Introduction to Community Planning
What is community planning?
Community planning is a process by which citizens gather together, often with the assistance of a macro social worker, to explore community strengths and needs, and develop proposals to create community betterment.
What is the dominant rational model in community planning?
The dominant rational model involves professional planners using rational problem-solving techniques to resolve planning problems independently of community members.
What are the steps involved in developing a planning group?
Steps include recruiting members, forming the group, and orienting the members to the planning process.
What is the importance of revising the preliminary proposal in community planning?
Revising the preliminary proposal ensures that feedback from public forums and focus groups is incorporated, making the proposal more comprehensive and reflective of community needs.
What is the needs/services approach in community planning?
The needs/services approach focuses on identifying individual needs and recommending additional services or programs to meet those needs.
Why is community planning important in macro social work?
Community planning is fundamental to community development, community organization, program development, and administration. It provides a framework for improving services, engaging the community, and strengthening the democratic process.
Describe the action-social model of community planning.
The action-social model is participation-directed, empowerment-oriented, democratically infused, leadership-based, goals-oriented, advocacy-centered, practically engaged, and future-aimed.
How can community planners avoid pitfalls in defining the planning issue?
Planners can avoid pitfalls by being objective, asking evidence-based questions, and using decision techniques like brainstorming and the nominal group technique.
How can community planners engage in political action to implement their plans?
Planners can engage in political action by networking with key leaders, negotiating, building coalitions, creating consensus, and using various tactics like lobbying, fact gathering, and direct social action.
Describe the problem/deficit approach in community planning.
The problem/deficit approach identifies and addresses deficiencies or dysfunctions within a community, aiming to repair systems and overcome dysfunctions to move the community along its predetermined path.
What role do social workers play in community planning?
Social workers train citizens to be involved in civic affairs, assist in obtaining information about plans affecting neighborhoods, help form community planning groups, act as liaisons between citizens and government, and ensure that communities with fewer resources have the opportunity to develop their own plans.
What are the key principles of action-social community planning?
Key principles include grassroots engagement, community empowerment, democratic processes, leadership development, goal orientation, advocacy, practical engagement, and future planning.
What is participative action research and its significance in community planning?
Participative action research involves community members in the research process to gather information and develop solutions to community issues, ensuring that the research is action-oriented and socially infused.
Why is monitoring and evaluating the plan crucial in community planning?
Monitoring and evaluating the plan ensures that the implementation is on track, allows for adjustments based on new developments, and measures the effectiveness of the plan in achieving its goals.
What is the asset/strengths approach in community planning?
The asset/strengths approach focuses on identifying and leveraging the assets, skills, and capacities of residents, associations, and local institutions to build and strengthen the community.
What are the key components of a community planning process?
Key components include developing a planning group, deciding on an approach, defining the planning issue, carrying out research assessments, developing alternative planning solutions, creating a preliminary proposal, presenting and revising the proposal, implementing the plan, and monitoring and evaluating the plan.
How does the action-social model differ from the dominant rational model?
The action-social model emphasizes active participation, empowerment, and democratic engagement of community members, whereas the dominant rational model relies on professional expertise and rational problem-solving, often excluding community input.
Describe the process of carrying out a needs assessment in community planning.
The process involves identifying and verifying the need through existing data, focused interviews, conversational interviews, community forums, focus groups, and community surveys. It aims to gather comprehensive information about community needs and resources.
What are some common tactics used in community advocacy?
Common tactics include recruiting individuals, door knocking, establishing hotlines, distributing flyers, petitioning, holding house meetings, lobbying, fact gathering, position taking, committee work, giving testimony, and direct social action.
How does the modified strengths-based approach differ from the asset/strengths approach?
The modified strengths-based approach balances the focus on community assets and strengths with the identification of needs and problems, providing a comprehensive view that incorporates both positive and negative aspects of the community.
How does community planning contribute to the democratic process?
Community planning engages citizens in decision-making, ensures their voices are heard, and empowers them to take an active role in shaping their community. This participatory approach strengthens democratic values and processes by fostering transparency, accountability, and community ownership.
What are the benefits of using an action-social model in community planning?
Benefits include increased community engagement, empowerment of residents, development of local leadership, creation of sustainable and inclusive plans, and fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility among community members.
What are the different approaches to community planning, and how do they differ?
Approaches include the needs/services approach, problem/deficit approach, asset/strengths approach, and modified strengths-based approach. They differ in their focus on needs, problems, assets, and strengths, and in how they balance these elements to develop comprehensive community plans.
How can community planners counter opposition to their plans?
Planners can counter opposition by anticipating misinformation, using evidence-based facts, engaging in political action, building coalitions, negotiating, and ensuring transparent and inclusive decision-making processes.
What are the steps involved in carrying out participative action research in community planning?
Steps include involving community members in defining concerns, formulating questions, gathering information, analyzing data, developing solutions, and implementing strategies to improve the community. This approach ensures that research is participative, action-oriented, and socially infused.