In which I conclude that it will take more than an Elevator Ride to Pitch the Concept of a Social Prescribing Organization

 

By Kendall Worth!

Last month, I promised readers here and here that I would share my elevator pitch in which I make the case for establishing a Social Prescribing Organization (SPO) in Nova Scotia. 

Just to explain, an “elevator pitch” is a term used to describe a brief speech that outlines an idea for a new business or product. The name comes from the notion that the pitch should be delivered in 30 – 60 seconds, the period of a short elevator ride. It assumes you have limited time to sell the idea to a key individual. So, you need to quickly and clearly present the concept so that the interest of the audience (be it a politician, prospective investor, policy maker, whomever) will be piqued. Then, hopefully, a follow-up meeting can be secured to drill down into the substance of the idea. 

Just to be clear, - this is NOT the blog in which I will share my pitch. Instead, I will use this blog to explain why quickly pitching the concept of an SPO is a BIG challenge.

The first issue is that the pitch needs to be made to people in power, the more educated and financially secure in our society, who do not really understand the realities of living in poverty, and how people struggle with mental health issues and other disabilities. My experience – shared in this BLOG - has been that the idea of an SP organization or program often meets with skepticism and hostility when first introduced. Such people just do not recognize the depths of social isolation that Income Assistance recipients experience, imagining that we are one big social club, meeting daily over coffee and donuts at the local drop-in centre.  If a problem is not even recognized, it becomes VERY difficult to make the case for a solution!

Secondly, the nature of the solution is itself VERY complicated. The social prescription approach is about providing a safe, comfortable, and stigma-free space for socializing with others. “Oh, just another drop-in centre?” is often the reaction. No, it needs to be MUCH MORE than that. 

As I wrote in an earlier BLOG, “social prescription (SP) is an approach to health care and well-being that addresses not only physical health and economic well-being, but social factors that impact well-being, such as loneliness and isolation”. It addresses the need for personal growth, creativity and community connection. Social prescribing programs and organizations help to bridge the gap between what is needed and what is available and promote both individual and community health.  Just sharing the definition of SP itself would take a long elevator ride!

Thirdly, the building of a program or organization to provide SP services is also a complicated process.  In 2016, I wrote an article imagining what it would take to set up an organization to address employment opportunities for people in my community.  To succeed, it would require active support and sustained collaboration from a coalition of the business sector, non-profits and the target group of people, supported by government agencies and programs. Despite various local and small-scale projects, we have NEVER been able to launch such an organization in Nova Scotia. And I expect that building a Social Prescription Organization could be EVEN MORE complicated, given all the different interests and perspectives. 

Fourthly, one must also make the case for why there is a LOCAL need for an SPO in Halifax. There are many agencies (government, non-private, charitable, etc) already addressing different elements of social isolation and marginalization in our community. Each one no doubt contributes a small part of the solution to a small number of people. But there is no over-arching strategy or program. As a result, the problem does not get effectively addressed and many people continue to “fall through the cracks”.  

Fifth and finally, there is the issue of the social stigma directed towards members of my community by both agency professionals as well as by ordinary citizens. By definition, social prescription activities involve the coming together of diverse people in different settings and contexts. I want to be BLUNT that managing these situations can be VERY challenging. Even in the non-profit sector, which is presumably sympathetic to marginalised individuals, there can be problems between volunteers coming from different socio-economic backgrounds. Sometimes there are specific behavioral issues to be managed, but as I have written about previously, the problem is often just rooted in the widespread stigma against people on social assistance. This stigma is experienced by people from my community as a type of harassment and contributes greatly to people withdrawing from community spaces and ending up even more isolated. 

Three further points to be considered in imagining a Social Prescription program or organization. These do not need to be part of the elevator pitch, but are important to keep in mind, and will need to be addressed, sooner or later.

• It is important for decision-makers, professionals and allies to understand that not all Income Assistance recipients have common or similar interests. Like most communities, we have many differences and diversities. So when it comes to programs and services, one size will NOT fit everyone. For example, not all people in my community are interested in attending Church Services. And many do not want to socialize in places like food banks or soup kitchens where their poverty and marginalization is effectively the price of admission. 

• It is also important to acknowledge that some Income Assistance recipients live with invisible disabilities. I have written on this before, sharing my own personal situation and experiences here and here. It is NOT acceptable for people with power and privilege to question others or make comments along the lines of “Well, you do not look disabled to me.” Those who engage with marginalised communities, need to do their research and get training on how to engage with people with invisible disabilities. 

• Finally, I think most of us can agree that one goal of social prescription initiatives can be to enable Income Assistance recipients with the capacity and ambition to build on their talents and abilities to find employment. I have shared how my work as a journalist and advocate has provided important focus and structure to my life. And I am hopeful that a Social Prescription Organization will enable many others to build their skills and find a creative and constructive focus for their lives. 

The main purpose of a Social Prescribing Organization / Social Prescription Program in Halifax would be to establish a safe, comfortable, and stigma-free space for socializing with others.  Accessible and affordable options for social interaction of low-income individuals are few and far between, as I recounted in a 2017 article in the NS Advocate. In a later BLOG I even floated the idea of a “sober bar” as an idea worth exploring. But issues related to costs to clients and financial viability of the business would need to be addressed up front in a business plan. 

Finances are not the only obstacle. To be successful, ALL social prescription activities need to address the underlying issue of social anxiety that can be a HUGE obstacle for many Income Assistance recipients who may be considering the simplest of social invitations or  activities. 

Nonetheless, it remains my firm belief that a Social Prescribing Organization (or Social Prescription Program) could address and help to solve many of the problems being faced in my community related to social isolation. 

I will continue to work on my sales pitch … and would be happy to receive the thoughts and suggestions of readers on how best to frame and sell the SPO concept. I admit that I now suspect that it may require more of a bus ride - than an elevator ride - to make The Pitch. 

Watch for it, - coming soon!

Kendall Worth is an award-winning anti-poverty activist who lives with disabilities and tries to make ends meet on income assistance.