1. An innovative solution to serve whom?
Understanding social impact bonds and the ideology that informs them.

2. Social service provision under neoliberal capitalism
Global austerity has lead to drastic funding cuts and changes to front line social service provision
Some of those changes involve:
Competitive funding
Payment-by-results
Outcomes-based measurement
We are seeing these structural funding changes affect the nature of front line work both for service providers and service users

3. My topic: Social impact bonds (in a nutshell)
A new funding method for social services that is popular in the U.K and U.S
Allows governments to outsource social service funding to the private sector
If a social program is determined to be "successful" at the end of its term, the corporation(s) that provided funding will get their money back from the government plus significant financial returns
Proponents of SIBs see this as a win, win situation for all stakeholders involved
Refuters of SIBs are concerned about their threat to community voice, civic engagement, and collectivist citizenship

4. Example of a sib
A Peterborough Social Impact Bond has been rolled out with the intention of reducing re-offending rates by 7.5% over 6 years at a facility near London holding 3000 short-term prisoners. UK Ministry of Justice and Social Finance UK (intermediaries) raised $8million from 17 investors to establish one service. Service providers were initiated to help offenders navigate the system of supportive services and establish new services to address unmet needs. The 17 investors will be paid back by the government if the program is successful, meaning that re-offending rates decrease by 7.5% over 6 years for short-term prisoners. Investors can also earn returns on this program of up to 13% each year the re-offending rates are cut by 7.5%.

5. Concerns with sibs from a critical social work perspective
The growing interest in SIBs despite their inability to address structural social policy issues such as
Universal health and child care
Affordable housing
Food security
Good jobs and living wages
SIBs focus on short-term programs that have limited capacity to address these policy areas
SIBs allow the private sector (values, mandates, structure) to encroach further into caring professions
I was first introduced to Social Impact Bonds by my BSW placement supervisor. I was immediately intrigued by the growing interest in SIBs despite their inability to address structural social policy issues, such as universal regulation of service. As an aspiring social worker motivated by an economic, social, political and cultural context that allows all citizens to thrive and live well, I am often perplexed and fascinated by social and public policy that makes this context achievable for some and not others. I believe that SIBs move us further away from progressive policy that addresses the systemic and structural conditions necessary for all to realize this environment, such as universal health and child care, affordable housing, food security, and good jobs and a living wage. By their nature, SIBs focus on short-term programs that have limited capacity to address these policy areas (Joy & Shields, 2013).

6. My argument and research design
The goal of SIBs is to save money while testing "innovative" social service programs – not to improve quality of life or service for vulnerable citizens
Critical social work attempts to reduce harm and power dominance as much as possible
At its core, principles of human rights and social justice are imperative
My argument: there is disparity between SIBs and the mandates of most non-profit and social service agencies that may be implementing SIB projects
Are SIBs more consistent with neoliberal ideology than evidence of best practice within social work/social service? Do they devalue the social justice agenda of the field?

7. Choosing a methodology
Developed a framework for measuring both social justice and neoliberalism
Nancy Fraser's theory of social justice
Includes the problem of distribution as well as recognition (i.e. Welfare)
Social justice is not possible unless all participant voices are equally valued and respected in all aspects of social life (participatory parity)
Obstacles to participatory parity: economic and social inequities, and power relations that privilege some while oppressing others
The problem of recognition is addressed – to be misrecognized is to be denied status as a full and equal partner in social arrangements due to institutionalized patterns that devalue certain groups

8. Choosing a methodology
Greg Albo's theory of neoliberalism
Thomas Friedman's Golden Rules of Neoliberalism
Globalization, deregulation, downloading services, privatization, social austerity
Neoliberal policies favour the wealthiest elite
Drawing on my experience as a service provider at several non-profit organizations
Impact of funding structures like SIBs that endorse competitive funding, payment-by-results, and outsourcing to the private sector
Has changed the relationship between myself and service users and the nature of my work altogether

9. Key findings and results
SIBs do not meet the criteria for Nancy Fraser's framework of social justice
Participatory parity and the problem of recognition are not addressed
SIBs are consistent with Freidman's golden rules of neoliberalism
They privatize social programs, allow and promote competitive bidding on service, are considered useful in balancing government budgets and deregulate service
They limit government choice since program structure is limited and definite
They open a profit margin for the private sector that contributes to the global capitalist market

10. Key findings and results
My findings challenge ideological dominant discourse around private sector elitism
Selling public services in Ontario has resulted in lower quality service that costs Ontarians more money (i.e. Hospital labs)

11. Relevance to social work
Ontario is about to pilot two SIB projects
Mainstay Housing in Toronto (assist tenants living with mental health and/or addiction stabilize housing)
The Raft in Niagara (improve graduation rates for 900 youth)
Knowing about SIBs and other neoliberal forces that affect our work
Informed advocacy
Do less harm
Practice critically

12. Tips for your PRP journey
Choose a topic you already know something about, or are passionate about;
Don't feel boxed in by a methodology;
Don't feel pressured to interview people;
Talk about your topic, ideas, methodology and theories often, and bounce ideas off of students and professors;
Meet your assigned deadlines! This will help you stay on track;
Enjoy your journey!