Rural communities have unique strengths as well as unique challenges. In order for social workers to be successful in empowering clients living in rural communities, social workers must understand the communities themselves. Social workers should be cognizant that they cannot create change independent of the clients they are working with. The desire for change should come from the residents of these communities. They should be the ones identifying the need for change and the outcomes they would like to see in their communities. As a result, they have ownership of the process and have more of a "buy in" for whatever action takes place to reach their goal.
Social workers must also support changes that can continue even when the social workers are not there in the communities. The work must be self-sustaining by the individuals who will remain in those communities. "We strive to empower communities and avoid creating dependency by progressively strengthening the organizational capacity of local partners to sustain processes" (Weil, 2013, 702). When residents can continue with the work on their own and realize they are not dependent on those from the "outside," they feel empowered.
References
Weil, M. (2013). The Handbook of Community Practice. 2nd Edition.
Kate,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post, I have been thinking a lot about communities and the change that can come with the power of others in that particular community. I blogged about a town in my post last week and the desire as a long time resident of this community to see change, change that makes people want to come to this town.
I think it is extremely important for the residents of the community to identify the need for change and the outcomes they would like to see as you expressed in your post.
Thank you for sharing!
Kate,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post, I have been thinking a lot about communities and the change that can come with the power of others in that particular community. I blogged about a town in my post last week and the desire as a long time resident of this community to see change, change that makes people want to come to this town.
I think it is extremely important for the residents of the community to identify the need for change and the outcomes they would like to see as you expressed in your post.
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for your post Kate!
ReplyDelete"The desire for change should come from the residents of these communities. They should be the ones identifying the need for change and the outcomes they would like to see in their communities."
Reading this makes perfect sense to me based on what I have encountered while providing in-home services for families. There is a clear difference in the "buy-in", participation, and outcomes of families who seek services versus those mandated to participate in services. When families drive the process there is simply greater likelihood for positive outcomes. It follows that communities as a whole benefit in the same way when taking action for the sake of positive change by addressing needs.
Thanks again for sharing!
Just like working with individuals, we need to meet communities where they are at and help create changes that they will one day be able sustain without us. Therapy terminates when client's begin to meet their goals and work through steps independently and community work should be no different.
ReplyDelete