Community-based program design

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Community Based Program Design

 

Community

Community Based Program Design is a social program design method that enables social service providers, organizers, designers and evaluators to serve vulnerable populations in their communities. This program design approach depends on the participatory approach of community development often associated with community based social work, and is often employed by community organizations.^[1] From this approach, program designers assess the needs and resources existing within a community, and, involving community stakeholders in the process, attempt to create a sustainable and equitable solution to address the community's needs.

History

Community practice in social work is linked with the historical roots of the professions beginning in the United States. More specifically, the history of community-based social work evolves from charity organization society (COS), and the settlement house movement. [[1]] However, during earlier half of the 20th century, much of this work focused on institutionalization. Not until the 1960s did a shift from institutions to communities exacerbate the emphasis on community-based program design. This is known as the era of deinstitutionalization^[2].

Also, informal community-based programs predate human service applications to this approach.^[3] Melvin Delgado, in 1999, illustrates this point by quoting Harper (1990) regarding African-American's provision of health care in the community, stating: "Blacks have always cared for the sick at home, yet it was never laveled 'home care.' Blacks have been dying at home and receiving care in the proces, yet it was never called 'hospice care.' Blacks have relieved each other from the caring and curing processes, yet it was never seen as 'respite care.' Blacks have cared for each other in their homes, in their neighborhoods, and throughout their communities, yet it was never referred to as 'volunteerism.'"^[4]

Community-based organizations and community-based programs burgeoned during the period of deinstitutionalization. The poor conditions of mental health institutions and an increasing amount of research that illustrated the benefits of maintaining the relationships of the individuals served within the community surfaced to further the growth of community-based programs.

Formally, community based program development has been professionalized by such as city planners, urban studies and planning, social work...

Notable contributors to community-based approach

Paulo Freire

Lorraine Gutiérrez

Program design tools

 

Socio-Ecological Model for Community-Based Program Design

Similar to traditional program design, community-based program design often utilizes a range of tools and models which enhance the efficacy of the program’s design. The difference between traditional design and community-based design, when using these tools, are the dynamics in the relationship between the designers and the community. One such model is the Socio-Ecological Model. The socio-ecological model provides a framework for community-based programs, and emphasizes the influence that multiple levels of society have on each other.^[5]

Another common tool of program design that can be employed by community-based program designers is the logic models. Logic models are usually a graphical depiction of the logical relationships between the resources, activities, outputs and outcomes of a program.^[6] The underlying purpose of constructing a logic model is to assess the "if-then" (causal) relationships between the elements of the program.

For community-based programs that seek to address macro-issues, the social action model may be utilized. ^[7] The objectives of the social action model are to: 1) recognize the change around us in order to preserve or improve standards; 2) understand the social action process/model is a conceptualization of how directed change takes place; and 3) understand how the social action model can be implemented as a successful community problem solving tool.

An additional common element of program design is program evaluation. Evaluation involves the ongoing systematic assessment of Community-based programs. Program dsigners often choose to incorporate evaluation into the design in order to check program processes, determine impact, build a base of support, and/or justify replication. ^[8]

Advantages of community-based program design

Benefits of community-based program design include gaining insight into the social context of an issue or problem, mutual learning experiences, broadening understanding of professional roles in the community, interaction with professionals from other disciplines, and opportunities for community-based participatory research projects. ^[9]

Increased sustainability is an advantage of community-based program design. The program sustainability is ensured by the identification of solutions to problems based on existing resources accessible to all community members. Also, the involvement of local community leaders and local volunteers reinforce the sustainability of the impact of the program.^[10]

• Collaborative participatory
• Diversity
• Serves clients in their community
• address/meets needs of community

Challenges of community-based program design

Some challenges of community-based program design is the limited availability of resources, propensity for high levels of staff turnover, the reliance upon unpaid volunteers, participant retention, and the evaluation of a dynamic task environment.^[11] For the same reasons that sustainability is an advantage of this approach, utilizing limited available resources is a challenge. Based on free market principals and resource scarcity, programs often operate below pareto efficiency. ^[12] Limited resources result in high levels of staff turnover and the reliance upon unpaid volunteers. Also associated with low availability of limited resources is low levels of participant retention.

See also

• Activism
• Community Based Participatory Research
• Community organization
• Volunteering

Reference

1. Delgado, M. (1999). Social work practice in nontraditional urban settings. Oxford University Press. Oxford, New York.
2. Tausig, M. Michello, J., & Subedi, S. (2003) A Sociology of Mental Illness. Pearson: New York, NY
3. Delgado, M. (1999). Social work practice in nontraditional urban settings. Oxford University Press. Oxford, New York.
4. Harper, B.C.O. (1990). Blacks and the health care delivery system: Challenges and prospects, Social work practice with black families. White Plains, NY.
5. O’Neil, M. E., Fragala-Pinkham, M., Ideishi, R. I., & Ideishi, S. K. (2012) Community-based programs for children and youth: Our experiences in design, implementation, and evaluation. Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics. 32(2): 111-119.
6. McCawley, Paul. "The logic model for program planning and evaluation"
7. Charles Zastrow (27 January 2009). The Practice of Social Work: A Comprehensive Worktext: A Comprehensive Worktext. Cengage Learning. pp. 284–. ISBN 978-0-495-59970-8.
8. American Academy of Pediatrics (2013). Evaluating your community-based program
9. Mudarikwa, R. S., McDonnell, J. A., Whyte, S., Villanueva, E., Hill, R. A., Hart, W., & Nestel, D. (2010). Community-based practice program in a rural medical school: Benefits and challenges. 32: 990-996.
10. Sternin, M., Sernin, J., & Marsh, D. (1998). Designing a community-based nutrition program using the Hearth Model and the positive deviance approach: A field guide. Save the Children Federation, Westport, CT
11. O’Neil, M. E., Fragala-Pinkham, M., Ideishi, R. I., & Ideishi, S. K. (2012) Community-based programs for children and youth: Our experiences in design, implementation, and evaluation. Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics. 32(2): 111-119.
12. Lewis, M. A., & Widerquist, K. (2002). Economics for Social Workers: The application of economic theory to social policy and the human services. Columbia University Press. New York, NY