Everything you need to know: About Community Organization

Community Organization is different from other types of social work practice: The client is the community Communities can include geographic communities, people with common cultural backgrounds, people with common interests, or people with common problems. Community organization focuses on people who are members of oppressed groups who do not have power to get the resources they need. Community organization helps people get power!

Oppression: Often comes from institutional discrimination or stigmatization; groups are perceived as unworthy and organizational or government practices reflect that perception. It results in some people having unequal access to resources. It causes people to have a negative perception of themselves (internalized oppression) and is psychologically harmful. It causes people to become disconnected (alienated) from others and to feel hopeless about their ability to change their lives.

Types of Oppression (CRAASH) Classism Racism Ageism Ableism (discrimination of people based on mental or physical status/disability) Sexism Heterosexism

Helping people gain power is one way to overcome oppression They acquire leadership and other skills that help them feel better about themselves. They become connected to their communities as well as to friends, neighbors, and local organizations. They learn to advocate for themselves. They gain the political power to get the things that they need

Social workers who are community organizers take on one or more of the following roles: Facilitator Broker Advocate Planner Policy analyst Political campaigner Coordinator

Community Organization uses strategies and tactics to help people get power and things that they need: Strategies are long-term plans to achieve social change. Tactics are short term activities that are used to carry out a strategy. Strategies and tactics are associated with what we call models of practice. Models of practice incorporate theories, perspectives about how we should practice, and outcomes.

We use the following models in CO Practice. Social Action Social Planning Community Development Transformative Feminist Multicultural

Basic assumptions of Rothman’s Model Practice Model Change GoalStaff RoleConstituentsTarget of Change Change Strategy Community development Increase community capacity and integration Coordinator Enabler Catalyst Citizens Participants Programs or services Develop a consensus among groups Social ActionChange resources & power dynamics Advocate Negotiator Activist Victims of oppression Constituents Employers The power structure Mobilize people to take action against powerful Social Planning Problem- solving Expert Data analyst; Problem Solver Consumers of Service Community Systems Collect data; choose the best plan

Basic Assumptions of Transformative Models Practice ModelChange Goal Staff RoleConstituentsTarget of Change Change Strategy TransformativePersonal & Social Change Expert; Teacher; Equal partner; Learner Experts on own lives; Change Agents; Learners Individuals; Society Teaching; Group Consensus; Confront powerful FeministMore power for women Equal partner; Facilitator; Activist Partners; Change agents; Decision- makers Individuals; Change services to meet needs; Patriarchy Group consensus; Confront power structure MulticulturalSocial change Bring cultures together Equal partner Facilitator Learner Learners; Decision- makers; Partners Individual & Group Attitudes; Social Change Dialogue; Group consensus; Confront powerful

Basic points about Community Development Based on collaboration (individuals and groups) May be difficult to get agreement on goals and cooperation Organizations may fight over turf CD is used to bring people together, link up people and organizations, and can be used to reduce alienation in communities. Two of the techniques used include strengthening informal networks and organizations and undertaking community projects such as building parks, planting community gardens, or painting murals. Process is more important than outcome

Basic points on Social Action Outcome is more important than process. Point is to win (gain power or resources) Some people think that it is important to win using any means necessary. Method should not be used when people agree on goals or when they talk to each other on a regular basis. Should be used to bring opponents to the bargaining table if it is the only way to do it. Targets of change (decision-makers) are sometimes regarded as the enemy. Methods range from mild pressure on targets (lobbying, media campaigns, to protests, to direct confrontation with targets (strikes, boycotts, civil disobedience, and direct action. Some methods of action may not be consistent with social work principles and are not necessarily covered in the code of ethics. It is important to fully inform participants of the consequences of their actions.

Basic Points on Social Planning Uses the problem-solving model. Planners are considered experts on the problem. Do research to find the best plan and the best method to carry out the plan. Some planners work cooperatively with beneficiaries of the plan. Some planners must persuade decision-makers and the public that their plan is the best one.

Basic points on transformative models Focus both on changing individuals as well as political and economic systems. People learn skills. Organizers are teachers and other experts, but they must learn to respect other participants especially those people who may be from different social classes, ethnic groups, or who are otherwise marginalized in society. All people should be considered experts about their own lives.

Which of these methods: Do you feel comfortable with? Are ethical? Are mandated by the social work code of ethics?

Collaboration and Coalition-Building Process through which organizations obtain resources and acquire power. Collaboration among organizations focuses on putting informal/formal agreements together to conduct assessments, coordinate cases, recruit clients, and share resources. Service coordination is also thought to reduce duplication in service delivery.

Coalition-building Individuals advocating for change on their own have limited power or resources. An organization engaged in advocacy can use professional expertise, resources, and money raised from others to advocate for change. Organizations and groups working together have a great among of power, social and business connects, media contacts, money, and strength in numbers. Most powerful of all are social movements – alliances among organizations serving different communities and different geographic areas to band together to advocate for change (usually to fight for their own rights or to advocate for people or things that can’t advocate for themselves (children, mentally ill, animals, environment). Other examples of social movements are: Immigrants’ Rights Movement, Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Movement etc.

Problems with Collaboratives and Coalitions They need to select leaders and create an organization structure. They need to raise funds. It takes time to get people to agree on goals and plans of action. People sometimes don’t trust one other. Members may not agree on all issues. Individual members or groups may want to protect their own turf rather than to cooperate.