In light President Obama’s plan to reform the healthcare system, Jason Langheier, Chairman and Founder of Fitness Forward, explores how the innovative solutions of social entrepreneurs can help bring about a new era of healthy living. He calls on government to invest in innovative healthcare programs that have a demonstrated track record of success saying,

Proven programs are not only creative and popular; they have measured impact, and they are the fruit of those who are not just innovators, but social entrepreneurs.

Social entrepreneurs are social innovators that have brought their new idea to life through curious attention to the pain points of their stakeholders, and details of effective implementation.

America Forward coalition members Sports4Kids and Project HEALTH are among the examples Langheier references. In addition to praising these organizations and others for their entrepreneurial approaches and results, Langheier urges all social entrepreneurs to take advantage of the emerging opportunities to partner with government and policymakers to create lasting change.

If social entrepreneurs had once been shy about engaging in policy and politics, Congress and Obama seem to have opened the door for a new era of close interaction.

Fortunately, health innovation is among the centerpieces of Obama’s economic stimulus plan, with further health care reform legislation still planned, which will bring social entrepreneurs in health to their state capitals and Washington, DC. And, there waiting for them are generations of social pioneers of policy, hungry for real change.

This thought-provoking piece highlights the potential of government and social entrepreneurs to work together to bring proven solutions to bear on the current challenges in our nation’s healthcare system. We’re excited to see all the ways that the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation can bring these possibilities to life.

You can download and read Jason Langheier’s article here.