"The United Nations defines community development as 'a process where community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems.'"
The knowledge of community resources and services, and how to collaborate with community partners to provide support and advocacy for children and families.
Community needs assessment: The process of identifying the needs and priorities of a community to inform resource allocation and collaborative efforts.
Social capital: The networks, relationships, and trust within a community that can be leveraged to achieve community goals.
Partnership development: The process of building relationships and collaborations with community organizations, agencies, and individuals to address community needs.
Resource mapping: The identification and mapping of community resources, including organizations, services, and facilities, to inform collaboration and resource allocation.
Community organizing: The process of mobilizing and empowering community members to address community issues, build capacity, and promote social change.
Advocacy and policy change: The promotion of policy changes and advocacy for community issues to address systemic problems and create sustainable change.
Public-private partnerships: Collaborations between government agencies and private entities to address community needs and promote social change.
Program evaluation: The systematic process of assessing the effectiveness and impact of community programs and services to inform resource allocation and improve program outcomes.
Grant writing and fundraising: The process of securing funds and resources to support community programs and services.
Interprofessional collaboration: Collaboration between professionals from various fields to address complex community issues and promote comprehensive solutions.
Cultural competence: Understanding and respecting cultural differences within a community to ensure inclusivity and effective collaboration.
Volunteer management: The effective management and engagement of volunteers to support community programs and services.
Health promotion and prevention: The promotion of healthy behaviors and prevention of illness and disease to address community health needs.
Early childhood development: The promotion of healthy child development and early education to support academic achievement and lifelong success.
Family engagement: The promotion of family involvement and empowerment to support healthy child development and academic success.
Youth development: The promotion of positive youth development and engagement to support academic success, social development, and civic engagement.
Community-based research: The use of research methods to inform community initiatives, improve outcomes, and promote data-driven decision-making.
Asset-based community development: The focus on leveraging community strengths and resources to address community needs and promote sustainable change.
Non-profit organizations: These are organizations that are established to provide social services to the community without making a profit. They may focus on providing education, health, housing, or other support services.
Government agencies: These are government departments that provide community services such as healthcare, education, housing, and social assistance. Examples of government agencies include the Department of Education, the Department of Health, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Faith-based organizations: These are organizations based on religious faith, which provide a range of community services, including education, food distribution, healthcare, and counselling.
Community centers: Community centers are buildings or facilities that provide a variety of community services such as educational programs, recreation opportunities, and social services.
Housing providers: These are organizations that provide housing for individuals and families who cannot afford to purchase or rent their own homes. They may include housing authorities, shelters, and other organizations that provide affordable housing assistance.
Social service agencies: These are non-profit organizations that offer a range of support services to individuals in need, such as case management, crisis intervention, and counselling.
Volunteer organizations: These are organizations that rely on volunteers to support their operations and services. They may include organizations that provide volunteer opportunities to youth or adults.
Educational institutions: These are institutions that offer various educational programs, such as schools, colleges, and universities. They may also offer community education programs or workforce development programs.
Healthcare providers: These are organizations that provide healthcare services to individuals and families in need, including hospitals, clinics, and healthcare centers.
Libraries: These are organizations that offer access to information, books, and other resources to the community. They may also provide educational programs and services to the community.
"Typically aiming to build stronger and more resilient local communities."
"Community development is defined by the International Association for Community Development as 'a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes participative democracy, sustainable development, rights, economic opportunity, equality and social justice.'"
"The key elements of community development include the organisation, education, and empowerment of people within their communities."
"Community development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people with the skills they need to effect change within their communities."
"These skills are often created through the formation of social groups working for a common agenda."
"Community development as a term has taken off widely in anglophone countries, i.e. the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, as well as other countries in the Commonwealth of Nations."
"The Community Development Journal, published by Oxford University Press, since 1966 has aimed to be the major forum for research and dissemination of international community development theory and practice.Community development approaches are recognised internationally. These methods and approaches have been acknowledged as significant for local social, economic, cultural, environmental and political development by such organisations as the UN, WHO, OECD, World Bank, Council of Europe and EU."
"These methods and approaches have been acknowledged as significant for local social, economic, cultural, environmental and political development by such organisations as the UN, WHO, OECD, World Bank, Council of Europe and EU."
"There are a number of institutions of higher education that offer community development as an area of study and research such as the University of Toronto, Leiden University, SOAS University of London, and the Balsillie School of International Affairs, among others."