Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation in Human Services

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the synergies between social work and social entrepreneurship, presenting a series of global case studies and forward-thinking analyses that highlight the role of human services perspectives in driving sustainable and impactful social change across diverse contexts. Bringing together a previously disparate network of influential global scholars, this edited volume critically examines the intersection of social entrepreneurship with human services, making a compelling case for their co-creative potential in addressing complex social challenges.

Structured in three distinct sections, each contributes to the dynamic, interdisciplinary discourse in social entrepreneurship scholarship. The first section establishes the unique positioning of social work and human service professionals in leading and influencing social entrepreneurial ventures, emphasizing the alignment of their core principles with the ethos of social entrepreneurship. By re-grounding social entrepreneurship's origins in human services, this perspective reminds the field of its fundamental purpose while offering valuable insights into sustainable and impactful solution development for societal issues. The second section presents diverse global case studies that illustrate the versatile application of social work approaches across various socio-economic and cultural contexts. These cases demonstrate the transformative potential and broad applicability of these strategies within social entrepreneurship frameworks.

Concluding with a forward-looking exploration of emerging trends, this volume is a critical resource for scholars in social entrepreneurship, providing in-depth analysis and perspectives on the evolving role of social work in this field. It serves as an essential resource for students, researchers, scholars and practitioners in social entrepreneurship, social work, and human services.

The chapters in this book were originally published in Human Service Organizations: Management Leadership & Governance.