1. CHAPTER 18 How Community Organizations Affect Change

2. MODELS OF COMMUNITY INTERVENTION FeaturesLocal level organizations Social issue organizations Social planning organizations Expected outcomes-Building capacity- Accomplishing tasks -Changing policies -Changing power relationships -Solving community problems -Obtaining funding -Developing programs Target of change-Local public officials - Local institutions (e.g., banks, schools) -Public officials -Agency administrators - Elected officials at the local, state and national levels - Interagency organizations Primary constituency-Residents in a geographic area -Issue focused groups-Volunteer leaders -Elected officials -Human service funders -Coalitions Scope of concernNeighborhood quality of life -Social justice -Resolution of an issue -Improved services for target populations

3. MODELS OF COMMUNITY INTERVENTION FeaturesLocal level organizations Social issue organizations Social planning organizations Change tactics -Formation of consensus -Advocacy for positions -Mobilizing neighborhood response Confrontation - Negotiations - Collaborations - Litigation -Fact gathering -Technical analysis -Advocating policy and legislative change Empowering constituents - Building the neighborhood capacity to make decisions - Promoting greater control of their own destiny -Creating an awareness of constituent rights - Developing capacity to have an impact -Documenting consumers’ unmet needs -Transmitting analysis to the decision makers -Organizing coalitions -Coordinating service delivery Practitioner-Facilitator -Coordinator -Advocate -Broker -Researcher -Proposal writer

4. INFLUENCING CHANGE  Working for Change People must be involved in an issue that reflects a deeply felt need People need a target toward which they can direct their energies People must feel a sense of their own power. They must have con­fidence in the possibility that an organization can accomplish what they as individuals cannot People must be involved in achieving concrete and immediate changes

5. DEVELOPING COMMUNITY SUPPORT  Conduct an exploratory survey  Sell an issue through individual contacts  Promote attendance at a particular meeting where community action will be taken

6. The Community Organizer’s Role  Advocating  Mobilizing  Organizing  Enabler  Broker  Advocate

7. PREPARING STRATEGIES AND TACTICS  What is our primary purpose for existing (mission)?  What might we be doing several years from now for which we should be preparing ourselves?  What are our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats?  What are the critical issues facing our organization that must be addressed (e.g., membership, finances)?  What are our goals and objectives?  Who are our supporters and what value do we offer them?  Who are our opponents and what form is their opposition likely to take?  Who do we need to influence, and how can we go about it?

8. WORKING ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION ISSUES  Dealing with residents who are reluctant to become involved either because they are apathetic or because they are mistrustful  Determining what residents really want and developing differential strategies to meet their needs and interests  Accepting the importance of self determination  Continually energizing organizations  Helping to develop a clear focus  Seeking a balance between wanting to make a major impact in the community and identifying projects that can be feasibly implemented

9. GUIDING PRINCIPLES  Anticipate possible problems and challenges so that you will be prepared to meet them  Start where the group is  Encourage people in the organization to take on assignments in which they can be successful  Be aware of organizational dynamics and interactions

10. SUMMARY  People form community organizations to address a variety of concerns and issues. Sometimes these organizations are based where people live; fre­quently they emerge from common interests. Regardless of their origin, they have in common the need to influence change, mobilize support, deal with resistance, and see results. To strengthen their power to influence change, community organizations will frequently form coalitions. Through community development processes, some community organiza­ tions attempt to have an impact on the economic life of the community.