Social capital and its relevance in brain injury rehabilitation services

Issue title: Social Capital

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Flaherty, Patti

Affiliations: Executive Director, CONNECT, 1550–1200 West 73rd Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6P 6G3. Tel.: +1 604 263 3621; Fax: +1 604 263 4139; E-mail: pattif@connectcommunities.ca

Abstract: There is tremendous value in building the principles of social capital into mainstream rehabilitation for people living with disabilities. CONNECT (formerly Classic Rehab Community or CRC) is an example of how a community based transitional rehab setting for people living with brain injury incorporates and integrates social capital into the support and services they provide. Social capital's wealth lies in the strength of a community's networks and the inclinations that arise from these networks for people to do things for one another [8]. Through the identification of the individual groups and the relevant communities that are part of CONNECT, a clearer understanding of the networks within and between them will be recognized. This clarity allows for more thoughtful action with the intent to help strengthen networks and relationships. The anticipated return on this action is a stronger community and reciprocity amongst its membership which then leads to improved health and wellbeing for each of its members. This article focuses on how and why social capital impacts the health of CONNECT and how it is moving from a broad conceptual understanding of social capital to implementing practical ways to foster individual and organizational social capital development for the people CONNECT serves and its employees.

Keywords: Brain injury, social capital, CONNECT, classic rehab community, rehabilitation, participant

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 141-146, 2008