Week 12: Lit Review - Crystal

http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umsl.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=07b8ea87-b3ad-4b00-b032-fcb1f72d6a68%40sessionmgr113&vid=2&hid=127

Change can be a good thing and it can be a bad thing. The most important thing about change is that to be aware that there may be resistance and arguments, but if you have the backing of the community with change, you will have an easier process.  According to (Dean-Coffey and Farkouh, 2012) The Dimensions of Change Model has five discrete dimensions that are imperative to change.  They are structure, parameters, intention, approach, and most importantly participants.

            The structure portion is important because it gives you an idea of what the change may be as well as the funding for the change.  Next you have the parameters portion. This is important because this will focus on the size of the population you will be working with, the length of how long the plan will take, and implications that it may have.  Then you have the intention portion. This is important because you need to know what your expected outcomes are regardless if they change along the way or not. It is important to have some sort of expectations and be able to effectively document the on going change.  Once of these things have been established you move forward with the approach portion. Approach is important because you need to know who, what, and how this change is going to be initiated. The final portion of the model would be the participants. According to (Dean- Coffey and Farkouh, 2012) you need to know the role of the residents, the skills needed to empower the change that has been initiated, and if there are outsiders needed for this change. It is apparent that change is a step by step process that takes effective planning, research, and communication. When change is needed in a particular community there tends to be a consistent amount of movement within the community of people coming and going. With a constant turn-over of community members initiating chance can be a difficult task if you cannot get enough people on board with the change initiative. Being able to identify and move forward and develop a plan based on this model would be imperative for effective change.

I felt this article was relevant to our class because we are currently in the communities trying to find an effective intervention. This is a model I think we can all follow within our community work to help develop effective and efficient change.

Do you feel this model would be effective within the community you are working in?  What model are you using for your community? What do you like and dislike about this model and if you have never used it would you consider using it to initiate change?

Week 12: Reading Blog - Danielle C.

The Community Development Process
Green & Haines Article

I found this article very interesting to how to map out the process of beginning community development.  The article outlines four kinds of public participation; public action, public involvement, electoral participation, and obligatory participation.  It suggests there is a ladder of participation and as you step up on each rung participation and power increase.  The idea here is to learn what motivates individuals to participate and develop strategies based on this information to get them involved and excited.  The article discusses different models of community organizing.  Picking the right model is key and should be based on factors such as context, resources, and circumstances specific to the project.  The main point of this article is that planning takes constant monitoring, evaluate, and revision until project completion.  This is something many people do not want to put the time in to doing, but is the only way to keep the project on track for the desired end result.  The article acknowledges the debate between whether the process is the most important versus the outcome.
Personally, I thought this debate was the most interesting part of the article.  I think when working with communities there is never really an end in sight.  There are always aspects that need help and can be improved at all times in a community.  As far as I am concerned this makes the process so much more important.
What information will you use from this article to help plan your community intervention?  What aspect of promoting community involvement would have the biggest impact on you in your own community?

Week 12: Lit Review - Ella

What influences perceptions of procedural justice among people with mental illness regarding their interactions with the police?
Community mental health journal vol. 50, issue 3, p281-287

The article discusses Perceived Procedural Justice Theory (PPJ); a central factor shaping perceptions about authority figures and dispute resolution processes is whether an individual believes they were treated justly and fairly during personal encounters with agents of authority.  It talks about how the role of police officers and other agents in authority are perceived by people with mental illness.  Although the article is a community-based research study examining perceptions of people with mental illness, I believe this theory could be applied to the general public, and in particular to my assigned community, Ferguson Missouri.  It points out the cornerstone of policing is front line patrol officers, whose ability to carry out their duties effectively are impacted by how they are perceived by the community.

According to this theory, a central factor shaping perceptions about authority figures and dispute resolutions processes is whether an individual believes they were treated justly and fairly during personal encounters with agents of authority.  Unjust and unfair treatment by agents of authority is likely to produce negative evaluations.  The theory stipulates that PPJ regarding agents of the law (e.g., police officers, judges, correctional officers) is important for shaping beliefs regarding whether legal authorities can be entrusted with the responsibilities of performing their duties, which in turn determines levels of compliance, cooperation, and law-abiding behavior.  The article states that numerous studies have found that members of the general public who feel treated in a procedurally just manner by the police are more likely to: (a) evaluate the encounter positively, (b) view the police as legitimate agents of social intervention, and (c) cooperate with the police.  I agree with the study in that the degree to which community members are willing to engage proactively and cooperate voluntarily with the police is also integral to the efficacy.

Procedural justice theory provides a framework for understanding how perceptions about authorities, such as the police, are created, maintained and transformed.  The article examined the influence of selected factors on how people with mental illness perceive their interactions with the police.  The semi structured interview guide contained detailed questions regarding participants’ lifetime and most recent police encounters, and included several scales from the “Police Contact Experience Scale” (PCES).  The PCES is a measure for assessing situational, procedural, and interpersonal aspects of interactions between people with mental illness and the police.  Residents in Ferguson Missouri almost sixty three percent black, have a negative perception about authority there.  The judicial structure in Ferguson is predominately white.

Findings indicate that participants’ evaluations of police interactions were greatly influenced by how they perceived police officers’ behavior on aspects of fairness, respectfulness, and kindness.  Overall participants’ interactions with police were viewed as positive.   They reported the police acted, for the most part, in a procedurally just manner.

Would a sample of your assigned community agree that their interactions/outcomes with police would be based on quality of treatment by police, quality of police decision-making, and police performance?
Could communities lower their crime rate if they had greater cooperation and acceptance of agent’s authority?

Week 12: News Article - Barissa

St. Louis turns to data to guide development

January 29, 2014 12:00 pm  - By Tim Logan tlogan@post-dispatch.com 

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/st-louis-turns-to-data-to-guide-development/article_88e96f4f-7f8f-5f31-b4a3-50f73df0b28d.html

This article discusses the use of data to supplement the way development spending has been determined and be used as a tool for redevelopment in the city of St. Louis. The idea is to use this method to make better use out of federal money and hope to get private money to redevelop projects.  It is hoped and can possibly be a way to recognize the city’s resources by supplementing the previous way of analyzing the city with the use of wards or neighborhoods. Instead of break the city up into wards and neighborhood, breaking the city into 360 sections and sorted into 9 areas will be used. Within these areas 10 data points will be collected such as home prices and amount of vacant land to provide information on the city’s housing market.

Aldermen and those involved with neighborhood development met at a conference to put this method to use to break down the data in St. Louis.  The results found that “neighborhoods south of I-44 and west of Kingshighway reflect mid-market home prices and high homeownership. St. Louis city neighborhoods surrounding Martin Luther King Drive and Natural Bridge Avenue reflects low home prices and high vacancy. Far north city neighborhoods reflect high homeownership, but also a high foreclosure rate. The final areas of Lafayette Square and the Central West End reflected pricey home prices and ownership.” These results reflect that in many parts of the city specifically north city the housing market is struggling. It also reflects that in some areas a street can separate high market to low market value.

I found this article interesting because with my research in the JVL neighborhood I can see some of the issues this article is bringing up and the benefits of the use of data. Our first step in planning our community initiatives was to find out the data in our communities. Without data it is difficult to truly understand and compare neighborhoods. The JVL neighborhood is low in the housing market, along with other north city areas. Initiatives have been put in place to help revitalize the JVL neighborhood, and hopefully more money will get put in place in these areas with the use of this data analysis method.

What are the strengths and what are the weaknesses of the use of data?

Can the use of data analysis be effective in any areas of your community?

Do you think this data analysis method will be used and benefit St. Louis city neighborhoods? 

Week 11: News Article - Cheri

Article: 2013 a Banner Year For STL Startups

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/people/maria-altman

March 22, 2014 by Maria Altman

           

A community requires tax revenue to provide services such as emergency response, schools, and personnel who attend to the needs within the community such as well maintained roads, housing, and  infrastructure support (gas, electric, water, sewage, & trash).  All of these things are dependent upon an area's wealth, which is driven by the area's economy.  After attending a recent community meeting in Ferguson, I realized Mayor James Knowles and the city council understood the importance of attracting businesses to Ferguson to stimulate their city's economy.  Mayor Knowles shared that people move away from their community when it no longer contains businesses that meet the everyday needs. Thus, this prompted me to read a business and economic article written by Maria Altman, 2013 A Banner Year For STL Startups."  From this article I learned about organizations whose focus is to strengthen and grow businesses within a region such as St. Louis city and county areas.

            Joy De Long is the St. Louis Chamber's Vice President of the "New Ventures & Capital Formation."  He shared with Maria Altman the successes of the St. Louis Regional Chamber during the past eight years, which resulted this year in a total of 52 new companies with 37 of those companies focusing on technology-based services.  Additional research on www.Forbes.com revealed that technology-based companies are highly profitable due to their ability to provide services to a large number of consumers, often anywhere in the United States and even overseas.  At www.stlregionalchamber.com, I learned that the goals of the Chamber are to unite very successful business leaders in the community who will help stimulate the local economy through the creation of:

·      New public policies to create a friendly business climate

·      Higher educational attainment in areas of need

·      Opportunities for entrepreneurship

·      Opportunities for businesses to move to St. Louis

·      Encouraging innovation and economic inclusion

·      Networks to financially sustain and begin new businesses

As I reflected upon the support offered by a city's chamber of commerce, I began to more fully understand the significance of its impact upon a community and how important it is for a social worker to become knowledgeable about their city's chamber of commerce.  For example, through the Chamber's website, I learned about a non-profit organization that has the potential to become a community resource.

             According to De Long, St. Louis has a unique non-profit nationally recognized organization called the Arch Angels Investment Group, which is comprised of members committed to buying stock in new companies and mentoring potential new business owners.  This has resulted in an investment of approximately 40 million dollars in the St. Louis area since 2006.  According to De Long, out of the 235 companies started since 2006, 200 are still successfully operating today.  Addition reading at www.fundingpost.com/angelgroup revealed that Arch Angels' investors help individuals with business planning, team building, fund raising (venture capital), and training on how to generate business contracts.  The support of Arch Angels Investment Group has the potential to help start successful community programs such as Angel Baked Cookies. 

            Our Code of Ethics states that we should empower individuals and connect them to resources.  Using a strengths perspective, I believe one of the most empowering services social workers can provide is to show individuals different ways they can become financially independent.  Have you ever thought about how an individual and/or community can become more financially secure?   How would you connect an individual or community to resources to help facilitate financial security?

Week 11: News Article - Danielle I.

http://www.austinweeklynews.com/News/Articles/3-28-2014/$500K-in-state-funding-coming-to-Austin-community-groups/

This article discusses how the Westside Branch NAACP and the Westside Health Authority in Austin, IL are planning to spend $500,000 they were appropriated, but did not ask for.  State representative, LaShawn Ford applied for the money unbeknownst to the two groups.

            The director of the branch of the NAACP in question said that the money will be allocated towards the ACT-SO program that helps high-school students.  The aim of this program is to recruit adult and student mentors for students in the community to help foster knowledge.  One of the activities yearly is a competition similar to a Quizbowl in which students get the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge they have gained.

            This type of program seems like it would be useful in Lemay as it allows students to learn in a constructive, while slightly competitive, environment and allows adults and other students in the community to help foster knowledge in others.  Furthermore, it helps the students in the community learn by example.

Ford was quoted as saying, "Some individuals believe we should stop spending and pay down our bills, but our communities are hurting. We should spend money where it's needed," Ford said. "We have to empower the West Side, especially our kids. We need to broaden the net and bring in more youth, and strengthen those programs that already exist.” 

This article was relevant to our classwork as it depicts a struggling community.  However, it was particularly relevant to my work in Lemay as it shows groups getting an influx of money and the process of determining how to appropriately spend it.  This is somewhat comparable to Lemay’s influx of dollars after the casino was built.

Ford also said, "Austin is struggling with the schools closing.  There's a lack of a YMCA and a lack of programs for kids to go to college and better themselves. In Austin, the kids are at-risk and we have to do something to keep them from becoming at-risk."  Again, this is relevant to much of our work in the community as there are many at-risk youth in all of the communities involved.  Ford aspires to provide resources for these youth.

            How do you think a program similar to the ACT-SO program would help your communities?  If you were in charge of allocating funds in your communities, which groups would you allocate funds to?  How do you think funds in your community would be best spent?  Do you think this is too much power for one or two individuals to have?

Week 11: Reading Blog - Alisha

Communities Revisited: The Best Ideas of the Last Hundred Years. by Suzanne Morse

Two important terms discussed in this article are prevention and sustainability. When working with communities, it is important to begin with initiatives that prevent problems versus making solutions for problems once they occur. Sustainability refers to programs that continue to address the issue over the course of time versus for a short period of time.

This article focuses on three ideas that have made a difference and stood the test of time. Those three ideas include the following:

·         creation and expansion of community development corporations (and their intermediaries)

·          the practice of asset-based community development

·          vehicles to provide affordable capital

These three ideas include the essential elements of any change strategy, which are a structure for change, a vision for change, and a strategy for change.

According to this article, in order to continue improving communities we must do the following steps:

·         Continue to invest in understanding what works and what actions are needed.

·         Engage the public at a deeper level in deliberating about the choices and possibilities before us

·         Match policy and funding to the outcomes of the first two.

In the future, a successful community will be one that can pull together and utilize the tools and resources to improve its own situation.

It is my opinion that this article provides the guidelines for any community leaders trying to improve their community. After reading this article, I wonder what other ideas are important to consider when working with communities. Considering how important capital is, I also wonder what is being done to make obtaining home loans and rehab loans accessible for low income residents. As a community leader, do you think these ideas are the most important to consider when working with communities? If so why? If not why?