HN299: Unit 7:Organizing a Community Craig Owens, LCSW (Prof C)

Seminar 7, Agenda Apply the learning from Unit 6! Apply the learning from Unit 6! Community organization Community organization Case Study – If you were in Charge? Case Study – If you were in Charge? Questions Questions

Applying the learning! What was the most significant thing you learned in last week’s discussion about working with Teresa in crisis. Where are you now with the issue of self-disclosure?

Human service professionals who work in supervisory and upper management positions in their agencies spend a lot of time attending meetings designed to help community agencies collaborate with each other. Often times, private non-profit agencies create community partnerships that help agencies that serve various needs to work together in developing referral systems. Human service professionals who work in supervisory and upper management positions in their agencies spend a lot of time attending meetings designed to help community agencies collaborate with each other. Often times, private non-profit agencies create community partnerships that help agencies that serve various needs to work together in developing referral systems.

The key to community collaborative meetings is to design systems of service delivery that work together to identify gaps in service, to apply for block grants (many different agencies share grant monies to work on a project together), to share services, and to make referral systems more effective. The key to community collaborative meetings is to design systems of service delivery that work together to identify gaps in service, to apply for block grants (many different agencies share grant monies to work on a project together), to share services, and to make referral systems more effective.

Another key function of community collaborative groups is to explore the feasibility of adding new services to an agency or area according to the needs of target populations. For example, as a city’s population shifts from young families to senior citizens, more senior citizen programs should be offered. Another key function of community collaborative groups is to explore the feasibility of adding new services to an agency or area according to the needs of target populations. For example, as a city’s population shifts from young families to senior citizens, more senior citizen programs should be offered.

Community organizers work closely with other community members to use creative problem- solving skills in order to create “umbrella services” that can be used to serve more clients in fewer locations. For example, in some smaller communities, churches serve as social service centers during the day, offering food pantries and sites for AA/NA meetings and parenting classes. Community organizers work closely with other community members to use creative problem- solving skills in order to create “umbrella services” that can be used to serve more clients in fewer locations. For example, in some smaller communities, churches serve as social service centers during the day, offering food pantries and sites for AA/NA meetings and parenting classes.

Some churches work closely with mental health and substance abuse agencies to offer outreach and intervention services to community members who need help. During colder months, churches sometimes serve as cold weather shelters when the local homeless shelters fill for the evening.

Collaborative coalitions consist of members from social service agencies, supervisors of public housing communities, senior citizen agencies, local colleges, community activists, resource officers from local police agencies, and politicians; who get together to explore solutions to community problems. For example, the problem might be a rise in drug-related crime or admission requirements to services that are too restrictive (e.g., mental health agencies that will not accept sliding scale fees for service). Collaborative coalitions consist of members from social service agencies, supervisors of public housing communities, senior citizen agencies, local colleges, community activists, resource officers from local police agencies, and politicians; who get together to explore solutions to community problems. For example, the problem might be a rise in drug-related crime or admission requirements to services that are too restrictive (e.g., mental health agencies that will not accept sliding scale fees for service).

Community Examples Q: Have you ever done community organization work of any kind? If so what successes and challenges did you encounter? Q: Have you ever done community organization work of any kind? If so what successes and challenges did you encounter?

You are each leaders in a community organization, we have representatives from police and safety, local churches, social service agencies, the local shelters, soup kitchens, schools, and local family representatives as well.

We have formed a coalition to reduce alcohol and drug abuse and addiction in our community. Several teens died recently from alcohol poisoning at a high- school party, and violent crimes related to opiate drug addiction have been on the increase.

What is the first thing we should do as a new coalition to prepare to tackle these problems in our community?

How can community coalitions be successful at achieving their goals? What are some strengths that coalitions provide?

What are some barriers or pitfalls to Community Coalitions successfully managing large-scale community change projects?

Questions