Empowerment at Work?: Examining Employment-Based Economic Empowerment Initiatives for Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation.

Many organizations serving survivors of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) have begun economic empowerment programs, providing financial literacy education, vocational training, and/or employment opportunities for survivors. Yet, very little research has examined these programs, especially those that employ survivors. This project draws on a qualitative, multi-method study of 15 organizations that serve and employ CSE survivors to examine how economic empowerment is constructed through organizational discourse and practices, what tensions emerge in these processes, and how organizational actors frame and respond to them. The findings outline the components of "economic empowerment" and explicate the key tensions of authority-autonomy and compassion-accountability.

Perceptions of Health and Wellbeing Among Employees in a Work Integration Social Enterprise in Sweden.

Background: Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) constitute an important vehicle for providing employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups. Objective: The goal of this qualitative case study is to explore perceptions of health and wellbeing among employees working in a WISE located in the Gävleborg region, in east central Sweden. Methods: Data were gathered using 16 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the social enterprise employees. Results: Findings were categorized into three main categories: the importance of financial independence and societal benefits; team spirit and a sense of belonging; and improved quality of life and wellbeing. Conclusion: The participants perceived that working in the WISE gave them a feeling of freedom and increased their self-esteem because of the possibility to earn an income. Also, they were satisfied with their job (e.g., with regard to work quality and flexibility) and believed that their work contributed to society. Moreover, through working in a WISE, the participants felt a sense of belonging and togetherness through interaction with co-workers and managers, and an improved quality of life for themselves and their families.

Rurality and social innovation processes and outcomes: A realist evaluation of rural social enterprise activities.

Although increasingly prominent in research, policy and practice, little is known about social innovation in a rural context. To address this knowledge gap, our paper explores how rurality might affect the social innovation process. Drawing on 68 interviews carried out with beneficiaries, service providers and external stakeholders of a rural social enterprise initiative in Scotland, the paper adopts a realist evaluation theory (Pawson and Tilley, 1997) approach combined with Calò et al.'s (2019) social innovation analytical framework to identify Context-Mechanism-Outcome configurations for rural social innovation. The findings highlight that specific characteristics of rural places can act as stimuli of social innovation. Positive outcomes of a social innovation can potentially be rooted in rural peculiarity and its problematic context. Push factors, born out of necessity, lead to reactive social innovation and pull factors, derived through harnessing perceived opportunities in the environment, lead to proactive social innovation. Importantly, push factors do not undermine the establishment of social innovation - indeed, they can actually promote social innovation and strengthen its validity. The paper also shows that outcomes of the social innovation process might not be specific to rural areas. Instead, the pathway to the desired outcomes is conditioned by rural factors, shaping the contexts and mechanisms of rural social innovation. As different rural locations might have different resources to address local challenges, social innovation processes vary from one case to another, although the challenges being addressed might be similar. As such, rural social innovation policies should not be 'over prescribed'. Context creates both challenges and solutions and influences the type and form of mechanisms used to achieve a desirable social innovation outcome.

Improving Iodine Intake in Rural Haiti through Social Enterprise: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Central Plateau.

Iodine intake in Haiti has increased in recent years thanks to the "Bon Sel" social enterprise approach to salt fortification and distribution by the market segment. However, it was uncertain whether this salt reached remote communities. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the iodine status of school-age children (SAC) and women of reproductive age (WRA) in a remote region of the Central Plateau. A total of 400 children (9-13 years) and 322 women (18-44 years) were recruited through schools and churches, respectively. Urinary iodine (UIC) and urinary creatinine (UCC) concentrations were measured in spot samples, and thyroglobulin (Tg) on dried blood spots. Their iodine intake was estimated, and dietary information collected. The median (IQR) UIC in SAC was 130 µg/L (79-204, n = 399), and in WRA, 115 µg/L (73-173, n = 322). The median (IQR) Tg in SAC was 19.7 µg/L (14.0-27.6, n = 370), and in WRA, 12.2 µg/L (7.9-19.0, n = 183); 10% of SAC had Tg > 40 µg/L. Estimated iodine intake was 77 µg/day and 202 µg/day in SAC and WRA, respectively. Iodized table salt was rarely consumed, though bouillon was used daily; this is hypothesized to be a major contributor to dietary iodine intake. Iodine intake in this remote region seems to have improved considerably since the 2018 national survey, though SAC remain at risk. These results point to the potential effectiveness of using social business principles to deliver humanitarian solutions.

Eldercare's Turnover Intention and Human Resource Approach: A Systematic Review.

Eldercare workers' turnover intentions have caused serious concern given their high demand and pivotal role in ensuring elderly individuals' well-being. This systematic review examined the main factors of eldercare employees' turnover intentions with the purpose of identifying gaps and structure a novel human resource (HR) approach framework for eldercare social enterprises through a global literature review and realistic conclusions. A total of 29 publications appeared between 2015 and 2021 were digitally extracted from six databases and are extensively discussed in this review. Resultantly, eldercare workers' turnover intentions were positively impacted by job burnout, low job motivation, and restricted job autonomy. The findings of this study correspond to those of past literature, which highlighted the necessity of thoroughly examining eldercare worker retention practices from an organisational (HR) perspective. Furthermore, the current study outlines the factors influencing eldercare workers' turnover intentions as well as determine proper HR approaches to mitigate employee turnover issues among eldercare workers for organisational sustainability.

Resource Scarcity and Humanitarian Social Innovation: Observations from Hunger Relief in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Humanitarian social enterprises (HSEs) are facing mounting pressure to incorporate social innovation into their practice. This study thus identifies how HSEs leverage organizational capabilities toward developing social innovation. Specifically, it considers how resource scarcity and operating circumstances affect the capabilities used by HSEs for developing social innovation, using a longitudinal case study approach with qualitative data from 12 hunger-relief HSEs operating in the United States. Based on 59 interviews with 31 managers and directors and related documents, several propositions are posited. The findings suggest that resource availability (i.e., scarcity vs. abundance) leads some HSEs to focus on developing social innovation using their collaborative capabilities, while others leverage their absorptive capacity. Further, HSEs adjust their approach to developing social innovation based on whether they are operating in ordinary circumstances (i.e., before the COVID pandemic) or extraordinary ones (i.e., during the COVID pandemic). Interestingly, the findings suggest that the organizational capabilities used by HSEs are adjusted as these enterprises become more familiar with extraordinary operating circumstances. For example, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, resource-scarce HSEs focused on parallel bricolage to develop social innovation. Subsequently, they focused on selective bricolage. The findings offer novel insights by relating the social innovation of social enterprises to crisis management. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10551-021-05014-9.

Creation of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) by Social Action Organizations: Proposal of a Model for Decision-Making.

Successive crisis in Europe have contributed to rethink welfare state and the entrepreneurial role of Third Sector organizations in the provision of community services that progressively have created social enterprises. Its creation is the result of a decision-making process that is collective, not individual, and of a strategic nature, in which the organization's culture plays a relevant role. This work aims to describe and analyze the entrepreneurial process, and the key elements that determines the decision of creating a work insertion social enterprise by its promotor entity. As a result, this article proposes an explicative model of social enterprises creation and makes an empirical validation, using Delphi Method in Spanish work insertion social enterprises case.

Las sucesivas crisis en Europa han contribuido a una puesta en cuestión del estado de bienestar y, con ello, al rol emprendedor o productivo de las organizaciones del Tercer Sector en la provisión de servicios a la comunidad, en la medida en que éstas han creado empresas sociales progresivamente. Su creación es el resultado de un proceso de toma de decisión que es colectivo, no individual, y de naturaleza estratégica, en el que la cultura de la organización juega un rol relevante. Este trabajo trata de describir y analizar el proceso emprendedor y los elementos clave que determinan la decisión de crear una empresa de inserción social, por parte de su entidad promotora. Como resultado, este artículo propone un modelo explicativo de la creación de empresas sociales y realiza una validación empírica con las empresas de inserción españolas, utilizando el método Delphi.

A mixed-methods evaluation of a health-promoting café located in a small health service in rural Victoria, Australia.

INTRODUCTION: Residents of rural areas internationally typically experience chronic disease risk profiles worse than city dwellers. Poor diet, a key driver of chronic disease, has been associated with unhealthy food environments, and rural areas often experience limited access to healthy, fresh and affordable food. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the first three years of a health promoting social enterprise café established in a small rural health service. DESIGN: A mixed-methods evaluation study. Quantitative sales data, surveys and key informant interviews that included both quantitative and qualitative responses. FINDINGS: Three years of sales data were included; 111customer surveys and five key informant interviews were conducted. Food and beverages on displayed and sold consistently met or exceeded the healthy criteria set by policy. Stakeholders supported the traffic light system, the social enterprise model and rated the likelihood of sustainability of the café as high. DISCUSSION: Customers used the 'traffic light' system to inform food choices, placed value on the warmth of the staff and on the welcoming environment created through the social enterprise model. Resources remain tight although all stakeholders are committed to the sustainability of the YarriYak café. CONCLUSION: The study shows the acceptability, feasibility and sustainability of a health promoting social enterprise café in a rural area.

Social innovation, goal orientation, and openness: insights from social enterprise hybrids.

We empirically examine social innovation and openness through a survey of social enterprise hybrids in the United Kingdom (UK). Social innovation refers to new products, processes, and services that respond to grand challenges. Social enterprises pursue economic, social, and environmental goals but vary in their goal orientation, namely the relative importance ascribed to such goals. We first explore the relationships between commercial, social, and environmental goal orientation and social innovation performance. Next, we consider the moderating impact of openness to external knowledge and ideas on social innovation performance. Our analysis finds positive and significant relationships between commercial and social goal orientation and social innovation performance, but no relationship with environmental goal orientation. In addition, the use of external sources of knowledge and ideas positively strengthens these relationships for both commercial and social goal orientation but not for environmental goal orientation. Our results reveal some important influences on social innovation, openness, and hybrid organizing.

Indigenous Social Enterprises and Health and Wellbeing: A Scoping Review and Conceptual Framework.

Indigenous people and communities are establishing social enterprises to address social disadvantage and overcome health inequities in their communities. This review sought to characterize the spectrum of Indigenous social enterprises in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States to identify the operational models and cultural values that underpin them and their impact on Indigenous health and wellbeing. The scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's six-stage methodological framework with recommended enhancements by Levac et al. underpinned by Indigenous Standpoint Theory, and an Indigenous advisory group to provide cultural oversight and direction. Of the 589 documents screened 115 documents were included in the review. A conceptual framework of seven different operational models of Indigenous social enterprises was developed based on differing levels of Indigenous ownership, control, and management: (1) individual, (2) collective, (3) delegative, (4) developmental, (5) supportive, (6) prescriptive and (7) paternalistic. Models with 100% Indigenous ownership and control were more likely to contribute to improved health and wellbeing by increasing self-determination and strengthening culture and promoting healing than others. Indigenous social enterprises could offer a more holistic and sustainable approach to health equity and health promotion than the siloed, programmatic model common in public health policy.

Business Versus Ethics? Thoughts on the Future of Business Ethics.

To commemorate 40 years since the founding of the Journal of Business Ethics, the editors in chief of the journal have invited the editors to provide commentaries on the future of business ethics. This essay comprises a selection of commentaries aimed at creating dialogue around the theme Business versus Ethics? (inspired by the title of the commentary by Jeffrey Harrison). The authors of these commentaries seek to transcend the age-old separation fallacy (Freeman in Bus Ethics Q 4(4):409-421, 1994) that juxtaposes business and ethics/society, posing a forced choice or trade off. Providing a contemporary take on the classical question "if it's legal is it ethical?", David Hess explores the role of the law in promoting or hindering stakeholder-oriented purpose and governance structure. Jeffrey Harrison encourages scholars to move beyond the presupposition that businesses are either strategic or ethical and explore important questions at the intersection of strategy and ethics. The proposition that business models might be inherently ethical or inherently unethical in their design is developed by Sheila Killian, who examines business systems, their morality, and who they serve. However, the conundrum that entrepreneurs are either lauded for their self-belief and risk-taking, or loathed for their self-belief and risk-taking, is discussed by M. Tina Dacin and Julia Roloff using the metaphor of taboos and totems. These commentaries seek to explore positions that advocate multiplicity and tensions in which business ethics is not either/or but both.

How Hybrid Organizations Respond to Institutional Complexity: The Case of Norway.

In past decades, hybrid organizations and institutional complexity have received growing attention, yet questions remain about how hybrids manage institutional complexity in the Nordic welfare states. This article investigates how Norwegian social enterprises (SEs), a subset of hybrid organizations, internally manage contradictory demands when externally engaging with multiple logics. The data consists of interviews of leaders and staff members from five SEs, and the findings show that most institutional referents hold a public-sector logic which may crowd out the hybrid nature of SEs. Depending on the conflicting demands, SEs mix decoupling and selective coupling when responding to them. Some were also found to rely on the structural responses of organizational compartmentalization. Compared to the blended hybrids, the structural hybrids experience less internal tension when managing institutional complexity since logic compartmentalization allows the organizations to attend both to their in-use logic and at-play demands. The data yield compelling insights into how the Nordic welfare state may incite a specific configuration of SE where logic compartmentalization appears as a pragmatic choice.

External Support for Elderly Care Social Enterprises in China: A Government-Society-Family Framework of Analysis.

As Chinese population ageing becomes increasingly severe, the disjunct between supply and demand for pension services is becoming increasingly serious. The development of elderly care social enterprises plays an important role in solving this disjunction. Such development comes from both the enterprise's own capacity building and from external support. There are abundant studies on the capacity-building of pension social enterprises in the existing literature, but there are relatively few studies on their external support. In order to better study the external support of elderly care social enterprises in China, we adopted the case study method; we selected GY (a typical elderly care social enterprise in China) as a case study according to certain criteria, and we conducted a series of discussions. Firstly, an analytical 'government-society-family' framework was constructed. Second, it was argued that there is insufficient external support for elderly care social enterprises. At the government level, there is a lack of policies, difficulties in implementation and significant geographical differences; at the social level, there are weak support platforms and lack of community supports; and at the family level, there are constraints in regard to traditional concepts and the ability to pay. Finally, an external support system of Chinese elderly care social enterprises was constructed to help more elderly care social enterprises overcome the lack of external support in the development process.

Implications of Valúe Creation for Customers of Social Firms in the Service Sector in México / Implicaciones de la Creación de Valor para los Clientes de las Empresas Sociales del Sector Servicios en México / Implicações da Criação de Valor para Clientes de Empresas Sociais no Setor de Serviços no México

Abstract Introduction: While social enterprises meet human needs and create social value, they need to focus on value creation, customer satisfaction, and loyalty, as they can facilitate the generation of long-term relationships with the social enterprise and its survival. Objective: This research explores the effect of life purpose on customer value creation and its influence on satisfaction and loyalty among customers of social firms operating in the service sector in two Mexican cities, Puebla and Jalapa, both located in the Centre-East of Mexico. Materials and methods: An explanatory and cross-sectional investigation was conducted with 392 active customers. Structural equation modelling was used treating all variables as latent. Results: It was found that purpose in life was a significant and positive antecedent of customer value creation. In addition, customer value creation had a substantial effect on customer satisfaction and loyalty. Conclusions: The findings have implications for understanding the complexity of value creation in social firms focused on the delivery of services and the nature and dimensionality of customer value creation for social enterprises and its positive impact on customer retention. The results can help academics and social enterprises to develop better strategies to meet the needs of consumers belonging to vulnerable groups.

Resumen Introducción: Si bien las empresas sociales satisfacen las necesidades humanas y crean valor social, necesitan enfocarse en la creación de valor, la satisfacción y la lealtad del cliente, ya que pueden facilitar la generación de relaciones a largo plazo con la empresa social y su supervivencia. Objetivo: Esta investigación explora la influencia del propósito de vida en la creación de valor para el cliente y su influencia en la satisfacción y lealtad de los clientes de empresas sociales que operan en el sector de servicios en dos ciudades mexicanas, Puebla y Jalapa, ambas ubicadas en el centro-este de México. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó una investigación explicativa y transversal con 392 clientes activos. Se utilizó un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales tratando todas las variables como latentes. Resultados: Se descubrió que el propósito en la vida era un antecedente positivo y significativo de la creación de valor para el cliente. Además, la creación de valor para el cliente tuvo una influencia significativa en la satisfacción y lealtad del cliente. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos tienen implicaciones para comprender la complejidad de la creación de valor en las firmas sociales enfocadas en la provisión de servicios y la naturaleza y dimensionalidad de la creación de valor para el cliente para empresas sociales y su impacto positivo en la retención de clientes. Los resultados pueden ayudar a académicos y empresas sociales a desarrollar mejores estrategias para la atención de las necesidades de compradores pertenecientes a grupos vulnerables.

Resumo Introdução: Embora as empresas sociais atendam às necessidades humanas e criem valor social, elas precisam concentrar-se na criação de valor, na satisfação do cliente e na lealdade, pois podem facilitar a geração de relacionamentos de longo prazo com a empresa social e sua sobrevivência. Objetivo: Esta pesquisa explora a influência do propósito de vida na criação de valor para o cliente e sua influência na satisfação e lealdade de clientes de empresas sociais que operam no setor de serviços em duas cidades mexicanas, Puebla e Jalapa, ambas localizadas no centro-leste do México. Materiais e métodos: Foi realizada uma investigação explicativa e transversal com 392 clientes ativos. Foi utilizado um modelo de equações estruturais, tratando todas as variáveis como latentes. Resultados: O propósito de vida foi considerado um antecedente positivo e significativo para a criação de valor para o cliente. Além disso, esta última variável teve uma influência significativa na satisfação e lealdade do cliente. Conclusões: Os resultados têm implicações para a compreensão da complexidade da criação de valor em empresas sociais que operam no setor de serviços e a natureza e dimensionalidade da criação de valor para o cliente para empresas sociais e seu impacto positivo na retenção de clientes. Os resultados podem ajudar acadêmicos e empresas sociais a desenvolver melhores estratégias para pertencentes a grupos vulneráveis.

Rebuilding child health in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): evaluating the Asili social enterprise program.

BACKGROUND: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has a long history of conflict and ongoing local instability; the eastern provinces, including South Kivu, have been especially affected. Health systems and livelihoods have been undermined, contributing to massive inequities in access to health services and high rates of internal displacement. Asili, an innovative social enterprise program, aimed to provide essential community services and improve the health of under-five children in two South Kivu communities, Mudaka and Panzi, via provision of small-format, franchisable health clinics and clean water services. METHODS: We evaluated utilization and acceptance of Asili services in two study sites, Mudaka and Panzi. Data collected included questions on housing conditions, food security, and at follow up, Asili membership and use, satisfaction with services, and recommendations for improvement. Structured pre- and post-interviews with primary caregivers of families with under-five children were the primary source of data with additional community input collected through focus group discussions. RESULTS: At baseline, we enrolled 843 households in Mudaka and 890 in Panzi. Market segmentation analysis illuminated service usage patterns, showing Asili services were well received overall in both Mudaka and Panzi. Families reporting higher levels of proxy measures of socioeconomic status (SES), such as electricity, land ownership, and education, were more likely to use Asili services, findings that were further supported by focus group discussions among community members. CONCLUSIONS: Rebuilding health infrastructure in post-conflict settings, especially those that continue to be conflict-affected and very low SES, is a challenging prospect. Focus group results for this study highlighted the positive community response to Asili, while also underscoring challenges related to cost of services. Programs may need, in particular, to have different levels of costs for different SES groups. Additionally, longer follow-up periods and increased stability may be needed to assess the potential of social enterprise interventions such as Asili to improve health outcomes, especially in children. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Institutional Review Board approval for this study was obtained at Stanford University (IRB 35216) and the University of Kinshasa, DRC. Further, this study has been registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (record NCT03536286), retrospectively registered as of 4/23/2018.

Supported employment for people with severe mental illness: a pilot study of an Italian social enterprise with a special ingredient.

BACKGROUND: People with mental disorders are far more likely to be unemployed than the general population. Two internationally recognized, evidence-based models of interventions for employment for people with severe mental health problems are Individual Placement Support and the Clubhouse. In Italy, a common model is the 'social enterprise' (SE), which is a programme run by non-profit organisations that help individuals with disabilities to be employed. Despite SEs spread and relevance in Italy, there are no studies about Italian samples. This paper reports on a pilot evaluation of psychosocial and work outcomes of a SE based in Verona, Italy. The study aims to investigate if people with SMI involved in SE job placements may achieve personal recovery and better outcomes over time, and in comparison with a comparable group of users. METHODS: This is a pilot descriptive study with three components. A longitudinal design that comprised a functioning description of 33 SE members with a psychiatric disability in two time-points (when they joined the SE-on average 5 years before the study recruitment, and at the study recruitment-year 2018); and a repeated collection of job details of the 33 members in three time points: 2 years before the recruitment,-year 2016; 1 year before the recruitment - year 2017; and at the recruitment-year 2018. An assessment at the recruitment time-year 2018, of SE users' satisfaction with the job placement, symptoms, functioning, and quality of life (QoL). A cross-sectional study that compared the 33 SE members at the recruitment time-year 2018, with a matched group of people with the following criteria: living in local supported accommodations, being unemployed and not SE members. The two groups were compared on ratings of psychopathology, functioning, and QoL. Descriptive analyses were done. RESULTS: At the recruitment time - year 2018, all SE participants showed a significant better functioning (p < 0.001) than when they joined the SE-when they had been employed for an average of 5 years. In comparison to the matched group, SE members had significantly better functioning (p = 0.001), psychopathology (p = 0.007), and QoL (p = 0.034). According to their SE membership status, participants comprised trainees (21.2%) and employee members (78.8%). Trainees compared to employees had lower autonomies, functioning, QoL and more severe psychopathology. Over the two years prior to study recruitment, trainees showed stable poor autonomies, while employee members showed a variation from average autonomies in the 2 years before the recruitment time - year 2016, to good ones at the recruitment time - year 2018. Over the two years, all SE members set increasing numbers of objectives in all three domains. All SE participants reported high levels of satisfaction with all aspects of the job placement. CONCLUSIONS: SE that provides tailored support to assist people to gain employment skills may be an effective component in helping recovery from SMI.

Shifting Priorities and Neoliberal Ideologies in Refugee Health Intervention Design in the US.

We discuss the design of a technology-based vaccine education intervention for Somali refugees in the US. Originally conceived of as a culturally and linguistically appropriate project to be co-designed by refugees, funder demands for a "social enterprise" led to future iterations being developed for a "generic" audience. We explore epistemological negotiations and shifting priorities that shaped intervention design, highlighting how nonprofits engage neoliberal ideologies such as "social enterprise" and "design thinking" while attempting to meet community needs. We argue that social enterprises and design thinking can suffuse neoliberal ideologies into nonprofits to the detriment of community-engaged solutions.

Intervenciones nutricionales de la empresa social Muna&Co / Nutritional interventions of the social company Muna&Co

Fundamentos: La presente investigación tiene como objetivo describir los proyectos sociales que estáejecutando actualmente la empresa social Muna&Co. El motivo de este estudio es porque esta entidad sediferencia del resto al poder sostenerse económicamente solamente comercializando sus proyectos sociales.Métodos: El trabajo es cualitativo y descriptivo, en donde se muestran las principales características de cadaproyecto social.Resultados: Se encontró que Muna&Co está ejecutando cuatro proyectos que son financiados por empresasprivadas, estas intervenciones tienen en común la mezcla que existe entre la educación alimentaria y elasesoramiento personalizado en nutrición, además del uso intensivo de las tecnologías.Conclusiones: la principal estrategia que usa Muna&Co es que estudian las principales características de losbeneficiarios poder adaptar sus proyectos según ello, no es que tengan una receta general sino que es únicopara cada público objetivo; además que apelan a diversas formas para poder llegar a ellos (videos, podcats, etc.). (AU)

Background: This research aims to describe the social projects currently being implemented by the socialenterprise Muna&Co. The reason for this study is because this entity differs from the rest by being able tosustain itself economically only by commercializing its social projects.Methods: The work is qualitative and descriptive, where the main characteristics of each social project areshown.Results: It was found that Muna&Co is executing four projects that are funded by private companies, theseinterventions have in common the mixture that exists between food education and personalized advice onnutrition, in addition to the intensive use of technologies.Conclusions: the main strategy used by Muna&Co is that they study the main characteristics of thebeneficiaries to be able to adapt their projects according to it, they don´t have a general recipe, it is uniquefor each target audience; in addition that they appeal to various ways to be able to reach them (videos, podcats, etc.). (AU)

The health and well-being impacts of a work integration social enterprise from a systems perspective.

Recent research has drawn upon the social determinants of health (SDH) framework to attempt to systematize the relationship between social enterprise and health. In this article, we adopt a realist evaluation approach to conceptualize social enterprises, and work integration social enterprises in particular, as 'complex interventions' that necessarily produce differential health outcomes for their beneficiaries, communities and staff. Drawing upon the findings from four social enterprises involving a range of methods including 93 semi-structured interviews with employees, managers and enterprise partners, together with participant observation, we demonstrate that these health outcomes are influenced by a limitless mix of complex and dynamic interactions between systems, settings, spaces, relationships and organizational and personal factors that cannot be distilled by questions of causality and attribution found in controlled trial designs. Given the increased policy focus on the potential of social enterprises to affect the SDH, this article seeks to respond to evidence gaps about the mechanisms and contexts through which social enterprises promote or constrain health outcomes, and thereby provide greater clarity about how research evidence can be used to support the social enterprise sector and policy development more broadly.

Work integration social enterprises (WISEs) are hybrid organizations that operate as businesses with a social purpose. WISEs focus on employment of people excluded from open employment, often as a result of discriminatory attitudes and practices of employers to people from minority groups and those experiencing disability or health-related problems. There is a lack of research on the ways in which a WISE could positively impact on individual health and well-being. We interviewed employees, managers and enterprise partners, together with participant observation, across four social enterprises to understand these dynamics. Through a number of strategies including flexible workplace structures, a culture of acceptance and support, encouragement to take risks and make mistakes and creative use of space, the participants described changes to health and well-being such as decreased symptoms of anxiety and depression, increased social connections, improved physical activity and increased confidence and self-esteem. Results show a mix of strategies combined with individually tailored support; this has implications for the type of research that is appropriate to understand these impacts. We conclude with suggestions on how future research could use complex research designs to understand how WISEs can influence health and well-being.

Vocational rehabilitation via social firms: a qualitative investigation of the views and experiences of employees with mental health problems, social firm managers and clinicians.

BACKGROUND: Employment within social firms in the UK is under-developed and under-researched, but a potentially beneficial route to vocational rehabilitation for people with mental health problems. This study explores the views and experiences of employees with mental ill-health, managers of social firms and mental health clinicians, in order to understand the potential value of social firms for the vocational rehabilitation, employment and well-being of people with mental health problems. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 employees with mental health problems in 11 social firms in England. A focus group and individual interviews were conducted with 12 managers of social firms. Two focus groups were held with 16 mental health clinicians. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Most employees expressed very positive views about working in a social firm. In responses from both employees and social firm managers, an overarching theme regarding the supportive ethos of social firms encompassed several related features: openness about mental health issues; peer, team and management support; flexibility; and support to progress and develop skills over time. Managers identified benefits of employing people with mental health problems who were sufficiently recovered. Knowledge of social firms within clinician focus groups was very limited, although clinicians thought they could be a welcome additional vocational resource. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of job satisfaction among social firm employees may be explained by the supportive ethos of these working environments. Social firms have potential to be a helpful addition to the range of vocational pathways available for people with mental ill-health. Further mixed methods investigations of experiences and outcomes in order to understand who engages with and benefits from this form of vocational rehabilitation would be valuable in informing decisions about scaling up the model.