A Primer on Community Organizing PDF

COMMUNITY MEDICINE DR. PAOLO MIGUEL BAGUIANAO A PRIMER ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZING COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FOR HEALTH Review of Concepts in Community Medicine Health promotion (Ottawa Charter) Primary Health Care (Declaration of Alma Ata) Five-star Physician Family...

COMMUNITY MEDICINE DR. PAOLO MIGUEL BAGUIANAO A PRIMER ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZING COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FOR HEALTH Review of Concepts in Community Medicine Health promotion (Ottawa Charter) Primary Health Care (Declaration of Alma Ata) Five-star Physician Family Advocacy and Service Delivery Community Characterized by doing FOR the people Lawyers / social workers attacking a WHAT IS COMMUNITY ORGANIZING? problem on behalf of those perceived as unable to speak for themselves - Job referral services/ job fairs - social work/ medical missions - Making available training for job readiness - homeownership counseling - business plan preparation training COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION vs WHAT IS COMMUNITY? COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Can be defined in terms of geographical boundaries People who share interests, sentiments, behaviors and objects in common by virtue of belonging to a social group. Ever-changing and has become complex with modernity and the constant influx and efflux of people and influence What defines a Community? 1. Size of Population 2. Commonality among people 3. Identity and belonging 4. Primary relationships and attachments There are FOUR FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGIES AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY PROBLEMS: 1 I JOEHAIM D. MANGORANDA COMMUNITY MEDICINE DR. PAOLO MIGUEL BAGUIANAO A PRIMER ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZING WHAT IS COMMUNITY ORGANIZING? IMPORTANCE of Community Organization organizing which takes place in a Maximizes and ensures community geographically defined living area, such participation and involvement. as an urban poor community or a rural Mobilizes community resources for village that empowers its citizens community services. both a process and an orientation for Prepares people to eventually take over genuine and liberating social the management of development transformation programs in the future. Community organization is the process of people coming together to address Main Goal of Community Organization issues that matter to them. To transform apathetic, individualistic and In Health: Where individuals and groups voiceless people into dynamic, participatory and come together to address common health politically responsive community concerns, improve the local health system, Characteristics of Community Organization and promote collective well-being. Participatory and Mass-based "People are motivated by self-interest" focus on activities that facilitate Effective community organizing can develop a participation of the community broader sense of self- interest; by building up the Collective Leadership horizons of people we're organizing. group centered and not leader-centered OBJECTIVES of Community Organization The Reality of Healthcare To make people aware of social realities Understand the gravity of responsibility of toward the development of local initiative, community- oriented medical doctors optimal use of human, technical and Set your expectations! material resources and strengthening of people's capacities. They must know what they are fighting for and what they're fighting against. To form structures that uphold the people's basic interests as oppressed and deprived sections of the community. To initiate responsible actions intended Physicians have a unique responsibility to to address holistically the various organize: community health and social problems. To ensure representation of all interests 1. Physicians are trusted leaders. and elements in the population and their 2. They have the expertise to assess full and meaningful participation. community health needs. 3. They can mobilize resources and advocate for policy changes. 4. They can serve as catalysts for long-term health improvements. 2 I JOEHAIM D. MANGORANDA COMMUNITY MEDICINE DR. PAOLO MIGUEL BAGUIANAO A PRIMER ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZING ○ the government and its people, As a Medical Student, ○ the people and resources, and You are... ○ the people and healthcare 1. An Educator You must realize leaders. You must both be a data scientist and the science educator ○ The challenge is: How would you translate your findings into something that is easily digestible and therefore more obviously actionable 5. A Healer by the people you are You are the community's primary-care organizing? providers. 2. A Catalyst Community-oriented Primary Care A community organizer stimulates action (COPC) in others. You are the closest unit of health-care ○ Either by: Goal: Finding common ○ Establish a health-care unit or problems which are ○ Strengthen the relationship of the deemed important to most, community with their local if not all, community health-care unit members. ○ Ensure continuity of care Starting with the low- hanging fruit - Target initial SKILLS for Community Organizing actions that bring about victories to keep people Rapport Building interested and active Knowing when to take hold and when to let go of a project (Knowing your scope 3. A Facilitator and limits as an organizer) Facilitate meeting between leaders, Enabling people to clarify their ideas members, and the community and and motivating them to express their own agencies. goals Very often, community actions fail as Find ways to enable people to fulfill members lack the experience or patience goals to keep an organization going..... You are tasked with facilitating the STRATEGIES for Community Organizing organization to keep it going - prodding Involve the constituency in identifying leaders, reigniting enthusiasm of their problems and their desired solutions members, etc. Identify the people and structures that can make those solutions possible Follow-through! Enlist targets in the effort through 4. A Bridge negotiation Take on a linking role to bring the gap Build an institution that is democratically between members, the organization and controlled by that constituency (that can its members, and the community. develop the capacity to take on further Bridge the gap between problems and that embodies the will and the power of that constituency) 3 I JOEHAIM D. MANGORANDA COMMUNITY MEDICINE DR. PAOLO MIGUEL BAGUIANAO A PRIMER ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZING BOARD-RELEVANT CORRELATE COPAR Community Organizing Participatory Action Research 3. Formation Phase Enumerates the steps toward community It is the phase when a core group is organizing created - which then be trained to develop Follows a systematic and cyclical their capabilities in leading their process. community. Group-centered Nurtures the ability of the society to 4. Organization-building Phase organize themselves and to emphasize Most crucial stage people involvement in the resolution of People are mobilized through the creation issues and concerns in the community of the community health organization Setting of Goals and implementing community-led initiatives. ○ Application of various strategies: 1. Pre-Entry Phase SWOT Analysis It involves the selection of the target Do you Innovate or Invent? community. It should at least include 50 families and 5. Sustenance and Strengthening Phase criteria are utilized to determine their need for community organizing. Most important phase Some preliminary investigation is End of COPAR conducted through the use of secondary Community and people are being records and ocular inspection is done prior developed to be self-reliant to emersion. Pre-Entry Phase: Criteria for Deciding Case Study: Communities for Intervention Barangay San Isidro is a densely populated urban community in the 1. Significance of the problem Philippines, home to approximately 15,000 2. Community Awareness residents. 3. Ability to reduce risk Recently, the barangay has reported an 4. Cost of reducing risk increasing number of dengue cases. 5. Ability to identify the target population Over the past two weeks, 120 individuals 6. Availability of resources have been diagnosed with dengue, and three children have died. 2. Entry Phase [and Integration] Local health facilities are overwhelmed, Involves the integration process and the and community members are becoming acquisition of relevant information increasingly anxious. Stagnant water is necessary for the conceptualization of the found in various locations around the community diagnosis. barangay, especially after recent heavy Where you understand the community's rains. health status and needs The community is in urgent need of It is also during this phase that potential intervention to prevent further spread of leaders are identified the disease. You have been assigned as the community health organizer for Barangay San Isidro. Your role is to mobilize the community, 4 I JOEHAIM D. MANGORANDA COMMUNITY MEDICINE DR. PAOLO MIGUEL BAGUIANAO A PRIMER ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZING local government, and healthcare providers to contain the outbreak and prevent further cases. The community is looking to you for leadership. Case Study: Key Challenges 1. Health Crisis: Increasing cases of dengue are causing panic and burdening health services. 2. Environmental Factors: Stagnant water in multiple locations serves as breeding sites for mosquitoes. 3. Community Awareness: Many residents are unaware of proper prevention measures, such as eliminating mosquito breeding sites and using protective measures. 4. Limited Resources: The barangay health center is overwhelmed, and supplies like mosquito nets, insect repellents, and diagnostic kits are scarce. Case Study: COPAR In summary, Community Organizing Is the mobilizing of volunteers Is helping volunteers become effective Is guiding the learning of leaders through the process Is helping create the mechanism for the group to advocate on their own behalf 5 I JOEHAIM D. MANGORANDA