0% found this document useful (0 votes)
19 views22 pages

Community Organizing 1

Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
19 views22 pages

Community Organizing 1

Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 22

Social Work Practice

with Communities
Discuss the nature of Community as a basis for CO practice:

Concept of Community:
• Definition of Community
• Types of Community
• Major & Secondary Community Structures
• Major Classifications of Community
• Elements of Community
• Distinctive Features of Community Organization as Social Work Method
• Characteristics of Progress Community
You must know a
lot about the
community
• Ecologically
• Cultural
• Politics
• Economics
• Spiritual
(the nature of communities in general)
ACTIVITY:
• Describe the community you are presently residing in terms of:
a. Physical Structure;
b. Culture; and
c. Communication Pattern and/or Decision-Making Process.
Definition of Community:

The community is made up of


different persons living in a
definite territory with at least a
minimum of cultural ties based
on common values, interests,
goals, system of expectations,
concern, ect.

It is a combination of two Latin words: “COM” means together and


“MUNIS” means serve. Hence, the community is about serving together
and a feeling of “WE” is always evident
COMMUNITY

• Group of people living together in geographically defined area with a common history and
defined patterns of relationship

• These patterns are organized into specific institutions (family, economy, politics, education,
religion, health, etc.) intended to provide the means in assisting people carry out their day to day
activities

• Patterns are oriented to represent values and norms socially accepted by the people and which
becomes aids in solving community problems

• People, place, identity, culture, social system


Community consists of individuals and groups with different and often conflicting
interests and needs.
Morris and Binstock’s Assumptions
A community may be defined in four different dimensions:
membership, influence, reinforcement and shared emotional
connection.

Membership Influence Reinforcement Shared emotional


• People feel like • They are, or at least • Community can connection
they belong to a feel like they are, meet their
group members’ needs • Built through shared
able to make a places and experiences,
difference within such as joint history
that group and time spent together

(McMillan and Chavis, 1986).


Types of Communities:
1. Geographical: a community within an ecclesiastical or civil territory
2. Sectoral: Farmers, fishermen, vendors, women, workers, informal settlers
3. Functional: a school community with teachers, students or administrators
4. Rural, Urban, Rurban: relationship in the rural community is closer, person-to-
person communication is evident; relationship is an urban community is artificial,
transitory; business like; rurban communities show physical characteristics of an
urban community but relationships are more rural in nature.
5. Tribal/ Indigenous: also known cultural communities
Different Approaches in Understanding the
Community
Ecological Approach - This refers to the physical attributes of the community
and how these affect man’s interaction with his social environment. What is
being demonstrated here is that variables like lifestyle of the people, tempo of
life, stage of development, possibilities or limitations for community change,

“sociological eye”.
Different Approaches in Understanding the
Community
Structural Approach -The community here is seen as a structure of
relationships. There are two major processes that are involved: the
communication pattern of the people like, who communicates what, with/to
whom, and how; and the decision-making pattern of the people like, who
decides what, with whom, and how? This approach also presents the types and
nature of organized groups in the community.
Different Approaches in Understanding the
Community
Normative Approach- This sees the community as a social personality with a
set of values, customs, traditions, folkways, mores, and beliefs. Based on the
perception of the insider, the community’s social life from “womb” to “tomb”
is seen and analyzed.
Understanding Community and their Dynamics involves core competencies that focus on
the ability to understand: the community of place, the nature of public issues, the dynamics
and interdependencies of the various segments of the community, the basics of community
development work.
Basic Understanding of the Community
The ability to more fully understand the complexity and dynamics of issues and situations in
a community context is important to be able to develop effective programs.
Community Demographics
The ability to understand demographic profile and trends in a community is essential to
identifying issues and sustainable alternatives
Community Economics
• The ability to understand the economic base of a community and the dynamics
between the various economic sectors—including the ways in which money turns
over in the community, leaves the community, or is invested—are important to
providing a vibrant economy.

Community Power Structure


• The ability to identify who the decision makers are in the community, the resources
they affect, and the power structure is crucial in gaining access to a community,
gaining trust and credibility, and being effective in educational programs.

Natural Resources and Sustainability


• The ability to understand the impact of decisions on the quality of natural resources
and the long-term sustainability of the environment is an important component of
community development
Community Situational Analysis
• The ability to analyze a particular issue or Community
Community
Demographics

situation in a community from a historical, Development


Process

political, cultural and community context Community


Economics

and determine Extension’s role in the issue Community


Community
is an important competency of community Situational
Analysis

development. Community
Power Structure

Natural
Resources and
Sustainability
Community Development Process

ion
• The ability to know how to organize and

pat
ici
mobilize resources for action, as well as

rt
possible barriers, is necessary in

a
le P
developing programs that are meaningful

o p
and effective.

Pe
Values and Principles of Working in the Community

Self-determination - people and communities have the right to make their own
choices and decisions.

Empowerment - people should be able to control and use their own assets and means
to influence.

Collective action - coming together in groups or organizations strengthens peoples’


voices.

Working and learning together - collaboration and sharing experiences is vital to


good community activity.
KNOW YOUR TARGET COMMUNITY
A good potter must know the characteristics
of the clay
“you need to analyze them to understand the
nature of community as a social system”
Community Organization
• Sustained process of educating the people to work collectively and
efficiently towards the solution of short-term and long-term problems
• Approach and a strategy to development
• Process of problem-solving.
• The collective process of working together towards the solution of
community problems and the attainment of its goals should lead to
people’s empowerment and a community that is controlled and managed
by them.
Education
& Training

CO
Organization Resource
Building Mobilization

PARTICIPATORY
IGP or Coalition
DEVELOPMENT
MED Building
Socio- Networking
Economic and
Work Advocacy
Social Base
Environmental Federation
Activities Building
Management

Three-Pronged Approach to Participatory Development


"Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
(Lk.5:4)

You might also like