What to know
The social science and public health fields provide us not only with useful definitions of community and ideas about community engagement but also with a wealth of concepts that are relevant to the practice of engagement. Here, we explore some of the most important.
Section Overview
The social science and public health fields provide a wealth of concepts that are relevant to the practice of engagement. Here, we explore some of the most important, including:
Culture shapes ideas about partnerships, trust, and negotiation. Therefore, culture shapes the process of community engagement, and effective engagement requires an understanding of culture. Researchers and practitioners need to understand the cultural dynamics of specific groups and institutions in order to:
- build relationships
- identify ways to effectively collaborate, and
- build respect and trust.
The practice and theory of community organizing provide useful insights into mobilizing the community to engage in health promotion. Community organizing is based on the principles of:
- empowerment
- community competence
- active participation, and
- starting where the people are.
Community engagement requires participation of community members in projects that address their issues. Meaningful community participation extends beyond physical involvement to include generation of ideas, contributions to decision making, and sharing of responsibility. Obtaining meaningful community participation and having a successful, sustained initiative require that engagement leaders respect, listen, and learn from community members.
Developing a constituency, or developing relationships with community members involves four “practice elements":
- know the community, its constituents, and its capabilities
- establish positions and strategies that guide interactions with constituents
- build and sustain formal and informal networks to maintain relationships, communicate messages, and leverage resources
- mobilize communities and constituencies for decision making and social action (Hatcher et al., 2008).
Building capacity to improve health involves the development of sustainable skills, resources, and organizational structures in the affected community. Building capacity also includes fostering shared knowledge, leadership skills, and an ability to represent the interests of one's constituents.
Empowerment takes place at three levels: the individual, the organization or group, and the community. Empowerment at one level can influence empowerment at the other levels. Those working to engage the community should, when appropriate, offer tools and resources to help communities act in their own interest.
Defined by Cohen et al. (2002) as "a union of people and organizations working to influence outcomes on a specific problem" (p. 144). Coalitions can help the engagement process in a number of ways, including:
- maximizing the influence of individuals and organizations
- creating new collective resources, and
- reducing the duplication of efforts.