneurs with issues such as business planning and measuring impact.

The hands-on articles include case studies and tools that will be valuable to organizational leaders looking for concrete steps to use in the development of business planning, collaboration with government leaders, or creation of a plan to measure social impact. 

To start learning more about how hands-on articles can help you guide your organization, go to the Root Cause web site, by clicking here.

Social Science Research Network Web Resources for Social Entrepreneurs

Research on successful, innovative ventures in social entrepreneurship provides information that can improve organizational effectiveness.  The Social Science Research Network web site offers a social entrepreneurship abstract data base that gives social entrepreneurs access to the latest research information on topics such as: leadership, social change, and management.

This web site will be of interest to social entrepreneurs who want to find information on approaches that have proven effective.  Social Science Research Network's data base will also give access to research findings on what doesn't work, or can use improvement, in social entrepreneurship.  Many of the articles are available for free download although some may require a fee.

To explore all the Social Science Research Network has to offer, at their web site, click here.

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice Article Provides Compartive Analysis of Commercial/Social Entrepreneurship

How do you distinguish social entrepreneurship from commercial entrepreneurship?  What can social entrepreneurs learn and use from business entrepreneurship to improve their programs?  According to the authors of the article titled "Social and Commercial Entrepreneurship: Same, Different, or Both?" ( J. Austin, H.Stevenson, and J. Wei-Skillem, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Volume 30, Issue 1, 2006), analysis of both types of entrepreneurship can result in improved social entrepreneurial process. 

The above article includes a review of similarities and differences between social and commercial entrepreneurship and presents a "framework on how to approach the social entrepreneurial process more systematically and effectively" (Austin, et al) .  In addition to a review of theoretical considerations, the article features:

• A review of commercial entrepreneurship model.
• Application of commercial entrepreneurship model to social entrepreneurship.
• A framework for social entrepreneurship.
• Implications for practice.

To access this article, and read the details, at the Harvard Business School's Social Enterprise Initiative web site, click here.

Root Cause How-to Guide: "Business Planning for Enduring Social Impact"

Root Cause, has a series of "How-to Guides" that "provide practical advice for organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors dedicated to solving social problems". (Root Cause) The first of these guides is titled "Business Planning for Enduring Social Impact:  A Root Cause How-to Guide". 

This guide provides social entrepreneurs with an introduction to business planning and directs them through the four step process of creating a business plan.  It is an ideal tool for leaders seeking to:

• Develop a road map for their organization's focus/strategy;
  
• Establish financial stability through developing reliable sources of support;
• Develop partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit sectors;
• Make data-driven decisions to lead to improvements in organizational programs/activities.
  

The guide can be viewed on-line or downloaded for free. Hard copies are available for purchase.  

To learn more and access this guide, at the Root Cause web site, click here.

Duke's CASE Web Site Resources on Economic Strategies for Social Impact

Duke University's Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) web site has a wide variety of resources, including a web page titled Economic Strategies for Social Impact.  This web page provides answers to strategic questions that many social entrepreneurs have, such as:  "What is the range of economic strategies and structures social entrepreneurs employ in their pursuit of social impact, including nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid organizational forms? How can social entrepreneurs make these decisions strategically?" (CASE)

Resources on this CASE web page consist of reports/articles to download and links to some documents that may need to be purchased. Topics include:

• Earned Income Strategies
• Mobilizing Resources
• Economic Structures
• Entrepreneurial Philanthropy

To find out more, at the CASE Economic Strategies for Social Impact web page, click here.

To go to the home page of CASE, click here.

"Scaling Social Impact" Tools Available at Duke's CASE Web Site

Many non-profits/social enterprises address broad problems that affect a wide sector of the population.  How can social entrepreneurs begin to increase the positive social impact of their enterprises?  The process, called scaling social impact, is the focus of one of Duke's Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) web pages. CASE is currently building on the body of knowledge available on scaling social impact in order to share with social entrepreneurs.

Titled Scaling Social Impact, this web page provides a comprehensive array of resources for leaders/managers to use, such as:

• Overview/definition
• Frameworks for scaling social impact
• Articles, papers & presentations
• Survey reports/case studies

To explore all of these CASE resources and find out more about scaling social impact, at the CASE web site, click here.

To go to the CASE home page, click here.

Columbia Business School's Research Initiative on Social Entrepreneurship

 In 2002, Columbia Business School began its research project titled RISE (Research Initiative on Social Entrepreneurship).  The mission of RISE is "to study and disseminate knowledge about the markets, metrics and management of for-profit and nonprofit social enterprise and social venturing." (RISE web site).

The RISE web site includes useful links, a double line investor directory and reports/case studies, available for free download, such as:

• Social Impact Assessment
• RISE Management Tool: Social Venture Rubric
• The Double Line Project Report:  Assessing Social Impact in Double Line Ventures

To access these resources and find out more about RISE, at the RISE web site, click here.

JFK School of Govt.'s Working Paper on Partnerships between Corporations/Social Entrepreneurs

Corporations have increasingly become involved in using their expertise/resources to help find solutions to social and environmental problems. Similarly, social entrepreneurs have been developing innovative solutions to address needs in a wide variety of sectors and community settings.  What is the potential for these two fields to join together to achieve their common goals?

According to the authors of  "Investing in Social Innovation: Harnessing the Potential of Partnership between Corporations and Social Entrepreneurs": "The growth in corporate responsibility and social entrepreneurship represents two of the most exciting social trends of the past decade."  (Nelson, Jane and Beth Jenkins, 2006, Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative Working Paper No. 20.  Cambridge, MA:  John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University).

In the above-mentioned paper, Nelson and Jenkins look at some of the "innovative alliances" that currently exist in developed/developing countries.  They lay out a conceptual framework that encourages different ways of thinking about how companies can support social entrepreneurship. The paper summarizes the "business case" for how collaboration can help businesses to meet their goals and support corporate values.  It also provides "recommendations for business leaders, social entrepreneurs, foundations, and governments on how they can work together to increase the scale and effectiveness of these alliances for mutual benefit." (Nelson & Jenkins)

This paper offers thought provoking ideas and examples that will be of interest to those involved in the field of social entrepreneurship. To access and read this paper, at the University Network for Social Entrepreneurship web site, click here.

Two Social Entrepreneurship Case Studies from Stanford Social Innovation Review

Innovation is a core concept behind social entrepreneurship and that means taking risks to try something new.   Two case studies, featured on the Standford Social Innovation Review web site, show how being willing to take a risk on a new idea can result in new opportunities and services:

• "The People's IPO" by Anne Stuhldreher, Winter 2007.  This case study focuses on community ownership of a project to improve an underserved neighborhood.  It reviews the development of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) for community members to invest in a shopping area "conceived, planned, and designed by community residents".  Despite resistance from officials because of its risk, the "community development IPO" was finally approved and residents have been investing in Market Creek Plaza.  To learn more about the community engagement and ownership mechanisms used in this project, at the Stanford Social Innovation Review web site, click here.

• "Managing Risk" by Kathryn Olney, Winter 2004. The Nonprofits' Insurance Alliance of California (NIAC) has been providing insurance to nonprofits for over 15 years.  As a nonprofit, itself, NIAC set out to provide property/casualty insurance to nonprofits--usually considered a high risk by for-profit insurance companies. "NIAC has successfully penetrated a market dominated by forprofit companies by identifying the nonprofit segment as a niche that was not properly understood or served by forprofit insurance companies."  (Olney)  To read the details of how NIAC's idea has led it to serve nonprofits nationwide, at the Standford Social Innovation Review web site, click here.
  

You can read more about Market Creek Plaza, at the Policy Link web site, click here.

To visit the NIAC web site, click here.

Public Innovators Web Site Connects Government with Social Entrepreneurship

Collaboration between government agencies/policymakers and social entrepreneurs can result wide ranging solutions to social needs.  The web site Public Innovators seeks to advance the field of social entrepreneurship by offering research findings/policy recommendations, connecting stakeholders, and providing support/guidance to public sector innovators.

A nonpartisan initiative of Root Cause, Public Innovators has information that applies to nonprofit, for-profit, or government programs involved in social entrepreneurship. A few of the important offerings on this web site include:

• "5 Roles that Government Should Embrace to Support Social Entrepreneurship"
•  "13 Recommendations and Models for Government Leaders"
• Case Studies in the areas of health, education, economic development, and "youth, family, elderly.

To explore all that the Public Innovators web site has to offer, at their web site, click here.

Authenticity Consulting Web Site Offers "Social Entrepreneurship Toolbox"

An increasing number of nonprofit leaders are looking at social entrepreneurship as a way to develop effective and sustainable programs.  Authenticity Consulting offers a "Social Entrepreneurship Toolbox", free to download, that includes resources to introduce nonprofit managers/leaders to this field.  Resources cover topics such as:

• the basics/meaning of social entrepreneurship
• sources of funding
• success stories
• management issues

The toolbox includes links to books, articles, reports, and other web site resources.  Many resources are free but some do require a small fee.  Nonprofit managers/leaders wanting to learn more about social entrepreneurship, or currently working in the field, will want to check out this toolbox. 

Click here to go directly to "Social Entrepreneurship Toolbox" from Authenticity Consulting.

Click here to go to the Authenticity Consulting web page, Capacity Building for NonProfits, and access the toolbox.

Foundation Strategy Group Paper on Social Entrepreneurship: "Measuring Innovation"

Assessing program performance can be a difficult task for social entrepreneurs.  Traditional evaluation approaches for philanthropic work, nonprofit, or for-profit ventures can miss key aspects of social entrepreneurship.  In the paper titled "Measuring Innovation:  Evaluation in the Field of Social Entrepreneurship" (Foundation Strategy Group, 2005) author Mark Kramer examines current approaches to evaluation of social entrepreneurship. 

Kramer states that traditional grant-funded program evaluations focus on the impact of the program on its beneficiaries.  However, for social entrepreneurship the "character and leadership abilities of the people who run the programs, the financial leverage and sustainability of the sponsoring organization, and the extent to which others may copy the program's ideas" (Kramer, 2005) are criteria that determine success. In addition, innovation and social change need to be assessed. 

This paper aims to assist those working in the field of social entrepreneurship to learn more about new tools and methods being developed for evaluation. Although "Measuring Innovation" speaks to funders of social entrepreneurship,  social entrepreneurs will find this document a valuable tool for shaping and assessing their programs.

If you want to learn more about how you can better evaluate your social entrepreneurship initiative, click here, to go directly to the paper.

To access the paper through Duke University's CASE web site, click here.

Working Across Boundaries: Making Collaboration Work in Government and Nonprofit Organizations (Book Review)

Why is collaboration so hard?

Anyone who has tried to cultivate collaboration across organizations knows that this is not easy.  Sometimes the barriers to collaboration are clear and formidable.  These are the good cases, because at least we can try to attack the problem.  Other times, things are just not clicking, and no one is really sure why.  These are the really difficult, frustrating, like-to-throw-up-your-hands-and-forget-about-it cases.

Russell M. Linden does not have a solution to every collaboration barrier.  But in his book Working Across Boundaries: Making Collaboration Work in Government and Nonprofit Organizations,  Mr. Linden lays out a framework which can at least help us to more clearly understand and anticipate the obstacles we are likely to encounter in a particular collaboration opportunity. 

Mr. Linden's framework for collaboration has four main pillars which must be in place for a collaboration to be successful.

• The Basics Are in Place.  The parties have a shared purpose; they want to collaborate right now; they are willing to contribute something to achieve it; the right people are at the table; the parties have an open, credible process; and the initiative has a strong champion.
• There Is Trust.  The principals have open, trusting relationships with one another.
• The Stakes Are High.  Success matters - enough to keep people at the table working through problems.
• There Is a Constituency for Collaboration. There is a group of people who strongly believe that a collaborative effort is in their interest, who want to support it, and who have influence over the parties involved. 

Obviously this framework is easier described than created.  The good news is Mr. Linden offers dozens of ideas for how to go about creating each piece of the framework.  In many cases his suggestions are grounded in real-world case studies he relates throughout the book.  This building process obviously requires leadership, which brings us to one of the most interesting parts of the book.

Mr. Linden outlines four qualities of collaborative leaders which are worth thinking about for any leader.  Collaborative leadership is a special type of leadership applied to situations in which multiple units or organizations are proposing to collaborate.  The leader of one unit or organization has no formal authority over the other entities, and so must lead through persuasion rather than formal direction.  This requires four special leadership qualities which Mr. Linden discusses at length.  The effective collaborative leader is:

• Resolute and driven - especially about collaboration.
• Modest - with a strong but measured ego.
• Inclusive - uses 'pull' much more than 'push'.
• Collaborative - is able to find and articulate meaning by seeing connections to something larger. 

Mr. Linden goes on to identify eight key tasks of the collaborative leader, all of which relate back to the framework for collaboration outlined above.  The effective collaborative leader must:

• Help identify the group's shared purpose or goal
• Demonstrate the desire to pursue a collaborative solution now, and contribute something to achieve it
• Help identify the 'right people' who should be at the table for the initiative
• Emphasize the importance of an open, credible process
• Be a personal champion for the initiative
• Model behaviors that support openness and trust
• Emphasize the high stakes involved in the initiative
• Help to build a broad constituency for the collaboration among multiple stakeholders.

This blueprint for collaborative leadership can be a helpful guide to us as we pursue our next collaborative effort.  Coupled with the framework for collaboration, it can also help us diagnose whether the right pieces could ever be in place to pursue a collaboration.  Sometimes the answer is 'no' - and that is not always a bad thing.  Given the time and energy it takes to produce effective collaboration, a failed collaboration can be worse than no collaboration at all.

We strongly recommend Working Across Boundaries to anyone with responsibility for leading or just taking part in a collaboration.

   

The Measure of a Leader: How to know if you are making a difference

How do I know if I am making a difference as a leader?

This is an important question for every leader.  And it is not always easy to answer.  But Aubrey C. Daniels and James E. Daniels, in their book The Measure of a Leader, offer a practical framework for measuring the effect of your actions on your people.  Just as important, they offer practical advice for using that information to inspire excellent performance in ourselves and the people around us.

Daniels & Daniels bring a valuable perspective to the question of leadership impact.  Through their firm Aubrey Daniels International, they work with business leaders around the world on issues of leadership and management.  This broad perspective has allowed them to develop a leadership model which is heavily rooted in practical experience.  They add distinctive value by articulating practical measures of leadership impact which can be used as feedback to continuously elevate both the leader and the team.

To get right to the heart of the matter, Daniels & Daniels identify four categories and 12 measures of leadership impact.

Momentum.  In this first category of leadership impact, the question is: How well do your followers respond to your direction?  You can measure your impact on momentum by considering three measures.  The first measure is Mass - how many followers respond to the leader's call?  The second measure is Velocity - how long does it take followers to take action?   The third measure is Direction - how closely do the followers' behaviors match the leader's direction?

Commitment.  In this second category of leadership impact, the question is: Are your followers focused on your goals?  You can measure your impact on comitment using three measures.  First, Vision - how many people can relate their efforts to the leader's vision? Second, Values - How many people can relate an example exemplifying the leader's values?  The third measure is Persistence - How many people working with the leader meet their commitments?

Initiative.  Daniels & Daniels identify Initiative as the third category of leadership impact.  The main question here is, are your followers working together?  Here again there are three measures.  The first is Teamwork - how frequently to individuals assist their peers?  The second measure is Interfaces - how many people actively assist other units?  The third measure is Innovation - how many suggestions are made that support the mission or the vision?

Reciprocity.  In this fourth category of leadership impact, the question is: Are your followers collectively working with the leader?  Reciprocity can be measured in three ways.  The first measure is Trust - how often do people take responsibility for mistakes?  The second measure is Respect -- how often do followers seek out the leader for advice or counsel?  The third measure is Growth - how many followers become leaders? 

We can apply this framework for measuring our leadership impact in a quick & informal fashion or in a very in-depth and formal way.  From a quick & informal standpoint, it is certainly helpful to ask ourselves on a daily basis whether we are observing momenum, commitment, initiative, and reciprocity in the people around us.  To the extent we sense problems, we can go to work on our leadership actions to right the situation.  This is where Daniels & Daniels really come through for us.  In the Appendix of the book they provide a list of 50 specific & practical things we can do to elevate momentum, commitment, initiative, and reciprocity.  As the authors acknowledge, the idea is not to attempt to implement all 50 at any one time.  The idea is to focus on areas which need work, and use the suggestions as a guide to action.

The Measure of a Leader is one of the most clear & practical leadership books we have encountered, and we strongly recommend it to anyone who is or aspires to be a leader in either a community or organizational setting.  This stuff works.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers/World Economic Forum Research Results:Businesses Should Invest in Chronic Disease Prevention

Businesses are increasingly feeling the effects of the rising costs of chronic care due to loss in productivity and direct medical costs. A report on research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, in conjunction with the World Economic Forum, warns that over the next 25 years chronic disease "will reduce the available labor supply, savings and investments, and will ultimately affect the capital markets." (PricewaterhouseCoopers/www.primewirenews.com). 

The report, titled "Working Towards Wellness: The Business Rationale" by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the World Economic Forum (January 2008), provides a global perspective on the impact of chronic diseases on interdependent economies and health systems, such as:

• Globally, the rate of death due to chronic disease accounts for more than half of all deaths annually and is expected to rise by 23% during the next 20-25 years. 
• Productivity losses from workers with chronic disease,can result in as much as 400% more than the cost of treating chronic disease.

The report outlines four primary reasons why businesses should invest in prevention of chronic disease:

• Chronic disease drives national healthcare costs
• Productivity losses associated with chronic disease are even greater
• Workplace wellness efforts can positively impact human capital investments
• Sustainability is threatened by the epidemic of chronic disease

To read the details in the article titled Cost of Chronic Hurts Businesses and Threatens Economic Stability, PricewaterhouseCoopers Report for World Economic Forum Finds and access the report, at the Prime News  Wire web site, click here.

Tools to Increase Health Providers Cultural Competence

Cultural competence enables health care providers to give appropriate/effective care to all patients regardless of their ethnic/cultural background.  The following are some additional resources/tools that can assist health care providers in achieving cultural competence.

• One of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) cultural competency tools, available on the HRSA web site, is their Cultural Competence Assessment Profile.  This Assessment Profile can be used by health care delivery organizations to assess cultural competence.  A description of the project that developed the Profile is described on the HRSA web site.  To read more, at the HRSA web site, click here.

• Management Sciences for Health (MSH) has a web site called The Providers Guide to Quality & Culture.  This web site is designed to assist health care organizations deliver culturally competent services to multi-ethnic populations.  The web site includes information on patient/provider interaction, health disparities, cultural groups, and other resources.  To go to this MSH web site and explore, click here.

• Think Cultural Health is the title of the HHS/Office of Minority Health web site for Cultural Competency Continuing Education Programs. This site includes access to culturally competent nursing, curriculum, and emergency preparedness modules, cultural health news, and many resources.  To find out more, at the HHS web site, click here.

• The University of Michigan Health System Program for Multicultural Health web site includes tools and resources for cultural competency. Tools/resources include assessments, communication models, language, and tools relating to specific health fields. To go to this University of Michigan web site, click here.

Daviess County-Community Access Project: Small Can Be Good!

Founded in the summer of 2004, the Daviess County-Community Access Project (DC-CAP) is a community-wide initiative created to eliminate healthcare barriers for uninsured Daviess County, Kentucky residents. The program assists patients in navigating the complex healthcare system and receiving consistent, timely care. In order to provide this consistent care, enrolled patients are assigned a primary care physician that will accept them into their private practices.

DC-CAP case managers provide appointment reminders for patients, arrange transportation, assist in acquiring needed medications and provide general support to patients as they seek to improve their health.

By managing a physician network, providing prescription assistance, arranging agreements for ancillary and hospital services, DC-CAP provides enrollees with access to the entire continuum-of-care through donated services from local healthcare professionals and facilities.

In its 2005-2006 annual report, DC-CAP reported 154 patients enrolled in DC-CAP received 698 visits from a network of 91 physician providers. This Provider Network represents 58% of all community physician providers and includes providers form 17 medical specialty areas.

Click here for more information about DC-CAP.

Promising Practices in Community Pharmacy Care

Promising practices in community pharmacy practices provide learning opportunities for others looking to improve pharmacy services for their communities. The following are selected examples of promising practices/innovations in community pharmacies.

• The Center for Health Professions at the University of California,San Francisco/School of Pharmacy conducts research on pharmacy leadership issues, including the pharmacy safety net.  The UCSF/Pharmacy Leadership Institute web site includes access to an issue brief on the Pharmacy Safety Net that reviews past, current, and future trends.  To go to the UCSF/School of Pharmacy web site, click here.

• The UCSF/School of Pharmacy also has a web site titled Innovators in Community Pharmacy. This web site gives access to role model community pharmacists/physicians and to emerging practice models.  To read more/watch video interviews, at the UCSF/School of Pharmacy web site, click here.

• Drake University's web site, (Des Moines, Iowa) includes an article on a promising practice in community pharmacies. Titled 'All Access' the article describes how the Community Access Pharmacy was initiated in 2004.  To read about this promising practice, at the Drake University web site,  click here.  To read more about this pharmacy, at the Health Access Partnership web site, click here.

• The HRSA Pharmacy Affairs and 340B Drug Pricing Program web site has a list of promising  practices in community pharmacy practices.  Titled, Alternative Method Demonstration Project Summaries, various pharmacy initiatives are briefly described.  To read the project summaries, at the HRSA web site, click here.

'Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator' can be used to engage community and business leaders in community health improvement

The Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator developed by the Active Living Leadership Project with funding from Fifty Plus Lifelong Fitness, is an easy-to-use online tool that calculates the financial cost of inactivity for adult populations.

To use the calculator, you plug in the number of adults age eighteen or older in your community or business, the number of workers in this population, the number age 65+, the median salary, and the estimated percent who are physically inactive.  The calculator produces a rough estimate of the economic cost of physical activity for this population.

To use the calculator, you plug in the number of adults age eighteen or older in your community or business, the number of workers in this population, the number age 65+, the median salary, and the estimated percent who are physically inactive.  The calculator produces a rough estimate of the economic cost of physical activity for this population. 

The estimates are not precise, but they are provocative.  Community health entrepreneurs can use the calculator to grab the attention of community leaders or business leaders who have not yet considered the economic cost of physical inactivity, nor the economic benefit of promoting physical activity within their community or workforce.

You can check out The Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator here.

Additional Cost Calculators for Depression, Tobacco Use and Alchohol Use can be found here. 

Three Childhood Healthy Weight Programs with Lessons/Resources to Share

Valuable lessons can be learned from the following three programs. Each program assists communities/schools in promoting healthy eating and physical activity to children.

• The Highmark Foundation has a $100 million initiative called Highmark Healthy High 5. Highmark offers grants to nonprofits promoting lifelong healthy behaviors in children and adolescents. Nutrition and physical activity are two of the Healthy High 5 priority areas. To find out more about program/funding opportunities, at the Highmark Foundation web site, click here.   

• As part of the Highmark Foundation's Healthy High 5 initiative, the Learn to be Healthy web site is available to provide health science educational activities for educators and students. To explore all the free resources/activities, at the Learn to Be Healthy web site, click here.

• Project PA is a collaboration between Penn State University's Department of Nutrition and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Food and Nutrition.  This program partners with schools and communities to promote healthy eating behaviors in children.  The Project PA web site has a best practices list, program examples, and resources that can be useful schools/communities anywhere. To visit Project PA, click here.

• The California Endowment has a $26 million program called Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAC). HEAC has expanded its focus from the individual to the community to work on policy changes that will reduce the risk of obesity/diabetes. This program has documentation, evaluations, and resources available to assist others working towards similar goals.  To go to the HEAC web site, click here.

Three Featured National Social Marketing Campaigns to Reduce Childhood Obesity

Social marketing campaigns, that reach across the nation, provide useful examples for community coalitions seeking to develop campaigns to promote healthy habits to children. The following are three successful national social marketing campaigns:

• The Academy for Academic Development (AED) is internationally known for its expertise in social marketing.  The AED Center for Health Communications web site provides insight into the successful  social marketing campaign, WE CAN!, that AED developed for the NHLBI. To find out the details about the development of this campaign, at the AED Center for Health Communications web site, click here.

• The Alliance for a Healthier Generation has developed a unique approach to marketing their messages promoting healthy eating/exercise for youth. The Go Healthy Challenge (TM) Kids Movement features media promotion, on-line promotion, and community-based promotion.  The Alliance has teamed up with Nick/Let's Just Play, Rachel Ray, and the American Heart Association.  To look at the different facets of this social marketing campaign, at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation web site, click here. To go  to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation Go Healthy Challenge web site, click here.  To go to the Nick/LetsJustPlay web site, click here.

• The Ad Council's Coalition for Healthy Children consists of corporate marketers, media companies, non-profits, foundations, and government agencies.  This coalition has a social marketing campaign that features messages targeting children and adults through a variety of media.  To find out more about the AdCouncil's Coalition for Healthy Children, at their web site, click here.  To go to the Ad Council's Childhood Prevention web site and see more examples of their social marketing products, click here.

Best Practice Examples in Mental Health Care from SAMSHA/AAP

National organizations have the ability to offer numerous examples of best practices in mental health care.  Below are links to SAMHSA and AAP that include a large sample of effective mental health care approaches.

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adiminstration's (SAMHSA) web site gives access to brief descriptions of model, effective, and promising programs.   Many programs are listed in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices.  To go  to SAMHSA Model Programs web page, click here. To go to the SAMHSA, Effective Programs web page, click here. To go to the SAMHSA, Promising Programs web page, click here.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a web site that addresses children's mental health in primary care. The AAP Mental Health Chapter Kit includes strategies to improve children's mental health care in primary care settings. The Collaborative Projects web page allows users to chose to look at innovative projects in different states.To go to the AAP Mental Health web site, click here. To go to the Mental Health Chapter Action Kit, click here.  To go to the AAP Collaborative Projects web page,click here.

Three Programs for Youth Promote Healthy Lifestyles

Innovative programs to promote healthy eating/physical activity continue to be developed across the nation.  The following programs offer unique approaches to healthy lifestyles promotion for youth.

• The Healthy Kids Challenge (HKC) non-profit program based is implemented across the U.S.   HKC works with schools, communities, and programs to create solutions through Connect Health And Needs, Get Excited! (CHANGE). The HKC web site is full of information, resources, and access to tools/products.  To find out more about HKC, at their web site, click here.

• The National Dance Institute of New Mexico (NDI-NM) has developed an outreach program that works with public schools to include dance as part of their regular curriculum. NDI-NM also has Hip to be Fit Train the Trainer program, for teachers.  Hip to be Fit trains teachers, school administrators, and foundations to incorporate physical activity in the classroom through a multidisciplinary curriculum.  To read more about NDI-NM, at the NDI-NM web site, click here.  To read the RWJF Grant Results on Hip to be Fit, at the RWJF web site, click here.

• Celebrate Fitness!, a healthy lifestyles program for Native American youth, was conducted between 2001 and 2005.  Designed and implemented by United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) and members of 9 youth councils, Celebrate Fitness! was funded by RWJF.  A key aspect of Celebrate Fitness! is that the program is youth-led. In 2005, the program was awarded additional funding to continue for 4 more years.  To read the Grant Results, at the RWJF web site, click here.

Three Programs to Assist Community Pharmacies in Accessing Free Medication

Community pharmacies need effective/efficient tools to insure that all patients have access to essential medications.  The following are tools/promising practices that can help pharmacies in accessing free medications. 

• The Rx Partnership, Inc is a public/private partnership to increase free access to free medications for Virginians who are uninsured.  Rx Partnership gets free medications in bulk from pharmaceutical companies and distributes them to nonprofit pharmacies. To learn more about Rx Partnership, at their web site, click here.

• The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPARx) is a national program that helps qualifying patients access  medications through a public or private program.  The PPARx web site allows for patients, caregivers and prescribers to research programs/apply online.  To go to the PPARX web site, click here.

• IndiCare is an internet-based software application that simplifies/enhances the process of accessing free pharmaceuticals for patients. This product allows pharmacies/healthcare providers to quickly assess a patient's eligibility, facilitates the application process, and gives access to many of the major pharmaceutical companies, thus streamlining the procedure.  To read more about IndiCare, click here.

      

Tools to Improve Communications/Safety for Community Pharmacies

Tools, such as the following, are available for community pharmacies to use to increase medication safety and improve patient/pharmacist communications.

• The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has a web page titled: Tools to Build a Community Pharmacy Medication Safety Program that contains several tools that community pharmacies can use to assure medication safety. To find out more about the tools, at the ISMP web site, click here.

• AHRQ has a Pharmacy Health Literacy Tool to allow pharmacies to assess how well they meet  patients' needs.  The tool kit was designed to capture the perceptions of objective auditors, pharmacy staff, and patients.  To use/explore this tool, at the AHRQ web site, click here.

• The AHRQ web site also includes a curriculum for pharmacy staff training in communication strategies.  The training is designed to introduce pharmacists to the problem/implications of low health literacy in patients.The training includes techniques that pharmacists can use to improve communications with patients with low health literacy. To review the training program, at the AHRQ site, click here.

Best Practices in Social Marketing for Healthy Habits: Four Examples

Current childhood obesity prevention social marketing campaigns can stimulate ideas and provide lessons for community organizations seeking to begin similar initiatives.  The following are some examples of some of the best practices in social marketing for childhood obesity prevention.

• Jump Up and Go! is the name of the Blue Cross Massachusetts campaign to help children, parents, and communities adopt healthier habits.  The Blue Cross Mass. web site includes a description of the program and gives access to a video, brochure, and information for specific groups.  To learn more about Jump Up and Go!, at the Blue Cross Massachusetts web site, click here

• The CDC's Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity offers a list of social marketing case studies to assist organizations in the process of planning social marketing interventions. Each case study includes an explanation of how the organization developed their nutrition/physical activity campaign. To read the case studies and learn, at the CDC web site, click here.

• Worldways Social Marketing is working with Nemours Health & Prevention Services in Delaware to help kids live healthier lives. "Kids Can't Do it Alone" is central message and Worldways created child-friendly spokespeople, called The Mighty Timoneers, to promote Nemours' 5-2-1-Almost None message.  To see the details about this successful social marketing approach, at the Worldways Social Marketing web site, click here.

• Dewey & Associates (D&A), is a social marketing and prevention strategy practice that specializes in childhood obesity prevention.  This firm has developed social marketing campaigns relating to various issues/target audiences relating to childhood obesity such as: Big Fat Industries and Kidz Bite Back. The D&A web site includes access to each of the campaign web sites/information and gives common elements of all the D&A childhood obesity prevention campaigns. To visit the D&A web site and explore, click here.

Healthy Weight Messages for Kids from Three Community Coalitions

Some community-based healthy weight initiatives, for children, don't use social marketing but have one consistent message included in their education activities. The following are 3 community coalitions with notable messages:

• The New York Coalition for Healthy Lunches uses "Healthy Food + Exercise = Better Health, Better Grades, Better Behavior" for their central message.  This coalition promotes increases in plant foods, farm to school programs, healthy snack foods, and nutrition education for children in schools.  To read more about the NY Coalition for Healthy Lunches, at their web site, click here.

• In Victoria, Texas, the Crossroads Health Coalition has "Building a Healthier Community one step at a time" as their slogan. This coalition has also initiated a "Get Fit Victoria" campaign to encourage community members to walk.  To look at the Crossroads Health Coalition's activities, at their web site, click here.

• The Napa County Children & Weight Coalition, in California, uses a logo with the message "Get Veggies, Get Fruit, Get Moving!" in their education materials.  To look at a coalition brochure and visit the Napa County Children & Weight Coalition web site, click here.

Five State-Based Healthy Lifestyles Initiatives Provide Lessons/Tools for Social Marketing

Community-based coalitions can learn from the experiences of state-wide social marketing campaigns.  The following are some innovative examples/tools from state-wide initiatives to promote healthy eating/physical exercise.

• The Network for a Healthy California is a successful social marketing initiative from the California Department of Health Services. The web site provides details of various campaigns that target different audiences.  To find out more, at the California Department of Health Care Services web site, click here.

• The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Advertising Department have developed an advertising campaign to increase physical activity and better nutrition in teenagers from age 14-18 years old. The program, called Whatcha Doin? is being piloted in select Nebraska schools during the 2007-08 school year. In addition to traditional media use, the program is using "buzz agents" in schools, promotional activities, and a web presence. To explore the  Whatcha Doin? web site, click here.

• Project LEAN is another California social marketing initiative to promote healthy habits in children.  The Project LEAN web site gives access to a report titled Community-based Social Marketing: The Project LEAN Experience. This document showcases successful examples of different social marketing campaigns implemented by Project LEAN in California. To read the details, at the Project LEAN web site, click here.

• In North Carolina, UNC-TV participated in developing a social marketing campaign for the Fit Together  initiative. Fit Together promotes healthy lifestyles to children, parents, caregivers, and policymakers.  The UNC-TV web site has details on the development/implementation of the social marketing campaign. To read more, at the UNC-TV web site, click here.

• FITKIDS Oklahoma is a state-wide coalition that supports diet and exercise through support from the medical community, lawmakers, and community members.  The FITKIDS web site features Wake Up, Shape Up, and Stand Up sections that include some of the media ads used by FITKIDS.  To look at all FITKIDS Oklahoma has to offer, at their web site, click here.

Six Web-based Tools that Kids Can Use to Learn About Healthy Eating/Fitness

Programs seeking to promote healthy eating/physical activity need a variety of tools to encourage healthy behaviors.  Websites, such as those listed below, are available for children/youth to visit, have fun, and learn about healthy behaviors. 

• The Healthy Fridge is an education web site that provides information on heart-healthy nutrition. The web site includes a "Just for Kids" section as well as nutrition/healthy heart information. The Healthy Fridge also has the latest consumer awareness news/links relating healthy heart nutrition.  To visit The Healthy Fridge, click here.

• The Tooned in School Menu web site seeks to promote healthy eating/nutrition and physical fitness to children and families through participation in school meal programs.  This web site contains activities, short video clips, and music downloads for children/youth. For parents, there is a link to the Family Everyday web magazine and games to play. The web site also has a section for food service professionals with an option to post school menus on the site. To find out more, at the School Menu web site, click here.

• The International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation has a web site called Kidnetic.  Kidnetic is a web site for kids, parents, health professionals and educators. This web site has innovative ideas to increase activity and healthy eating habits. The site also offers Kidnetic Leader resources, that parents/professionals can download. To explore all that Kidnetic has to offer, at their web site, click here.

• The Pacific Science Center and the Washington State Dairy Council have a web site called Nutrition Cafe.  This web site has games, relating to nutrition, that will appeal to younger children. To check out the Nutrition Cafe, at the Pacific Science Center web site, click here.

• Another nutrition-focused web site for younger children is USA Pears' Just for Kids. This web site has games and stories with characters such as the 'Pear Bears' and 'Pear Buddies'.  While this web site does promote pears, it also provides healthy nutrition information in a fun format. To go to the Just for Kids/USA Pears web site, click here.

• The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Advertising Department and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services have an advertising campaign called Whatcha Doin? that is aimed at promoting nutrition and physical activity to teenagers. The Whatcha Doin? web site includes interesting/unique ideas to engage teenagers' interest in healthy habits. To go to the Whatcha Doin? web site and find out more, click here.

Social Marketing Strategies from Five Childhood Obesity Coalitions

The following are examples of social marketing messages/approaches used by childhood obesity coalitions across the country:

• The Coalition on Children and Weight San Diego (CCWSD) is the community action partner of the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative.  CCWSD has identified 7 domains that they feel will be the most helpful in creating healthy environments.  CCWSD used "Get Fit and Thrive" as a social marketing campaign theme. To learn more, at the CCWSD web site, click here.  To go directly to the CCWSD action plan/read the media/marketing plan, at the CCWSD web site, click here.

• The Lexington Tweens Fitness and Nutrition Coalition is a member of the Partnership for a Fit Kentucky. This coalition has used a variety of social marketing projects in their efforts prevent obesity in youth; such as:  VERB, "Fresh Take", and "Grab and Go Breakfast".  To read more about this coalition's approach to social marketing, at the Partnership for a Fit Kentucky web site, click here. To go to the CDC VERB web site, click here.

• Activate Omaha Kids! is a relatively new coalition that chose it's name to tie in with the existing Activate Omaha social marketing campaign. The coalition has 6 areas of focus (called planks) and has "Healthy Inside and Out" an accompanying theme to Activate Omaha Kids!  To explore the Activate Omaha Kids! web site, click here.

• The Lane County Coalition for Healthy, Active Youth is an example of a local coalition that adopted the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI) We Can! educational campaign strategy.  We Can! combines a variety of approaches, including social marketing, to promote healthy weight for youth.  The Lane County Coalition has a relationship with local radio stations/received coverage from local newspapers and incorporated We Can! into community events. To find out more about the Lane County Coalition/We Can! at the NHLBI web site, click here.

• The Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) uses 5-4-3-2-1 Go! as the main theme of their social marketing campaign.  The CLOCC web site has a list of resources relating to 5-4-3-2-1 Go!  To find out details about the CLOCC social marketing campaign, at the CLOCC web site, click here.