Community Practice

One of the text books we are using in our Community Organizing class is titled "Community Practice" by Hardcastle & Powers. So far (I have read the first three chapters) I would recommend this book. It's one of those books that can be applied to every-day social work easily. My Internship is on campus, working with the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Humboldt State University. I have been approached to work with Former Foster Youth (FFY) and asked to develop a template for a Guardian Scholar type program on campus, including supporting a club and building a resource website. My learning objectives are still being developed, yet my focus is to ensure sustainability and work with empowerment based actions and convictions. As I read through the first chapter I see how it clearly maps out a community organizing process for me: According to Hardcastle & Powers p. 4, originally from (Well & Gamble, p. 577) Community practice's objectives are to;

• develop the organizing skills and abilities of individuals and groups, (right now I am first developing a relationship with FFY so that I can find out who they are, what they want to accomplish, gain a comprehensive understanding of what their needs are, educate them on my research, and filter out of that, what is meaningful to them.)

• make social planning more accessible and inclusive in a community, ( part of what I am uncovering is that resources are available yet many FFY are not always aware of them --so providing this access seems very important which may include; building the website, providing information at registration, educating departments on campus, and taking my understanding of their needs to develop the template in partnership)

• connect social and economic involvement to grassroots community groups, (I see this step as networking, building relationships and tapping into the community to create partners and creative solutions, and exploring grants and funding to provide the means to meet needs)

• advocate for broad coalitions in solving community problems, and (I hope to collaborate on this template with FFY and then inspire and support them to present this template to all of the key players on campus while building coalitions and solving community problems)

• infuse the social planning process with a concern for social justice. ( here I can imagine one part of what I need to provide when I am educating and advocating for this program is to have statistics available and understand the specific social issues that surround the lack of support for FFY, including history and current legislation)

In the introduction, on p. 11, The Social Work Problem-Solving Strategy is presented as follows:

1. Recognition of a problem and establishment of the need for change. In my case the problem has been recognized by many for some time. (certainly FFY have experienced a very unfair and unsupported response to their needs) The need is to build a program template and funding to provide the needed services, (level the playing field) a lot of work, coalition building and response has already been put into place by departments and individuals and now it just needs to be compiled, further identified, solutions formulated, and presented to all key players.

2. Information gathering. (This is where I am at in the process.)

3. Assessment and the development of a case theory (empowerment, sustainability, organizational structure, social justice) and plan (program template) for change.

4. Intervention and the change effort. (My hope is that I will support FFY to develop a template working in cooperation and as a team present this to the key players to provide the intervention and ultimately develop something that is sustainable on this campus.)

5. Evaluation and termination of the change effort. (I would expect that this will always be a dynamic and changing process with the intent to meet the needs of FFY by including their input and offering support.)

When you're out their pioneering and doing social work--it can be very helpful to have templates/strategies as a place to start from. ...More to be revealed as my process and internship develops. Thanks for engaging in my process and I do appreciate sincere feedback.