This book provides a comprehensive overview of how communities can leverage their social
capital to improve overall quality of life for citizens. In addition it offers detailed
guidance on the design implementation and evaluation of social capital initiatives. It
defines critical concepts of social capital its decline in recent years and the potential for
rebuilding it through progressive social policy initiatives. Chapters present an innovative
social policy template Serve Here for improving Americans' collective quality of life
starting with young adults. Serve Here sets out a comprehensive sustainable service learning
plan aimed at increasing quality higher education for young adults reducing college debt and
enhancing long-term civic participation and community building. The book offer guidelines for
developing tailored solutions to ensure greater parity of social capital to regional
demographic and other marginalized populations. Featured topics include: The civic value of
social capital. The economics of social capital in communities. Building social capital across
communities by leveraging personal relationships. Social capital and returning military
veterans. Millennials and social capital. Teaching the social entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Social
Capital and Community Well-Being: The Serve Here Initiative is a valuable resource for
clinicians and practitioners as well as researchers and graduate students in community
psychology social work education and healthcare policy.
