1. Ecology of the Community
Chapter 10
Ecology of the Community

2. Chapter OBjectives
1. Community’s influence on socialization, including physical, economic, social, and personal factors. 2. Ways in which the community serves as a system of support for children and families. 3. Family services by type and structure. 4. Government initiatives in the United States designed to assist families. 5. Role of advocacy in creating caring communities and give examples.

4. Community-Structure and Function
A community includes a group of people living in the same geographic area under common laws. (neighborhood, town , city)
The crucial component of a community is the relationship of people to one another and the sense of belonging and of obligation to the group.

5. A community is structured to have 5 functions:
Role models for children
Opportunity to learn by doing
Standards of behavior
Role expectations for adults
Role expectations for children

6. Physical factors of the community that influence children’s behavior:
Population density refers to the number of people occupying a certain area of space.
High population density can have negative effects, such as
scarcity of resources,
personal space violations (housing), and
inability to maintain desired privacy.
Play settings

7. Residential Density
Studies demonstrate the relationship between residential density and characteristics.
Individuals learn to become helpless, when situations are unaffected by their behavior.
Noise is “unwanted sound”
Air pollution
(ex) The hearing problems of children; they can’t concentrate, study, or learn as a result.
(ex) Back of the room;too distracted; can’t hear teacher

8. Physical Factors:
Arrangements and types of houses affect the interaction between people.
When houses face the street or a courtyard, people have a common place of contact. This direct access to the outside maximizes the potential (ability) for parental supervision.
Play settings- offer children the opportunity to engage in fantasy play.
Some neighborhoods provide play grounds for children.

9. Social and personal factors of the community that influence children’s behavior according to Bronfenbrenner
The neighborhood setting developmental potential from a setting
Patterns of community interaction
enhanced function of its supportive links with other settings (family, school)
Homogenous neighborhoods include people of similar background,
while heterogeneous neighborhoods include people of differing backgrounds.

10. Patterns of Community Interaction
Community ecology
the relationship between the community members and their environment.
The community
is part of a microsystem in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory.
The community acts as a medium
through which the basic values, norms, and customs (Macro) of society are interpreted via the interactions of its members.

11. Patterns of Community interaction

12. Community’s Potential for Learning
Fosters school and educational work or recreational projects:
Alternative schools:
learns citizenship by actual involvement
Graduate requirement-
community service
The commitment of communities to learning
as part of Goals 2000

13. Why are community services necessary?
population increase
the changing nature of the family (teenage births, divorce)
increasing urbanization of communities due to:
Centralization of industries in certain areas
consequent migration
People living in cities

14. Public and Private Agencies
Agencies services can be public or private
Public agencies are financed by taxation
Legislation to appropriate tax monies for an agency is generally related to the approval and support of the citizens. (bonds passed)
Their structure differ according to state and local laws.
Private agencies are financed by donations and/or fees.
(United Way)
Administered by a board of directors

15. The Community as a Support System
Preventive,
Supportive, and
Rehabilitative Services

16. Preventive Services
lessen stress and strains of life: Parks, recreation, and education keep kids from engaging in delinquent activities.
Girls Scouts of America
The National Parks Service
Cooperative Extension Service
Provide space, companionship, physical activity and mental stimulation needs.

17. The Community as a Support System
Supportive Services
Economic Assistance
Counseling
Adoption
Foster Care
Child Care
Protective Care Education
Child Health & Welfare
Education programs
Supportive services preserve healthy family life by promoting harmonious family relationships.

18. The Community as a Support System
Rehabilitative Services
Corrections
Mental health
Special needs
Rehabilitative services enable or restore a
person’s capacities to effectively participate in the
community

19. Meeting the Needs of Children and Families
Advocacy groups for children
The Children Defense Fund
The National Commission on Children (NCC, 1991)
Solve and monitor specific problems
Support children’s problems in general

20. Economic Assistance Addresses
Many poor families are large and represent various ethnic minority groups.
Poverty (16, 000 for family of four)
Homelessness
The largest recent increase in poor families has been among Anglos under age 30.
FYI: 3 in 5 are Anglo families
1 in 3 live in suburban areas
1 in 3 live in married households
2 in 3 live in working family

21. Community Mesosystem Influences
Linking community services to families:
Health services
Nutrition services
Social services
Educational services
Child welfare services

22. Homeless Families Are the result of many simultaneous trends:
shrinking incomes of many young families,
rising housing costs,
decreasing supply of low-cost housing,
decline in government housing assistance,
deinstitutionalization of the mentally disabled.
Homeless children suffer psychological, as well as behavioral and educational, consequences.

23. Child Protection and Maltreatment:
Community Involvement and Advocacy
What can you do about it?
Know your state child abuse law.
Who must report?
Know how to report abuse /Neglect.