Working with the Community - Coursework Example

Working with the Community Student’s Name Institution’s Name Date Descriptive Section Week 4 The Matarrita-Cascente and Brennan (2012) paper focuses on community development conceptualization by offering a conceptual definition which addresses both practitioners and academics perspectives of community. Community definition is provided using three theories that include field theory, system theory, and human ecology. Community is then said to contain various elements that include human, physical, and economic resources. Community also contains processes which include physical development, human development, and economic development processes. The paper developed the definition of community development founded on the identified processes and elements. It also cites four forms of community development which include self-help, directed, and imposed community development. Lynn (2006) explores community complexity and various discourses in the community. She also evaluates discourses significance in social work practice. Lynn identifies ten discourses that include devolution of the social state, contractual government agent, orthodox communitarianism, partnerships government agent, networked rural community, community as organization, local critique, radical communitarianism, social democratic, and integrated community. The ten discourses are used to show the contested and complex relationships between the state and communities. In discourse definition and examination of various factors regarding each discourse, different positions are validated and articulated to assist in eliminating the current confusion on meanings and the universal dominant claim. Rothman (1996) updates his previous community models by employing interlinking and mixing strategies. The author employs three community intervention techniques that include social action, social planning policy, and local development. The paper then interweaves these approaches to create different intervention modes. These modes include ideal, overlapping, and intermixed. The paper then discussing the composite of each mode and dilemma faced while employing the discussed modes. The authors then demonstrate practical application of these interventions in various social settings. Models update was done because the society is changing and the social planners currently have to overcome more complex situations and challenges in social planning. Week 5 The Aigner et al. (2002) paper discusses social interaction changes taking place in the 21st century. Social relationships and face-to-face social interactions were initially regarded as the two elements of community. Nevertheless, the new change which enhances virtual social interaction brings new challenges to the initial meaning of the word community. The paper is based on the Gemeinschaft concept, which is a traditional community concept in the natural soil of kin, family, and place. Gemeinschaft is used by theorist to demonstrate the solidarity in the traditional society. This concept is revisited by various theorists trying to apply it in the global context. Hartley and Allen (2015) provide a research paper focusing on establishing whether symbolic comprehension of pictures in autism children is mediated by language and iconicity. To accomplish this, the researchers performed two experiments. Participants in experiment one were taught new words matched with unfamiliar pictured, which were different based on iconicity. Different to normal children of same age, autism children normally mapped words to picture instead of portrayed referents, though they frequently generalized labels in color picture condition. Autism children in experiment two classified a line with its referent instead of another picture whether named or not. Mulphy (2014) focuses on community-based planning and how realism influences this process. Although community planning and study are very possible, the standard methodologies and strategies are regarded to be unfashionable due to realism influence. To develop a community as required, self-identification process need to be involved. Thus, community projects are not required to have a uniform trajectory. They are only required to consider realities accessible in a community. It is also essential for communities and planners to be attuned to each other, to enhance correct understanding of the rate, intensity, and direction of project development in the community. Week 6 The Toomey (2011) paper focuses on community development and how theories influences practices in this aspect. Organizations and practitioners play numerous varying roles in the diffusion, implementation, and planning of the projects, and ideas, which they pursue to promote community development practice. A number of these roles can work to disempowerment, while others empower communities. The paper evaluates eight roles which are classified as traditional and alternatives roles. The traditional roles include rescuer, provider, modernizer, and liberator. The alternative roles include catalyst, facilitator, ally, and advocate. Catalyst focuses on making the ball role and to keep on rolling. The Mcknight and Kretzmann (2012) focus on mapping the capacity of a society following new changes that have taken place with growth of technology and need for professional qualification to obtain a job. These changes have excluded low income individuals from social development and thus, the authors develop plan to establish policies that focus on integrating all in the social development. They demonstrate building blocks that can be integrated to enhance the development of the right policies. They include primary, secondary, and potential building blocks. These building blocks are employed to develop a more considerate community mapping and policies. Bauman (2000) focuses on the morality behind social work. The paper is basically based on the act of helping each other and being our brother’s keeper based on the biblical story of Cain and Abel. The act of immorality takes place when we start thinking selfishly; without caring about others. It makes people focus on selfish ways of enhancing personal growth and development. Although these people do excel, their success is always characterised by oppression of many in the society. This creates inequality in the society. However, being our brother’s keeper help in enhancing balance in the society. General and Evaluative Reflection The readings have provided an extensive perspective on the community, community development and individuals’ contribution in community development. Matarrita-Cascante and Brennan (2012) gave a clear definition of community, its element, and processes. This information is very important in understanding the community, and while making any consideration to make changes in the community. Rothman (1996) provides models that demonstrate community intervention techniques. The intervention includes locality development, social action, and social planning. The model demonstrates how the three aspects can be intermixed to create a harmonious society. This information is very essential in directing policy makers to consider all life aspects, while developing social policies. Hartley and Allen (2015), illustrated the difference between normal and autism children in the society. This journal is of great importance to policy makers, since it give them a sense of understanding the diversity in the society, which create inequality and need for empowering others, based on their varying weaknesses. It helps in guiding people, while making interaction in the society. Understanding our variation, needs of others, and our social responsibility will help in enhancing harmony in the society (Bauman, 2000). Murphy (2014) has also provided intensive information on community planning based on community needs and requirements. The writer demonstrates the importance of inclusion in community planning, to reduce the gap between people in the society. This information acts as guidance while working in the community and while making social policy; it helps in eliminating discrimination. Mcknight and Kretzmann (2012) offer guidance on how to restore social economic conditions of community, after recession or any other crisis. This article assists in demonstrating how to rebuild a community by creating new policies focusing on both individuals and organization in a community to restore the community’s initial glory. Lynn (2016) addresses community discourses and how their understanding can assist enhancing the relation between the state and the community. The information in this article can be used to enhance social development without causing conflict between the state and the community Empowerment is another aspect that has highly been discussed in the readings. According to Toomey (2011), community developers should focus on empowering the less fortunate in the society. Toomey discussed various roles that community developers should focus on, while trying to boost each other. These roles can also be employed in any community focusing on empowering its people. It teaches that it is important for community developers to understand challenges facing their community, particularly, if these changes are beyond control. This empowerment should consider communities that are in lower social, political and economic situation. Aigner et al. (2002) try to develop strategies to address modern changes that affect the social relations. This teaches that the social developers should know how to harmonize the changes which may create ripples in the society or that may widen the inequality gap in the community. The journals have provided a great guidance regarding the community development and individual contribution in enhancing this development. They provide intensive information that enhances the understanding of the community and the community development. They also provide information of various techniques that one can employ to empower others in the society, to close the inequality gaps, to rebuild the destroyed community status, and to promote life of those that are disadvantaged in the society. This information acts as a great guide in enhancing relations in the community. It can also be used by policy makers to create social policies that will highly consider the needs of all. They guide in creating social balance, while offering social services based on individual or group needs. References Aigner, S.M., Victor J. Raymond, V.J. & Smidt, L.J. (2002). "Whole community organizing" for the 21st century. Journal of the Community Development Society, 33(1), 86-106. Bauman, Z. (2000). Am I My Brother's Keeper?, European Journal of Social Work, 3(1), 5-11. Hartley, D. (2010). The ethics of social development. In Pawar, M.S. & Cox, D.R. (Eds.), Social development. N.Y.: Routledge, 185-202. Lynn, M. (2006). Discourses of community: challenges for social work. International Journal of Social Welfare, 15(2), 110–120. Matarrita-Cascante, D., & Brennan, M.A. (2012). Conceptualizing community development in the twenty-first century. Community Development, 43(3), 293-305 McKnight, J. & J. Kretzmann (2012). Mapping community capacity. In Minkler, M. (Ed.), Community organizing and community building for health and welfare, 3rd Edition, Piscataway: Rutgers University, 171-186. Murphy, John (2014). Dimensions of a community. In community-based interventions: philosophy and action. Dordrecht: Springer, 31-46. E-book. Rothman, Jack (1996). The interweaving of community intervention approaches. Journal of Community Practice, 3(3-4), 69-99. Toomey, A.H. (2011). Empowerment and disempowerment in community development practice: eight roles practitioners play. Community Development Journal, 46(2), 181–195. Read More