This site is for anyone who has an interest in the innovative and different ways in which health and social care services can be provided (via co-production) and healthier lifestyles promoted (using social marketing).
Whether you are a member of the public, a healthcare professional, working in the voluntary sector, I hope you will find material here to be of interest.
I am always interested in speaking to potential research partners, collaborators and co-authors. Please contact me if you are interested.
You are welcome to air issues relating to the implementation of co-production and social marketing projects in the comments pages and the feedback sections.
h.a.ali@open.ac.uk
Places of worship are often the most visible, respected and credible agencies in the community and the legitimacy of secular agencies that partner with places of worship can be considerably enhanced.
FBOs may also be relatively
effective in reaching ‘hard to reach’ groups, (Stritt 2008). The increase in the role of organized religion (within some
liberal democracies), together with increased personal religiosity may be
considered surprising due to secularization theories that suggest a decline in
the importance of religion in social life (Sherkat & Ellison 1999:364).
Even so, there is growing evidence of State authorities in some countries contracting with religious agencies to provide welfare
services. This has been referred to as ‘enterprise theology’ (Voyce 2003), with
associated concepts being ‘civil religion’ or ‘political religion’ and the
‘sacralization of secular ideas’.
The
potential for health and wellbeing interventions to reduce health disparities
in disadvantaged communities is well known, with faith organizations becoming
essential partners with charities and government agencies in reaching such
populations. Yet the role and experiences of the faith partner in faith-based
health and wellbeing interventions remains poorly understood.
