STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Define competing theories of community and compare applications in the human services delivery system in a postindustrial society

 II.     Develop an understanding of the fundamental issues related to the concept of change and how they might differently impact various communities of people as potential clients

 III.    Understand the conceptual differences between the three primary community change models studies in the social sciences that are a problem, power or development focused

 IV.     Interpret how application of the empowerment model within the context of systems theory in human services micro (individuals and groups) and meso (family system focused) practices is appropriate within macro settings such as community organizations.

 V.      Define the role of the human service practitioner as change agent within the context of the empowerment model as it relates to community organization methods

 VI.     Define strategies used to determine how a company functions to meet its needs, i.e. methods of defining needs/problems (social, economic, physical, etc.), methods of decision making used to address issues, capacity to change, and the pattern of actions taken to resolve issues

 VII.    Explain the concept of community vision and how it might differ from the vision of others including that of the human service practitioner.

 VIII.   Structure a written rationale for appropriate level of participation related to service needs for leadership, ongoing workers, short-term participation, advisors, technical assistance expertise and general supporters

 IX.     Develop a general knowledge of identifying and acquiring non-personal resources to support community change efforts

 X       Describe group processes that inhibit dialogue and communication

 XI.     Outline the legislative process at the local and state levels

 XII.    Describe strategies to lobby against legislation which are not supportive of organizational goals

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      Characteristics of Community

         A.      Theories of Community:  Political and Economical Views

         B.      Factors that Define Community

         C.      Historical/Traditional Developments of U.S. Communities

         D.      Competing Theories of Community

 II.     Issues related to the Concept of Change

         A.      Intersections of Community Characteristics and Problems

         B.      Barriers to Change

         C.      Perceptions of Problems and Change

         D.      Empowerment Model and Change

 III.    Primary Community Change Models

         A.      Elements Problem, Power, and Development Focused Change Models

         B.      The Global Emergence of Grassroots Organizing

         C.      Social Capital Theory

         D.      Community Resources:  Advantages and Disadvantages

         E.      Counter-indicators for application of Models

 IV.     Role of the Human Services Practitioner as Change Agent

         A.      Community Organization as an Area of Study

         B.      Resistance Community Organization Methodologies

         C.      Empowerment Model and Systems Theory

         D.      Equity Theories and Economic and Social Justice Concepts

         E.      Empowerment Model and Community Organization Methods

 V.      Assessing the Community Characteristics

         A.      Objective Characteristics

                 1.      Geographic boundaries

                 2.      Population size

                 3.      socioeconomic demographics

                 4.      Business, schools libraries, etc.

 VI.     Research resources, i.e., library holdings, government documents, internet, neighborhood archives, minutes of meetings.

         A.      Informational Characteristics of Community

                 1.      Subcommunities

                 2.      Shared values

                 3.      Roles of leaders

                 4.      Leadership styles.

 VII.    Elements of Planning

         A.      Unmet Needs and Problem Symptoms and solutions.

         B.      Concept of Community Vision

         C.      Sequence of Action Planning

         D.      Activities, Stakeholders, and Time Frames

         E.      Defining Activity Completion and Measuring Effectiveness

         F.      Obstacles to Planning

 VIII.   Maximizing Effective Outcomes

         A.      Assessing Level of Participation

         B.      Methods to Inform Concerned Citizens

         C.      Methods to Encourage Participation

         D.      Guidelines for Working with Volunteers

 IX.     Acquiring Non-personnel Resources

         A.      Budget Development

         B.      Fund Raising from Private Sources

         C.      Obtaining government Financial Support

         D.      Components of a Proposal Request

         E.      Making a Presentation to Request Funding

         F.      Limitations of Fund-raising

         G.      Applying for Grant Support on the Internet

 X       Barriers to Achieving Organizational Change

         A.      Belief Systems

         B.      Group Processes That Inhibit Dialogue

         C.      Leadership Styles

         D.      Member Lack of Skills

         E.      Strategies for Avoiding Problems

 XI.     Lobbying Methodologies

         A.      Principles of Lobbying: Human Services Perspective

         B.      Legislative Process: Local and State

         C.      Components of Lobbying Private and Public Organizations

         D.      Approaching Elected Officials and Staff

         E.      Strategies of Opposing Legislation