New Jersey Social Innovation Awards • 2024
Celebrating Innovations in the Social Sector.
Vision
We strive to live in an equitable society defined as recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and must acknowledge and make adjustments to imbalances. The Social Innovations Journal has inspired leaders and organizations since 2009 to continue to dream by creating spaces for social innovators to tap into their own creativity, providing social entrepreneurs with an environment to test and grow their ideas, challenge social innovators to become better versions of themselves, and transform social entrepreneurs and their organizations into changemakers.
The 2024 New Jersey Social Innovation Awards will once again celebrate all innovators and change makers within the New Jersey region who are working hard for social justice. The 2023 New Jersey Awards were an unprecedented success, showcasing the outstanding achievements of individuals and organizations driving positive change throughout the state, and we look forward to what the next year will bring.
The 2024 New Jersey Social Innovation Awards promise to be an inspiring and celebratory event that shines a spotlight on the remarkable changemakers in New Jersey. These awards serve as a platform to honor and acknowledge the innovative initiatives and individuals who are dedicated to making a positive impact on their communities and beyond. It is clear that the New Jersey Social Innovation Awards will continue to play a vital role in recognizing and fostering the spirit of innovation, creativity, and social responsibility among the people of New Jersey. Stay tuned for more information as we prepare to celebrate those whose passion and ingenuity are transforming our region for the better.
Purpose
The 2024 New Jersey Social Innovations Awards celebrates New Jersey Social Innovators. These awards honor our region’s most passionate social innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers whose work and social impact too often goes unacknowledged, yet their efforts are what makes our communities a thriving region of innovation and opportunity. The theme of the awards, “Achieving a More Just Society,” recognizes organic leadership who re-envision the challenges that communities face and who find innovative solutions to reshape communities. We need to recognize the social innovators who create change through innovative programs, policies, and by revolutionizing realities to bring us all forward to a more equitable and inclusive tomorrow -- today.
Process
The 2024 New Jersey Awards accepts nominations from THE PUBLIC in the published categories. The public nominations will be grouped by region (Northern, Central, and Southern) and members of the region selection and nomination committee will select 1-2 finalists per category. The finalists, representing their respective regions, will then be put on the slate for public voting. All nominations, whether or not they move to the finalist stage, will be recognized for their work and impact on their local ecosystems.
Award Categories
INNOVATIONS IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
1. COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Innovative service models in behavioral health leading to emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
2. HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: Innovative service models integrating social determinants of health and health care, services that strengthen families, and approaches that ensure a healthy environment and other community conditions.
INNOVATIONS IN HEALTH EQUITY
3. INNOVATIVE MODELS FOR ACHIEVING HEALTH EQUITY: Innovative strategies or models of care that reduce health disparities and or improve social or economic conditions.
4. INNOVATION IN SERVICES FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY AND/OR AUTISM, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND OLDER ADULTS: Innovative strategies and services that improve health outcomes and quality of life.
5. COMMUNITY VOICE IMPACT: Novel strategies to promote community voice inclusion and belonging that influence program and or policy, with a focus on improving health equity for medically underserved populations at greatest risk for poor health.
POPULATION HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
6. POPULATION HEALTH IMPACT: Innovative strategies improving clinical health outcomes, improved care coordination and patient engagement supported by appropriate financial and care models for a disadvantaged and or low resourced populations.
7. PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT: Sustained innovative practice and or policy change in public health.
INNOVATIONS IN SOCIAL MOBILITY
8. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: Innovative service models leading to earning a living wage and economic freedom, especially targeted to typically marginalized groups.
9. EDUCATION: Innovative ideas that advance access to high-quality education and/or interventions and services that allow people to enter post-secondary education, vocational programs or employment.
10. HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Innovative attainable, stable or permanent housing service models that strengthen individuals, families and communities.
INNOVATIONS IN SOCIAL SECTOR SYSTEMS
11. INNOVATIVE FUNDER STRATEGIES: Funders who take an innovative approach to social sector investment strategies.
12. INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS: Innovative through a cross-sector approach to solving complex social or environmental issues on a large scale, especially to help those with complex needs.
13. LEGISLATIVE IMPACT: Innovation through policy reform and improvements in financial models to improve service delivery and reduce barriers to care.