Making the Case for Social and Economic Inclusion
Description
Making the Case for Social and Economic Inclusion examines
the
development of policies and programs to combat social
exclusion in
Europe over the past decade, and the potential of social
inclusion for
contributing to the development of healthy social policy in
the Atlantic
region. The 31-page discussion paper is intended for all
those
interested in social policy, including people working at
all levels of
government and those who work with community organizations.
It is
accompanied by a 19-page annotated bibliography of
articles, reports
and books relating to the concept of social inclusion.
What is social and economic inclusion? To be included is to
be accepted
and to be able to participate fully within our families,
our communities
and our society. Those who are excluded, whether because of
poverty,
ill health, gender, race, or lack of education, do not have
the
opportunity for full participation in the economic and
social benefits of
society. The United Kingdom Liaison Committee to the
European
Anti-Poverty Network describes the impact of social
exclusion as "a
forced exclusion from power." Partnership, innovation and
leadership
are the key ingredients in developing effective policies to
combat social
exclusion and promote social inclusion.
The report identifies four lessons from the European
experience for
countering the erosion of national programs that address
regional
disparity in Atlantic Canada:
The costs and problems associated with social
exclusion,
including the very high costs associated with poor
health, must
be more highly publicized.
Alliances and partnerships are necessary to bring
about change.
The concept of social inclusion has offered Europeans
a new way
to think about the problems of economic development
and social
policy and has underscored the importance of
addressing the
problems in tandem.
Social and economic inclusion has brought a diversity
of groups,
including governments, business, labour and community
groups,
to the policy development process.
The paper concludes that PPHB Atlantic's commitment to
population
health places it in a strategic position to offer valuable
leadership in
developing healthy social policy that promotes social
inclusion. The
Population and Public Health Branch has extensive
experience in
building the relationships necessary to realize the
potential of this
approach. The social inclusion approach has challenged
Europe to
develop innovative and effective new policies. PPHB
Atlantic is well
placed to take up that challenge in Canada.
Credits
Making the Case for Social and Economic Inclusion was
produced by Janet
Guildford for the Atlantic Regional Office of the
Population and Public
Health Branch, Health Canada. Douglas Vaisey, Reference
Librarian at
St Mary's University, provided extensive support for the
annotated
bibliography.
Availability
This report is available for download (733KB, 51 pages).
For more information on obtaining copies of the document,
call or write
Population and Public Health Branch
Suite 1802, 18th Floor, Maritime Centre
1505 Barrington Street
Halifax, NS B3J 3Y6
Tel: (902) 426-2700
Fax: (902) 426-9689
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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