COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGfrom the lecture of Prof. Gerardo P. Andamo of The Royal Pentagon Review Specialists, Inc.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – a continuous and sustained (i.e. never-ending) process of awareness-raising, organizing, and mobilizing.

Basic Concepts and Principles Based on concrete analysis of actual situation Basic trust on the people By, for, with, and among the people Anyone is capable of change Self-willed changes have more meaning than imposed ones

Context of Community Organizing (CO): Current situationtowards the poor, deprived, oppressed (i.e. not all) but struggling segments of the society

Goal of Community Organizing (CO): Community Development – the creation of a society that provides equal access to all benefits and opportunities the society can offer to the people

Application of CO in Health: PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IN HEALTH

Two types of community:a. Organized community – with people’s organizationb. Virgin community – without people’s organization

Phases of CO:1. SOCIAL INVESTIGATION

Preliminary Investigation- done before entry to community- secondary data sources are utilized- baseline information from secondary data sources (e.g. Records Review)

Deepening Social Investigation- continuous appraisal of community situation through primary data sources

2. ENTRY – low-key or low-profile approachUpon entry, start the following:a. Deepening Social Investigationb. Social Preparationc. Community Integration

3. SOCIAL PREPARATION – tampering the grounds for setting up health programsTarget: community leaders- Establish rapport, develop trust, clarify intentions and expectations- Starts upon entry, ends with launching

Awareness – primary motivation to action

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE- Essential care (i.e. not alternative)- Based on scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology- Made universally available to individuals, families, and communities- At a cost they can afford at any given stage of their development- Through their full participation- Towards self- reliance and self-determination

Major Pillars of Primary Health Carea. Multi-sectoral approach (inter- and intra-sectoral linkages)b. People’s participation

Partnership – or shared leadership; minimum level of people’s participationc. Appropriate technology – underwent experimentation and with high empirical basis;

e.g. herbal medicine and accupressured. Support mechanism made available

Methods: courtesy call and attendance to meetings4. COMMUNITY INTEGRATION – imbibing the community way of life

Target: community- Deepen rapport, develop mutual trust, draw objectivesMethods: house-to-house, going to places where people are, direct participation in the production process (best method)

5. SMALL GROUP FORMATION- cluster of 8-15 households- manageable units- data processing of community diagnosis is being done

6. ELECTION OF CHWs7. LAUNCHING – social preparation ends8. COMMUNITY DIAGNOSIS

Outcome: Problems and needs of the people9. TRAINING AND SERVICES

Advanced community health workers have the leadership traits10. CORE GROUP FORMATION

- Group of advanced CHWs11. PHASE OUT – so that people can practice self-reliance

- Provide opportunity for the health workers to stand on their ownIndicator of Phase-out: Advanced CHWs are able to assume staff level functions

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PROCESS

PRE-ENTRY1. Site selection2. Preliminary Social Investigation

ENTRY1. Social preparation2. Community integration3. Deepening social investigation

ORGANIZATION FORMATION PHASE1. Small group formation2. Election of CHW (women; middle-aged; married)3. Organizational meetings - to clarify matters

TRAINING PHASE1. Training needs assessment – COMMUNITY DIAGNOSIS2. Curriculum development – based on problems identified3. Actual training4. Training evaluation

SERVICES PHASE1. Community clinics2. Other services

LEADERSHIP FORMATION PHASE1. Core group formation2. Advanced training

CONSOLIDATION PHASE1. Evaluation session2. Staff development

SUSTENANCE AND MAINTENANCE PHASE1. Endorsement to sectoral organizing2. Formation of regional coordinating bodies

PHASE OUTTranscribed by:

ROBERT C. REÑABachelor of Science in Nursing

Class MMIX