#SocialCareSeries: Understanding Informal Barriers to Seeking Help
In our last #SocialCareSeries, we broke down formal barriers to accessing social services. Bureaucratic hurdles, information gaps, and identity-based discrimination often determine whether individuals can successfully navigate formal support networks such as government programs, social service organizations, and nonprofits. However, even when resources are available, many people struggle to reach out for help, and this hesitation is often less visible. These challenges function as invisible walls, not visible from the
#VeteranCareSeries: Senior Veterans and Co-Occurring Needs
Nearly half of the nation’s veterans are now over age 65 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023). As the veteran population ages, their needs are aging with them. Our first blog in the #VeteransCare Series focused on the challenges that co-occur early on military transition. This second blog explores what co-occurring needs look like for older veterans and why coordinated care becomes even more essential with age. Physical Health, Mental Health, and
Serving Veterans: A new podcast on the latest developments of veteran care in America
This fall, the Network for Nonprofit and Social Impact (NNSI) at Northwestern University is launching Serving Veterans, a new podcast series that explores the veteran service landscape and the latest technologies being implemented to better serve them. Drawing from thoughtful conversations with leaders from the Department of Veterans Affairs, nonprofit institutions, and NNSI’s own researchers, Serving Veterans offers insights and the latest updates on the industry you won’t find anywhere
#SocialCareSeries Breaking Down Barriers: Understanding Formal Barriers to Accessing Social Services
Millions of Americans struggle to meet basic needs such as food, housing, and healthcare services each year. However, only a small fraction of those in need receive help from government and non-profit agencies. Why is this the case? Researchers at the Northwestern Network for Social Impact (NNSI) have found that the pathway from fulfilling needs to receiving assistance is not straightforward. Numerous barriers prevent individuals from accessing formal support channels—structured
#VeteranCareSeries: Military Transition & Co-Occurring Needs
Approximately 200,000 Americans leave active duty every year and begin the uneasy transition into civilian life. This shift into a familiar yet vastly different world naturally comes with several challenges, but the bigger problem is that these challenges rarely occur one at a time. Veterans frequently face overlapping difficulties in work, health, housing, and relationships—what experts call co-occurring needs. For example, an ongoing health condition can make it harder to
The Five Pillars of Social Care Infrastructure
We often think of infrastructure as physical structures that keep a society running, like highways, railways, and water pipes. However, some of the most vital systems in our lives are less noticeable. The system that connects people in need with the support they qualify for, we call this social infrastructure: Social infrastructure = systems that organize and manage complex health and human service referral systems, eligibility criteria, and financial compensation