Social Capital and Health: Maximizing the Benefits

How Can Social Capital Inform Public Health Policy?

Sandra Franke, Policy Research Initiative, Government of Canada

While the previous articles have discussed the application of social capital within specific program areas, this article provides a broad summary of the various ways in which governments can consider social capital in the development of health policies and programs.

Governments have a number of opportunities for taking social capital into account in public health policy and program development. Depending on the issue, one or more of the following approaches might be appropriate.¹

Building and Supporting Networks

Many government programs already incorporate explicit measures to influence or promote network formation as a means for achieving program objectives. For example, public health promotion initiatives often contribute to the building of connections between program participants, between community partners or among users and non-users of services. An explicit consideration of social capital effects may mean that we more systematically track and evaluate how these measures have contributed (or not) to the expected outcomes of the program, and that we have information on which to adjust programs and policies to emphasize certain kinds of networks in particular situations.

Tapping into Existing Social Networks to Deliver Programs

Government programs may need to tap into existing social networks to achieve program objectives by recruiting influential community leaders to influence health-related behaviours within their social networks. For example, in the area of HIV and AIDS, popular opinion leaders have been recruited within the social networks of gay men to deliver key health messages to their peers.²

Establishing Favourable Conditions

In some cases, it may be more fruitful for public programs to invest in establishing broad, favourable conditions for the generation of social capital rather than attempting to directly shape network development. This can be done through the assistance of social "brokers" or "entrepreneurs," by investing in public space and infrastructure which, in turn, supports opportunities for social interaction. Alternatively, local leaders or specific public service representatives can be supported in their efforts to create linkages and mobilize community networks.

Increasing Program Sensitivity to Existing Patterns of Social Capital

This approach involves gathering and integrating information about existing social networks into health policy and program design, implementation and evaluation--raising the awareness of policy and decision makers about the potential impacts of new interventions or changes in policy directions on the existing social capital. A social capital lens may also simply facilitate a better understanding of the interactions between policies and social relationships.

Figure 1: Influencing Public Policy with Social Capital

Source: Adapted with permission from Policy Research Initiative, 2005.¹