Community Development Work Research Articles

Critical Community Pratice: An Introduction to the Special Section

What does it mean to practice critically in community settings? How do counselors, psychologists, social workers, community development workers, and other human service practitioners get beyond patching up the wounded and sending them back to contend with the toxic conditions in communities and society? What individual and organizational beliefs and practices would support those in need while simultaneously contributing to changing social conditions? This paper explores a model of critical community practice that highlights the theoretical underpinnings, practical applications, and organizational implications of community practice that is more radical and transformative. It also serves as an introduction to the four papers that follow in this special section.

Mind the Gap! The growing chasm between funding-driven agencies, and social and community knowledge and practice

The field of human services is increasingly adopting narrow practice approaches, driven by contemporary funding priorities. Such approaches reflect a reductionist understanding of human need, and run contrary to the wisdom, accumulated knowledge, experience, evidence and ethics of social and community development work. Drawing from a small group of refugee women's accounts of everyday challenges as well as their efforts to develop personal agency in resettlement, this paper highlights the mismatch between the complexities that such women face in everyday settlement processes and the focus of services available to them. It argues for a more responsive person-in-environment focus that could enable and enhance women's own efforts and aspirations for themselves and their children. The current tendency towards case management and away from community development is contributing to what we call the diminishing architecture of community development, and therefore represents a shift that is difficult to reverse. Refugee settlement work requires developmental actions within the cultural group, between new arrivals and the host community, and between new arrivals and the host society's resources systems and structures. Concurrently, the field needs to reclaim a broader paradigm of human service practice allowing for joined up, locality-based, capacity building work that is responsive to people, contexts and specific issues emerging over time. A broader funding paradigm that values social and community knowledge and practice, locality work and enables on-going, incremental, proactive changes is also needed.

Men, masculinity, and community development in Kenyan slums

There is limited research on masculinity in relation to community development. Using ethnographic and interview data from two slums in Kenya and building on one of the more well-known definitions of community development, we explore men?s narratives of themselves in relation to community development. We highlight how men’s cognizance of the structural and contextual constraints to the development of their communities intersected with both a feeling that they have helped to hamper community development and an adamant sense of their own criticality and centrality in ensuring it. While repudiating the idea that they have to change in order for their community to progress, men also generally hinged community development on their tenacious pursuit of traditional masculinity scripts. The rejection of mainstream masculinity norms as the basis for community progress will not resonate consistently among men. Social and community development work with men that fails to acknowledge them as gendered people may not succeed.

The Unintended Consequences of Government Intervention in South Sudanese Australian Families: Repairing the Legitimacy of Care and Protection Authorities Among Migrant Communities

Dealing with a range of government authorities is a reality of daily life for many immigrants. In Australia a range of initiatives were taken to improve relationships with recently arrived immigrants from diverse backgrounds. Despite these initiatives, in-depth interviews of over 40 South Sudanese community members and community development workers found the relationship between Australian government authorities and members of the community to be fractured. Authorities were experienced by participants as lacking awareness of the unique circumstances and needs of the community, and their actions as unhelpful and inappropriate. Some members of the Sudanese community questioned the legitimacy and integrity of these organisations and their actions. But what do people refer to when they question the legitimacy of government authorities acting on their power granted by law? In the view of Suchman (1995), the legitimacy of organisations depends on the degree to which people believe, within their socially constructed system of norms and values, that such organisations act in ways that are proper and appropriate. The current research found that in the case of the Sudanese Australian community confusions about the purpose and appropriateness of interventions from government authorities led to a lack of commitment to the objectives of the authorities, and subsequent questioning of their moral and cognitive legitimacy. This low level of perceived legitimacy were found to be an important contributing factor to a vacuum in the behaviour management and mentoring of South Sudanese youth.

International Field Experience in Social Work: Outcomes of a Short-Term Study Abroad Programme to India

This paper describes the development of an accessible, short-term (two-week) international field experience programme for distance education and on-campus social work students at a regional university in Australia. Pre-programme and post-programme evaluation surveys were undertaken and results indicate that the international study experience had significant positive impacts on student learning, student group cohesion, professional commitment and motivation as well as an enhanced appreciation of international social work, grassroots community development work, cultural diversity, human rights and social justice issues. Other positive impacts included ongoing relationships with social justice projects in India and positive, practical contributions to placement agencies during the active phase of the programme. The need for adequate academic preparation, reciprocity, as well as ongoing academic support and facilitation of short-term study abroad programmes is reinforced.

Participation of Youth in Rural Leadership Development Activities in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

The focus of the study was to assess the levels of participation of youth in rural leadership development activities in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Purposive and systematic random sampling techniques were adopted for the study. This study considered the socio-economic characteristics of the rural youth, stages of participation in rural leadership development activities, motivational factors influencing youth`s participation and constraints to participation in rural leadership development activities. Structured interviewed scheduled were administered on 108 youths within the age of 18 – 35. Descriptive statistical techniques like frequency counts and percentage were used to analyse the data. Inferential statistics like chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between variables investigated in the study. The study revealed that 57.05% had low participation 29.42% had moderate participation and 13.53% of them had high participation in rural leadership development activities. Results of the hypothesis testing revealed that at 5% level of confidence, significant relationship existed between sex (X2 = 59.4), level of education (X2 = 67.0), religion (X2 = 46.5), marital status (X2 = 35.87), Length of residency (X2 =35.01), level of education (X2 = 35.01) membership of community association (X2 =70.74), motivational factors (X2 = 48.60) and stages of participation while no significant relationship exist between age (X2 = 2.2) and stages of participation while no significant relationship exist between age. Conclusively, rural youth should be adequately motivated and oriented by the extension agents and community development workers in order to make them productive to themselves, to the rural community and bring about community development.

Participation of Youth in Rural Leadership Development Activities in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

The focus of the study was to assess the levels of participation of youth in rural leadership development activities in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Purposive and systematic random sampling techniques were adopted for the study. This study considered the socio-economic characteristics of the rural youth, stages of participation in rural leadership development activities, motivational factors influencing youth`s participation and constraints to participation in rural leadership development activities. Structured interviewed scheduled were administered on 108 youths within the age of 18 – 35. Descriptive statistical techniques like frequency counts and percentage were used to analyse the data. Inferential statistics like chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between variables investigated in the study. The study revealed that 57.05% had low participation 29.42% had moderate participation and 13.53% of them had high participation in rural leadership development activities. Results of the hypothesis testing revealed that at 5% level of confidence, significant relationship existed between sex (X2 = 59.4), level of education (X2 = 67.0), religion (X2 = 46.5), marital status (X2 = 35.87), Length of residency (X2 =35.01), level of education (X2 = 35.01) membership of community association (X2 =70.74), motivational factors (X2 = 48.60) and stages of participation while no significant relationship exist between age (X2 = 2.2) and stages of participation while no significant relationship exist between age. Conclusively, rural youth should be adequately motivated and oriented by the extension agents and community development workers in order to make them productive to themselves, to the rural community and bring about community development. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA

Effect of Motivation on Job Performance by Community Development Workers in Osun State, Nigeria

The study determined the effect of motivation on job performance of community development workers contributing to sustainable rural infrastructural development in Osun State. Specifically, it examined motivational packages provided for the workers, determined the extent to which selected socio-economics characteristics affect their job performance. Samples of 240 community development workers were interviewed. Structured questionnaire dully pre-tested for validity was used to collect primary data. Frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used to describe the data while chi-square, correlation and regression analysis were used as inferential statistics. The result shows that the profession was gender insensitive, while majority of them were in their active age. The mean years of experience were 18 years with a standard deviation of 4.16 and the average household size was 8 persons. The job performed by most of the workers include mobilizing communities to form community development association (CDAs), regular monitoring and supervision of projects and settlement of disputes. The major motivational packages enjoyed by the workers include leave allowance, car and housing loan and training opportunities. There were significant relationships between their job performance, transportation facilities made available (r = 0.626), medical facilities (r = 0.364), training opportunity (r = 0.270), prompt and regular promotion (r = 0.228), provision of office equipment (r = 0.147) and prompt payment of leave allowance (r = 0.145) at 0.05 level of significance. It is therefore recommended that for effective job performance, the government should improve on the motivational packages enjoyed by the workers.

Exploring Social Workers' Experiences of Working with Bushfire-affected Families

Following the devastating Victorian bushfires in February 2009, social workers engaged with people affected by this event in a variety of roles, including bushfire case manager, counsellor, and community development worker. This paper explores the experiences of social workers who worked with bushfire-affected families to understand their role and the context in which they practised. It describes the personal impact of disaster recovery work. Secondly, by drawing on the knowledge and experiences of these social workers, this investigation identified skills and personal qualities that can be used to inform the preparation and support of social workers responding in future disaster events or emergency recovery situations. The research design featured a mixed methodology that included an anonymous online survey completed by 22 participants and personal interviews with 6 social workers. Narrative data analysis was performed to identify themes. A key finding of the study was that, while social workers frequently work in contexts of uncertainty, the demands placed on practice were exacerbated by the lack of familiarity with geography, social networks, and resources, as well as by higher levels of uncertainty and lack of clarity and detail relating to the event itself.

Afrocentric Approaches to Working with Immigrant Communities

In this paper I present a case for using an Afrocentric approach in community development work with young African diaspora communities. The challenge faced by social work and community development in working with such immigrant groups is that the dominant individualistic-based theoretical approaches do not work effectively for people from communities with collective understanding of themselves. An Afrocentric approach means that the Africans see themselves as agents, actors, and participants in determining their destiny rather than as marginals in the Community Development workers’ designs based on Eurocentric theories. Equally applicable is the Ubuntu philosophy that is also based on African cultures, emphasises that our human destiny is both as a collective as well as individuals. This approach helps to understand the importance of families and the relatives for diaspora communities. It also helps to explain the problems encountered by such communities. There are lessons to learn about working with non-Western communities from a community development perspective and reclaiming community development for communities as well in the 21st century.

Community participation and social inclusion in Bristol

PurposeThis paper reports on action research which explored assertive outreach service users’ experiences of community participation and then fed this learning into a multi‐agency forum – where it was used in joint‐planning between mental health services and community partners, aiming to maximise social inclusion locally.Design/methodology/approachAction research methodology was chosen to examine the forum's work because it brings together different perspectives to reveal an issue in its entirety and effect change in practice. Service users’ experiences were explored using semi‐structured qualitative interviews.FindingsEngagement in mainstream community‐based activities re‐connected service users with cherished life roles and developed feelings of self‐efficacy, belonging, and wellbeing. Effective inter‐sectoral working in the forum was based on a shared agenda and collective action planning.Research limitations/implicationsWhilst every effort was made to ensure an authentic service user voice informed service development, it is unfortunate – in action research terms – that no service user interviewees were able to participate directly in the work of the forum. Community development work can build on micro‐level, person‐centred mental health care and extend outwards to collective community activity, aiming to harness social capital.Practical implicationsAssertive outreach – harnessing mainstream occupations through care‐planning – achieved outcomes that institutional rehab could not, and did so with a minimum of stigmatisation.Social implicationsThis inquiry highlights that social inclusion is the responsibility of the community as a whole.Originality/valueThis inquiry appreciated service users as evaluators of the services they used and aimed to bring that knowledge to bear on service development.

The feasibility of ICT diffusion and use amongst rural women in South Africa

This study explores whether ICT use is feasible in the rural areas of South Africa. Using the survey method, women aged 16-60 were sampled to include: Small-scale traders (58; 29.0%); Housewives/homemakers (48; 24.0%); Farm employees (25; 12.5%); Domestic workers (18; 9.0%); Educators/teachers (16; 8.0%); Students (15; 7.5%), Entrepreneurs managing large-scale enterprises (3; 1.5%); Clerical workers (9; 4.5%); Community development workers (6; 3.0%) and Preachers (2; 1.0%). These 200 respondents formed the sampling size. Sampling data was obtained from Census household data of the magisterial districts of Umlalazi i.e. Eshowe, Amatikulu, Gigindlovu and Mtunzini. Using the snowball technique women respondents, directly and indirectly connected to each other, were identified, and consequently interviewed. The survey results indicate that access and exclusion are still predominant issues, as while a meager average of 11(5.5%) respondents use modern technologies such as the computer/internet, more than half (115: 57.5%) of the respondents surveyed face problems ranging from affordability, to distance and time. Additionally, there is a marked correlation between the respondents' level of education, type of ICTs' accessed and information needs and purposes. It was observed that singularly, ICTs are insufficient for significant benefits to emerge.

Community development workers (CDWs): a case study of the Bitou Local Municipality

Local government in South Africa is no longer simply an extension of the national and provincial spheres of government; it has become an independent sphere in its own right. Steady progress has been made in the delivery of services since the advent of a democratic and developmental state in 1994. The 1996 South African Constitution positions local government as an independent sphere of the government, interrelated to and interdependent with the national and provincial governments. To give it a collective voice, local government speaks from a position of strength through organised local government, as embodied in the South African Local Government Association (hereafter referred to as SALGA). The government is aware of the challenges facing local government service delivery, particularly in the rural areas, where progress in service delivery has been slow. During the former Presidential Izimbizo’s, the gap between the government’s delivery efforts and communities’ ability to benefit from that delivery was repeatedly highlighted. The introduction of community development workers (CDWs) is to assist the three spheres of government to ensure that service delivery reaches the intended recipients effectively and efficiently (IDASA, 2006: On- Line).It was against this background that community development workers (CDWs) were introduced as a link between the government and communities. CDWs are defined as participatory change agents who work in the community in which the live, and to whom they have to answer for their activities. They are required to help members of the community to improve their living standards and change circumstances. To do this, CDWs are expected to make the poor aware of their constitutional rights such as their right to basic service delivery including social grants and assist community members to understand how they can participate in the development plans for their communities. CDWs are expected to facilitate community participation in policy-making, implementation and in service delivery (Republic of South Africa. Grassroots Innovation, 2007). In this article, the role of community development workers in enhancing service delivery within the Bitou Local Municipality is discussed. The article concludes with recommendations based on an empirical survey to establish the extent to which CDWs play a role in improving service delivery and enhancing the accessibility of government services to communities.Keywords: Bitou Local Municipality, local governance, community development workers, participation, ward committeesDisciplines: Public Management and Administration, social science research methodology, development studies

An investigation into the training of community development workers within South Africa

This article documents a research project that examined the training provided within the South African National Community Development Worker Programme (CDWP), consisting of over 4,000 community development workers (CDWs). Many of the hopes of good community development work are built upon effective education and training of the workers/practitioners. To fail in educating and training CDWs is to ensure failure of programmes. The article reports on key findings from a set of interviews with CDWs within the Free State and Western Cape Provinces and then discusses key ways forward such as developing practice frameworks, capacity building, and creating a learning organisation. Une enquête sur la formation des agents de développement communautaires au sein de l'Afrique du Sud Cet article documente un projet de recherche qui a examiné la formation dispensée par le South African National Community Development Worker Programme (CDWP), englobant plus de 4 000 agents de développement communautaire (ADC). Les espoirs d'un bon travail de développement communautaire se basent en grande partie sur une éducation et une formation efficaces des agents/praticiens. L'échec à éduquer et à former les ADC aboutira inéluctablement à l'échec des programmes. Cet article présente des conclusions clés tirées d'un ensemble d'entretiens avec des ADC au sein des provinces Free State et Western Cape, puis traite de manières clés d'avancer, comme l'élaboration de cadres de pratique, le renforcement des capacités et la création d'organisations qui apprennent. Uma investigação sobre o treinamento de trabalhadores de desenvolvimento da comunidade dentro da África do Sul Este artigo documenta um projeto de pesquisa que examinou o treinamento oferecido pelo Programa do Trabalhador de Desenvolvimento da Comunidade Nacional Sul-Africana (CDWP), formado por mais de 4.000 trabalhadores de desenvolvimento da comunidade (CDWs). Muitas das esperanças de um bom trabalho de desenvolvimento da comunidade estão baseadas em educação e treinamento efetivos dos trabalhadores/praticantes. Falhar na educação e treinamento dos CDWs é garantir o fracasso dos programas. O artigo relata sobre resultados-chave de uma série de entrevistas com CDWs dentro das Províncias de Free State e Western Cape e, então, discute maneiras-chave de se avançar, como por exemplo desenvolvendo estruturas de prática, capacitação e criação de uma organização de aprendizado. Una investigación sobre la formación de trabajadores en desarrollo comunitario en Sudáfrica Este ensayo analiza un proyecto de investigación cuyo objetivo era examinar la formación que se imparte en el Programa Nacional de Trabajadores en Desarrollo Comunitario de Sudáfrica, integrado por más de cuatro mil trabajadores en desarrollo comunitario (TDC). Se cifran muchas esperanzas de realizar un trabajo de desarrollo comunitario efectivo a través de una sólida educación y capacitación de los trabajadores. Si los TDC no reciben una educación o capacitación sólida, el fracaso de los programas está asegurado. En el ensayo se reportan las principales conclusiones que surgieron de entrevistas realizadas a los TDC en las provincias de Estado Libre y Cabo Occidental, y analiza las principales vías para avanzar, ente ellas, desarrollar estrategias para la práctica, fortalecer capacidades y crear una organización de aprendizaje.

On the Edge of Crisis: Contending Perspectives on Development, Tourism and Community Participation on Rote Island, Indonesia

The eastern Indonesian province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) is struggling to overcome the burden of widespread poverty, illness, and illiteracy. Within the context of globalisation and Indonesia’s ongoing transitions in governance, people on Rote Island, NTT, are experiencing rapid socio-cultural change. The increasing arrival of tourists and foreign business interests add further complexity to these processes of transition. The direction forward for Rote is a topic of considerable debate amongst community members, development workers, businesses, and other stakeholders. This qualitative pilot study explores key community stakeholders’ perspectives on development, tourism, and community sustainability in Delha, Rote. It has revealed confl icting perspectives about future development and tourism on Rote, with particular concern regarding social, cultural, and environmental impacts, and loss of autonomy and community control. Important ‘dynamics of exclusion’ between stakeholders are identifi ed. More equitable participation in planning and decision-making is needed to ensure that the benefi ts of tourism and development are not concentrated with a privileged few.

On the Edge of Crisis: Contending Perspectives on Development, Tourism and Community Participation on Rote Island, Indonesia

The eastern Indonesian province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) is struggling to overcome the burden of widespread poverty, illness, and illiteracy. Within the context of globalisation and Indonesia’s ongoing transitions in governance, people on Rote Island, NTT, are experiencing rapid socio-cultural change. The increasing arrival of tourists and foreign business interests add further complexity to these processes of transition. The direction forward for Rote is a topic of considerable debate amongst community members, development workers, businesses, and other stakeholders. This qualitative pilot study explores key community stakeholders’ perspectives on development, tourism, and community sustainability in Delha, Rote. It has revealed confl icting perspectives about future development and tourism on Rote, with particular concern regarding social, cultural, and environmental impacts, and loss of autonomy and community control. Important ‘dynamics of exclusion’ between stakeholders are identifi ed. More equitable participation in planning and decision-making is needed to ensure that the benefi ts of tourism and development are not concentrated with a privileged few.

The structure of dialogic practice within developmental work

A critical first step in community development work involves initiating and responding to contact with others. Contemporary approaches rely heavily on the ability of practitioners to communicate effectively with the people with whom they are working. Prior to “facilitating” “good public processes”, or “mobilizing” “common pool” resources, or even “empowering communities” to “do it themselves”, practitioners must first build good local-level relationships. This article examines the various structures of interpersonal communication within community development settings. Given that the objective of that communication is to bring parties together, we focus our attention on the use of dialogue in building a developmental process between individuals. The article provides a framework for understanding the structural make-up of dialogue by exploring the use of dialogue processes within community-level practice settings. In the main section of the article, we draw on two distinct narrative exchanges to demonstrate the structural make-up and critical aspects of dialogue processes.

An overview of training and development needs

With the reducing prevalence of leprosy worldwide, some health workers in low endemic countries see less than one new case a year. They are losing the essential skills for the management of leprosy. In the context of a declining disease burden, fewer resources and, most importantly, declining clinical expertise in leprosy, capacity development assumes a greater importance. As more leprosy control programmes are integrated into primary health care services, they need the necessary capacity to manage leprosy and its complications. National leprosy expertise will only be maintained if endemic countries and their partners invest in long-term human resource development. Adequate training of staff, an effective referral network and supportive supervision are essential for timely and effective care. WHO has developed a Capacity Development Strategydesigned to help countries to analyse their training needs and address the political will to maintain learning at a high level. WHO suggests that we identify suitable institutions and establish training programmes for national-level experts, including dermatologists and trainers. However, how do we solve the problem of lack of expertise at the grass roots level? How do we help community health workers or local medical officers to manage leprosy in their contexts? For a start, we need appropriate training and learning materials (and methods) for different categories of health personnel. In Nigeria, Netherlands Leprosy Relief have assisted the National Leprosy Control Programmeto develop ‘suspect and refer’ training for all health workers. Only those workers in centres known to have active leprosy cases receive additional training on confirming diagnosis, giving MDT, managing complications, and so on. We may also need to extend our training beyond health personnel, and include, for example social workers and community development workers. In many countries where the

'I Work with the Community, Not the Parties!' The Political and Practical Dilemmas of South Africa's State-Employed Community Development Workers

During the past few years within South Africa, there has been a proliferation of state-led community work and community development initiatives. Examples include the National Community Development Worker Programme (CDWP), the Community Works Programme and also the Community Practitioner Programme. The backdrop for such initiatives is increasing violent protests within disaffected communities, usually emergent from people's anger at ineffective social and public service delivery and also endemic unemployment. Often, communities view state institutions, including state-led community development programmes with a mixture of hope for service delivery and mistrust, at the failure to deliver. This article draws on data from twenty interviews with two cohorts of social and community development workers within South Africa, conducted during 2010 and 2011. The first cohort represent new community development workers employed within the CDWP; the second cohort represent senior community practitioners, having worked a minimum of ten years within the field in South Africa. Analysis of the findings consider how these social and community workers are learning to negotiate the political, practical and leadership dilemmas of their ambiguous position both in and against the state. Furthermore, the discussion considers the need for social and community workers to improve their political literacy and acquire navigational capacities, and also explores ways forward for the CDWP as a whole.

Using social network analysis in community development practice and research: a case study

In 2010, we proposed that integrating social network analysis into community development practice may be a useful way to make overt the links between micro- and macro-level issues in communities, and for researching the impacts of community development work (Ennis, G. and West, D. (2010) Exploring the potential of social network analysis in asset-based community development practice and research, Australian Social Work, 63 (4), 404-417). This article presents research drawn from a community case study and provides a real example of how network analysis can be embedded in community development processes. The research demonstrates that social network analytic techniques can be useful in a range of ways, including: facilitating a critical analysis of 'the community'; focusing community work processes; and providing particular understandings about the outcomes and impacts of community work. In summary, the findings demonstrate that social network analysis is a useful tool for facilitating community development and measuring the efficacy of community development projects.