How can social workers promote community resilience through development?

1 Competency 1: Engage with communities

The first competency is to engage with communities in respectful, collaborative, and empowering ways. This means that social workers need to understand the history, culture, strengths, and challenges of the communities they work with, and build trusting and authentic relationships with community members and leaders. Social workers also need to recognize and value the diversity, voice, and participation of community members, especially those who are marginalized or vulnerable. By engaging with communities, social workers can identify their assets, needs, and priorities, and support their self-determination and agency.

2 Competency 2: Assess community resources and issues

The second competency is to assess community resources and issues using appropriate methods and tools. This means that social workers need to collect and analyze relevant data and information from multiple sources and perspectives, such as community surveys, focus groups, interviews, observations, or participatory action research. Social workers also need to involve community members in the assessment process, and ensure that the findings are accurate, valid, and accessible. By assessing community resources and issues, social workers can identify the strengths, gaps, opportunities, and threats that affect community resilience.

3 Competency 3: Plan community interventions

The third competency is to plan community interventions that are responsive, feasible, and sustainable. This means that social workers need to work with community members and stakeholders to develop goals, objectives, strategies, and indicators for community interventions, based on the assessment findings and the community vision. Social workers also need to consider the ethical, cultural, political, and environmental implications of the interventions, and ensure that they are consistent with the values and principles of social work and community development. By planning community interventions, social workers can design solutions that are relevant, effective, and appropriate for community resilience.

4 Competency 4: Implement community interventions

The fourth competency is to implement community interventions that are participatory, flexible, and accountable. This means that social workers need to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the interventions, by mobilizing and managing the resources, partnerships, and networks needed for community development. Social workers also need to monitor and document the progress and outcomes of the interventions, and communicate them to the community and other stakeholders. By implementing community interventions, social workers can execute actions that are collaborative, adaptive, and transparent for community resilience.

5 Competency 5: Evaluate community interventions

The fifth competency is to evaluate community interventions that are participatory, learning-oriented, and evidence-based. This means that social workers need to conduct and support the evaluation of the interventions, by using appropriate methods and tools to measure the impact, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of the interventions. Social workers also need to involve community members and stakeholders in the evaluation process, and use the findings to inform decision-making, learning, and improvement. By evaluating community interventions, social workers can generate and share knowledge that is useful, credible, and applicable for community resilience.

6 Competency 6: Advocate for community interests

The sixth competency is to advocate for community interests that are respectful, inclusive, and transformative. This means that social workers need to represent and promote the rights, needs, and aspirations of the communities they work with, and challenge the structures, policies, and practices that hinder community resilience. Social workers also need to support and empower community members and leaders to advocate for themselves, and create spaces and platforms for their voices and actions. By advocating for community interests, social workers can influence change that is respectful, inclusive, and transformative for community resilience.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?