HUNTER COLLEGE OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

 

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND SOCIAL PLANNING - III

SSW 743
Fall, 2000
Instructor:Terry Mizrahi, Ph.D.
Room 501, (212) 452-7112    email: tmizrahi@hunter.cuny.edu

                      

                           

                                   

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

This course will cover four major areas: 1) professional social workers as social planners in social welfare and community-based settings; 2) models and stages of the planning process; 3) political and power factors affecting social planning; 4) new community-based planning initiatives; 4) complexities and dilemmas facing organizers/planners in the late 1990's. The course will examine the theoretical, technical, and strategic aspects of planning in the context of the American political and economic system.  It will focus on problem-solving activity including methods of analysis, design, implementation and evaluation of human services.  It will emphasize the special impact of class, race, gender and sexual orientation issues on the social work planning process, roles and outcomes.

 

 

OBJECTIVES

1.   To understand the political, rational and value dimensions of social planning.

 

2.   To understand planning theories and their application within the framework of complex organizations and communities.

 

3.   To understand the stages of the planning process and utilize them in practice settings.

 

4.   To understand multiple constituencies and potential conflict involved in planning among: organizational and community environments, public and private regulatory and funding agencies, political bodies, consumer and worker groups, women, and people of color.

 

5.   To appreciate the philosophical/value and pragmatic bases of "citizen"/client/community participation in planning.

 

6.   To understand and utilize a variety of available tools, research and information technology to enhance the planning process.

 

7.   To appreciate social planning as a professional social work function while understanding the complexities, constraints, and ethical dilemmas facing planners.

 

8.   To analyze the influence of gender, race, class, sexual orientation on planning and the planner's role.

 

OUTCOMES

 

Upon successful completion of CO III (743), students will demonstrate a range of competencies related to the course objectives.  Through written assignments, group projects, and individual class participation, students will demonstrate their ability to:

 

1. locate their planning styles and ideology within a radical, liberal and conservative framework.

 

2. analyze and plan a series of alternatives for a community problem.

 

3. present an analysis of the content and context of citizen/client participation as it relates to a specific historical decade.

 

4. discuss conflicts and contentions in a particular current community conflict.

 

5. utilize data and information in a community problem-solving process.

 

6. critique a program proposal as the written product of a planning process and model.

 

7. document their own planning process, roles, conflicts, evaluation and outcomes in a past or current field assignment

 

8. analyze a contemporary community planning, development or collaboration initiative.

 

9. identify the impact of the “isms” on their own or others’ planning projects.

 

SUGGESTED COURSE FORMAT

 

The course is designed to elicit participation of students in course planning, and in class discussions and presentations.  Students will be encouraged to demonstrate their knowledge of the assigned readings and to apply their past and present field and/or work experiences to the conceptual material.  The course will draw upon lectures, readings, case studies, small group exercises, guest speaker experts, problem-solving methodology, audiovisual materials and distance learning (if possible).

 

Each week, he first half hour will be devoted to a current community/political issues or a skills based, problem-solving demonstration/exercise selected and/or led by the students in advance. Suggestions include: an issue generated by an article from the City Section of the NY Times or City Limits or other community/ethnic newspaper (see file on reserve), or devoted to an issue from a field placement (see C.O. student-generated handout). 

 

Students are expected to adhere to CO CURRICULUM COURSE GUIDELINES

 

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

 

Written assignments are designed to integrate theory with practice and apply concepts to field placement. Each is a different format and style related to the skills building and course objectives.

Samples of past student assignments are on reserve in library under Mizrah-ssw743.

 

Assignment I - Mini-paper to assess your own planning style, experiences, ideology, interests and needs. Due Oct. 3 (5-7 pages)

 

Use materials developed by former students, planning model frameworks, and your own experiences, planning a program, developing a campaign or other change project as a staff person, community activist or student intern. In the paper, you must 1) give examples from your own last year’s assignment and past practice. 2) analyze and compare your style to the vignettes in Lauffer  (pgs. 10- 28; 281-286), and 3) incorporate readings from additional articles from Unit I.

 

Assignment II - Proposal Analysis - Due Oct 31 (4-6 pages)

 

A proposal is the written request to develop a program or strategy to meet a need or solve a problem. It reflects a planning process. Analyze a program/project proposal prepared by your agency (if available) using the outline on reserve: The Written Proposal with A Major Task of Consumer Boards: How To Review Proposals. Basically you will be assessing a planning process that produced the document itself.  If you are working on, or have written a proposal yourself, you use the assignment to describe the process and critique it.  Include all of the following in your paper: 1) Evaluate the components of the proposal; 2) discuss the inferred planning model(s) and role(s), ideologies and values of the planner and the plan (from Unit I). 3)  Discuss the role, if any, of clients/community. 3) Specifically, answer the question: Would you fund it? Why, or why not?  DO NOT quote extensively from the proposal in text.  Use appendix to summarize the proposal (Sample proposals and assignments on reserve).  In class we will conduct a "mock" funders review session to share strengths and limitations.

 

Assignment III-   Due Dec. 5: Content Outline On Current A Planning Process

 

Use a current (if possible) or past field assignment that requires a planning process and evaluation. You can select a project or event that has been completed or is in process by now. If the activity is scheduled for completion at a later date, highlight the process to date, and identify the steps necessary to complete and evaluate the outcome (Samples on reserve.) Summary and Synthesis of Planning Process, Problems and Lessons Learned: The Collective Practice Wisdom of Community Organizing Students 1998 & 1999.

 

Prepare written 2-3 page outline that includes the following:

 

  1. The short term and long term goals of the project.

  2. The interactional and analytical steps involved (using Perlman and Gurin outline in Lauffer, pg. 73)

 3. The problems, opposition, obstacles, and ethical issues encountered along the way. How were they        or should have been handled.

  4. Your role(s) and the role(s) of significant others.

  5. Your assessment of the process and outcome (How do/did you and others define success?)

  6.  Lessons you learned from your involvement.

  7.  Diagram planning stages using a timetable/or other planning tool

 

 

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT IV: IDENTIFICATION OF COMMUNITY PLANNING OR ORGANIZING INITIATIVES  (Due Dec. 17)

 

(Students are encouraged to work in small groups around common interests)

 

Identify an organization, coalition or collaboration (public or private) that is leading or involved in 1) a community improvement or neighborhood economic development project (e.g. an ACT collaborative; Empowerment Zone; COPC: Hope 6; the Bronx Cluster);  2) planning on a functional basis (e.g. Welfare Reform, School-based mental health, HIV/AIDS); or 3)parent/client/consumer/resident participation to improve the conditions of an institution (eg. schools; health care; workplace).

 

Prepare a written 4-5-page overview and analysis of the effort and your opinion of its effectiveness. At minimum you should interview the leadership, attend a meeting, and review written materials.

 

Identify goals and strategies; examine any community divisions or conflicts (factions within it or insider/outsider issues). What are the mechanisms for involving community residents and groups? Are there structures and processes for mediating disputes. Discuss leadership roles and roles of  organizers/planners (on different sides of issue if applicable).  Consider issues, which involve planning for neighborhood stabilization, or planning with or for an unpopular or marginal group; Was it a lay or government initiated effort? What are the actual or anticipated results? What would be considered success or failure? Attach any materials such as newspaper articles, reports, minutes, and proposals. Identify the auspice/legitimacy of the initiative (e.g. legislation, foundation funding; business, labor, etc.)

 

 See Document: AThere’s a Whole Lot of Planning and Organizing going On!: Examples Analyzed by C.O. & P Students, Fall 1998& 1999. Samples of those assignments are on reserve. Students are encouraged to chose one of the past group or individual projects to update, deepen, and expand. Also use City Limits, the City Section of the NY Times, local Community Board and newspapers as resources.

 

In-class discussion will provide opportunity for understanding whether there is a whole lot of planning going on; who's involved; and in whose interest is it being undertaken.

 

EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE

 

Credit will be assigned on basis of written work (85%) and class participation (15%).

"Honors" will be based on superior performance in: style and content of written work, the delivery of presentations, class discussion, and extensive and creative use of assigned and outside readings.

 

TEXTS

 

Required Readings

 

1) CUSTOMIZED COURSE PACK OF READINGS FOR C.O. III (at Hunter Book Store).

 

 

 

Other Recommended Books and Articles on Reserve

 

P.Ewalt, et al.(Eds). (1998).Community Building. Wash. D.C. NASW

 

M. Austin and J.I. Lowe. (1994). Controversial Issues In Communities and Organizations.   Boston:  Allyn & Bacon.

 

R. Fisher. (1994). Let The People Decide: Neighborhood Organizing in America, 2nd Edition, N.Y.: Twayne Publishers.

 

M. Minkler, Community Organization and Community Building for Health. Rutgers University Press. 1997

 

Additional contemporary issues can be gleaned from The City Section of the New York Times, City Limits, and the Journal of Community Practice.

 

* = Required Readings

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Review course objectives, format and assignments; discussion of students' and instructor's backgrounds; assessment of knowledge and experiences; overview of nature and implications of social planning, and the place of social planning in social work: humanistic, political, and self-critical components.

 

  *  A. Lauffer, Social Planning at the Community Level. Prentice Hall, 1978.Chap. 1 Getting Down to Cases. (Cpk)

 

      *    A. Boehm & H. Litwin. “Measuring Rational and Organizational-Political Planning Activities                of   Community Organization Workers.” Journal of Community Practice, 6(4) 1999, pp. 17-35.

 

B. Gummer "Social Planning" (in R. Edwards, Ed.) Encyclopedia of Social Work 19th Edition, NASW, 1995.

 

       UNIT I:  SOCIAL PLANNING PROCESSES AND THEORIES

 

Conceptualization of social planning as professional and purposeful problem-solving; context and levels of social planning practice; utilizing the elements of the planning process; problem/issue analysis, program/policy/strategy formulation, implementation, evaluation and revision .An examination of the traditional/elitist, liberal, advocacy, participatory and grassroots/indigenous frameworks;

 

A.  The Planning Process: Defining and Documenting Need

 

*    Lauffer, Chapter 4 (CPk), .    

 

*    Chapter 20 (Bradshaw); On Need Chapter 22 (League of California Cities) on Methods of Determining need in Gilbert & Specht. Planning for Social Welfare, 1977. (CPk)

 

M. Minkler and N. Wallerstein "Improving Health Through Community Organization and Community Building." (Chapter 3) in M. Minkler, Community Organization and Community Building for Health. Rutgers University Press. 1997 (OR)

 

T. Hancock and M. Minkler,"Community Health Assessment or Healthy Community Assessment:Whose Community? Whose Health? Whose Assessment?" in M. Minkler.Community Organization and Community Building for Health. Rutgers University Press.

 

*     M. Delgado. Murals in Latino Communities: Indicators of Community Strength. Social Work,        July 1998, pp. 346-356.

 

      *     H. Robins. Sixty Ways to Judge the Recovery of Cities: The Need for Objective Standards

             Social Policy. Winter 1998, pp. 50-59.

 

B.   Classic Planning Theories

 

*    John Friedmann, "The Transactive Style of Planning", in N. Gilbert and H. Specht Planning for Social Welfare, 1978, Chapter 8 (CPk).

 

*    Paul Davidoff, "Advocacy and Pluralism in Planning", in Gilbert and Specht, Chapter 14.(CPk)

 

*    F. F. Piven, "Whom Does the Advocate Planner Serve", Social Policy May-June, 1973, and Rejoinders by S. Rosen and F. F. Piven in the same issue and others in subsequent issues (CPk).

 

*    Bernie Jones and Jaert Bensen Jones, "Three Models of Social Planning for Human  Services on Energy - Impacted Communities," Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare (CPk)

     

N. Wallerstein, V. Sanchez-Merki, and L. Dow. "Freirian Praxix in Health Education and Community Organizing: A Case Study of an Adolescent Prevention Program. in M. Minkler Community Organization and Community Building for Health. Rutgers University Press. 1997.

     

      L.Taaffee and R. Fisher "Public Life in Gulfton: Multiple Publics and Models of Community           Organization. Journal of Community Practice,  4,1,1997.

 

C.  Using Information and Data for Organizing and Planning

 

Research and Data collection and analysis as tools for community organization and social planning. Understanding the political as well as technical components of data. Developing needs assessment and outreach strategies. Opportunity to explore the internet (see Hunter's C.O. Collection for Websites).

 

*    T. Mizrahi, "The Future of Research Utilization In Community Practice" In Grasso & Epstein Research Utilization In the Social Services : Innovations for Practice and Administration. Haworth Press, 1992, pp. 197-220 (CPk).

 

*    Y.C. Padilla, L. Lein, and  M. Cruz, “Community-based Research in Policy Planning: A Case       study in the Texas-Mexico Border Region. Journal of Community Practice, 6(3), 1999 pp. 1-22.

 

*    N. Freudenberg & U. Trinidad. The role of community organizations in AIDS prevention in two Latino communities in NYC. Health       Education Quarterly. 19(2) Summer, 1992 pp. 219-232.(CPk)

 

*    J.B. Mondros and S.M. Wilson, Organizing for Power and Empowerment.  Columbia University Press, 1994, Ch. 8 "Evaluating Outcomes." (CPk)

           

            *            R.G. Blundo et al.,"Internet and Demystifying Power Differentials: A few Women on Line and the Housing Authority." Journal of Community Practice, 6(2) 1999, pp. 11-26

 

Additional Readings

 

B.C. Flynn, D.W. Ray, & M.S. Rider, Empowering Communities: Action Research Through Healthy Cities. Health Education Quarterly, 21 (3) 1994; pp. 395-405 (CPk).

 

R.E. Zambrana. "The role of Latino/Hispanic Communities in health services research: Strategies for Meaningful Partnership. Journal of Medical Systems.  20, 5,1996, pp. 317-328.

 

  J. Figueira-McDonough. ACommunity Organization and the Underclass: Exploring New Practice Directions. Social Service Review, March 1995, pp. 57-85 (An Example of Integrating Theoretical and Empirical Studies)

 

A. White, Vital Stats: Rudy's Welfare Undercount. City Limits Mar.1998, pp. 29.

 

UNIT TWO:  COMMUNITY/CLIENT PARTICIPATION: SOCIAL-POLITICAL AND VALUE DIMENSIONS IN PLANNING

 

Analysis and application of models of influence in achieving social planning goals; assessing and enhancing mechanisms of citizen participation and control; examination of conflicts inherent in social change efforts; understanding of theories of power and change in organizations and communities; planning and assessment of strategies for coalition, constituency and leadership building to effect change. Students will select an era to analyze in depth in small groups.

 

A. Overview

 

Citizen/Consumer Participation: Grassroots and Advocacy Models

 

*    D. Gamble and M. Weil, ACitizen Participation in Encyclopedia of Social Work, 19th Edition, NASW, 1995.

 

*    Sherry Arnstein, "A Ladder of Citizen Participation", Journal of American Institute of  Planners, July 1969 (CPk).

 

*    Y. Hasenfeld and A.P. Iglehart.  "Should Clients Have Control Over the Policies of the Agency?  A Debate." in Austin and Lowe, Controversial Issues in Communities and Organizations.  Boston:  Allyn & Bacon, 1994.

 

B. Case Studies: Citizen/Community Planning and Participation over time (Select One)  

 

M. Kahn, "Organizing For Structural Reform: The Case of The New Jersey Tenants  Organization".  Journal of Community Practice Vol. I(2) 1994. (spanning 1970-1990).

 

J. Rooney, Organizing in the South Bronx. SUNY Press, 1995. (On Alinsky/IAF/Congregational Church model of organizing.)

 

            Carrying It On-20 Years of Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition: A Video

 

C.  Historical Overview

 

In the 60's

 

*    Terry Mizrahi Madison, "The Struggle for Partnership in Health Service Planning - Community Strategies and Professional Roles", Health Law Project Library Bulletin,  Nov.  1978 (CPk).

 

*    R. Fisher. (1994). Let The People Decide: Neighborhood Organizing in America. The Neighborhood Organizing ARevolution of the 60's, Chapter 4

 

*    Terry Mizrahi "Coming Full Circle:  Lessons from Health Care Organizing."  Health PAC Bulletin (Summer 1993).(CPk)

 

*    Ana Dumois, "Organizing a Community Around Health", Social Policy, Vol.1, No.5,  January/February 1971. (CPk).

 

*    Terry Mizrahi. "Biting the Hand that Feeds Them: Organizing  in the Welfare Rights Movement," Health PAC Bulletin, 20 (4) Winter, 1990, pp. 26-30 (CPk)

 

Robert Halpern. Rebuilding the Inner City: A History of Neighborhood Initiatives to Address Poverty in the United States.       Columbia University Press, 1995. Chapters 3 and 5 (on neighborhood initiatives and neighborhood-based services through the 1960's).

 

In the 70's

 

*    R. Fisher. Chapter 5 The New Populism of the 1970's

 

*    A. Lauffer, ACitizen participation in the Planning ProcessChap. 15 (CPk).

 

*      Stephen B. Fawcett, et. al., "Involving Consumers in Decision-Making", Social Policy,   Fall 1982 (CPk).

 

*    Celene Krauss, "The Elusive Process of Citizen Activism", Social Policy, Fall 1983 (CPk).

 

*    B. Checkoway and M. Doyle.111-122. A Public Participation in Health Planning Agencies: Promises and Practice, JHPPL, Vol. 7, Fall 1992, pp. 722-733. (CPk)

 

*    Barry Checkoway and Michael Doyle, "Community Organizing Lessons for Health Care Consumers", Journal of Health Politics: Policy and Law, Vol.5, No.2, Summer, 1980, pp. 215-225 and "The Empire Strikes Back: More Lessons for Health Care Consumers," Journal of Health Politics and Law, Vol. 7, No.1, Spring, 1982, pp.111-122. (OR)

 

R. Halpern, . Rebuilding the Inner City: A History of Neighborhood Initiatives to Address Poverty in the United States.       Columbia University Press, 1995.  Chap. 4: Community Economic Development. 

 

      In the 80's

 

*    R. Fisher. Chapter 6 ACommunity Organizing in the Conservative 1980's.@

 

*  R.T. Hester, Jr. "The Sacred Structure in a Small Town: A Return to Manteo, N.C. Small Town. Jan/Feb/ 1990, 5-21 (CPk).

 

*    M. Reisch, "Organizational Structure and Client Advocacy: Lessons from the 1980's"  Social Work, 35 (1), January, 1990. pp. 73-74.

 

*    S.M. Rose. Community Organizing: A Survival Strategy for Community-Based, Empowerment -Oriented Programs. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 13(3), 1986, pp. 491-506.(CPk)

 

In the 90's

 

             R.C.   Harwood.  "Citizen Participation - Is the Public Ready to Decide?"  Social Policy 24(3), Spring 1994, pp. 13-23 (CPk).

 

R. Sen.  "Building Community Involvement in Health Care."  Social Policy 24(3), Spring, 1994, pp. 32-43 (Cpk)

 

  J. Bradley, No Magic Bullet: Harlem Empowerment Zone, City Limits, April 1995.

 

R. Halpern, Chapter 7 Rebuilding the Inner City: A History of Neighborhood Initiatives to Address Poverty in the United States. Columbia University Press, 1995. Emerging Neighborhood-based initiatives.

 

R. Starr and R. Schachter.  "Rebuilding the Human Services:  The Profession Mobilizes for Social Work In Public Education" T. Mizrahi and J. Morrison (Eds.) Community Organization and Social Administration, pp. 147-168.

 

J. L. Arches. “Challenge and Dilemmas in Community Development” Journal of Community Practice, 6(4) 1999, 37-55.

 

UNIT FOUR: COALITION BUILDING AND COLLABORATIONS:LINKING THE GRASSROOTS to SOCIAL MOVEMENTS ANDCOMMUNITY PLANNING

 

      *    B. Rosenthal and T. Mizrahi versus T. Simpson.  "Should Community-Based Organizations Give Priority to Building Coalitions Rather than Building Their Own Membership?:  A Debate." In Austin & Lowe, pp. 9-22.

 

*    T. Mizrahi and B. Rosenthal, "Managing Dynamic Tensions In Social Change Coalitions," in T. Mizrahi and J. Morrison (Eds.) Community Organization and Social Administration: Trends, Advances and Emerging Principles, Haworth Press, 1993 (CPk).

 

E.A. Mulroy, "Building a Neighborhood Network: Interorganizational Collaboration to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect. Social Work, 42,3, May 1997, pg. 255-265 or Ewalt et al..

 

D. Bailey and K. M. Koney. "Interorganizational Community-based Collaboratives: A Strategic Response to Shape the Social Work       Agenda. Social Work, 41,6, Nov. 1996, pgs. 602-621 or

In Ewalt et al.

 

      A. Jimenez-Bautista & B. Rosenthal, Northern Manhattan Collaborates! A Case Study of Washington Heights/Inwood--A Model Coalition. (Unpublished Paper) (OR)

 

L.J. Cornelius, M. Battle, J.H. Kryder-Coe, & D. Hu. Interventions to Developing Community Partnerships for HIV Prevention Planning: Successful Macro Applications of Social Work Principles. Journal of Community Practice.6(1) 1999, pp. 15-32.

 

UNIT FIVE:      COMPLEXITIES, CONFLICTS, AND ETHICAL DILEMMAS FACING PLANNERS AND ORGANIZERS IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

 

An understanding of the multiple, and often conflicting, constituencies to whom the social planner is (or should be) accountable; identification of potential professional and organizational and ethical issues facing the planner; analysis of advocacy and alternative models of planning practice; delineation of constraints and opportunities facing social planners; special issues of race, class, gender, sexual orientation and disability affecting the planning process and outcome.