Building Community-Based Services & Social Capital

Needs Assessment  Identify community and regional needs (surveys, interviews, etc.) based on input from consumers, service providers, government officials, NGOs.

Identify Current Level of Community-Based Services.  Who provides services?  Who receives services?  What services are provided?  When?  How?

Assess Current Levels of Collaboration  Identify current levels of collaboration and cooperation among major stakeholders.  Assess the models of partnerships and interaction among NGOs, government, and community-based services.  Assess the role of Civic (service) organizations.  Assess the role of trade unions.

Assessment Continued  Assess the role of volunteers.  Assess the role of social workers in planning and providing services.  Assess the role of existing education and training programs.  Assess the models of monitoring and evaluating programs.

Outreach  Develop a systematic outreach and program information dissemination process.

Procedures for Communication  Establish procedures for inter- and intra-agency communication.  Formal meetings among service providers.  Facility for sharing information.

Flexibility  Design flexibility in programs related to differences in geography, populations, and service providers.

Integrated Programs  Establish integrated programs that link personal social services to the labor market, informal work sector, and sustainable employment (child care, job training, skill development, life coping strategies, individual and family support programs, etc.).

Social Capital Definition  Formal and informal social networks among individuals who share norms and values, especially the norm of reciprocity (mutual assistance) Source: Wallis, 1998.

Social Capital Definition Continued  Mutual relations, interactions, and networks that emerge among groups, as well as the level of trust within a group or community.  An understanding that social capital will enhance learning, economic development, social mobility, or community vitality  Source: (Wall, Ferrazzi & Schryer, 1998).

Social Capital Definition Continued  “Features of social organizations, such as networks, norms, and trust that facilitate action and cooperation for mutual benefit.” Source: Robert Putnam 1998

Three Dimensions of Social Capital  Bonding: Family, neighbors, friends.  Bridging: Networks with people of similar social and economic status.  Linking: Ties between vulnerable groups and society – social inclusion.

Indicators of Social Capital  Levels of participation.  Inclusion.  Levels of trust.  Levels of influence.

Strategies to Build Social Capital  Decentralize government.  Expand alternative services at community level.  Develop partnerships (stakeholders, businesses, trade unions).  Use Volunteers.  Increase involvement of civil society.

Goal of Social Economy  Autonomy.  Democratic and participative management.  The aim of serving its members and/or the community Source: ILO STEP Department 1998