1 Working Together to Assess Community Capacity Kathie Cram Community Development Consultant Public Health Services Saskatoon Health Region Saskatchewan,

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Working Together to Assess Community Capacity

Kathie CramCommunity Development Consultant

Public Health ServicesSaskatoon Health RegionSaskatchewan, Canada

Community Development Society

“Communities That Click: Individuals, Families and Organizations That Work Together”

38th Annual Conference

St. Louis, June 2006

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Can tools developed to assess community capacity be applied in a way that has meaning and is useful to grassroots anti-poverty work?

“Has meaning” refers to the interpretation by the participants about the extent to which the project and the application of the tool affected them and impacted on their relationships with one another.

“Useful” refers to how it influenced the work of their organization in terms of practices, decisions and planning.

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Based on a case analysis of the efforts of the Saskatoon Anti-Poverty Coalition (SAPC) to understand their capacity

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Philosophical meaning of the strawberry:

Heart-shaped Connotates healing, passion and purity Smell, taste, looks, how it makes us feel when we eat it Way it sends out runners symbolic of community renewal

and outreach Tied to “100 Years of Heart” history of Province of

Saskatchewan, Canada Celebrate ancient heart of the land Symbol of resolve to work towards change by balancing

support with justice work

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Uses the ten- (10) dimensions of community capacity discussed by Goodman et al are used, in collaboration with the Coalition, to analyze their work.

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The Ten Dimensions

Participation

Community Power

Community

Values

Community

History

Com

mun

ity

Feel

ing

Networks

Critical Reflection

LeadershipResources

Skills

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In summary, the project showed that:

one particular tool to measure community capacity can have meaning to the participants, and be useful for identifying both strengths and areas for development

the meaning comes from the opportunity to spend time reflecting on the dimensions in an atmosphere of trust, fun, and where everyone is given voice

usefulness comes from connection to planning (around Poverty Awareness Week) and as a tool to discuss conflict

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The people:

small 6 person group called "C- 8": Creative, Cool, Committed, Classy, Clever, Community, Capacity, Collective”

clear they wanted to have fun in the process, learn something useful and wanted to work with a consensus based decision making model

an ad hoc group of people from SAPC, who were to guide the project and act as a "proxy" for SAPC members

two (2) members were living on social assistance, two (2) members were working with supportive agencies, one (1) member acted as the facilitator; and one (1) member was the group's "methods consultant"

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The method

1. Group Sets Goals

learn about Goodman et al community capacity tool

analyze & critique the tool based on their experiences with SAPC

adapt the tool for SAPC

link the tool to planning

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2. Group Develops Philosophy In between an applied community based

research approach and a "project".

Reasons were:

negative experiences members had with formal research processes contributed to them feeling exploited by the researcher/s

desire of the group to control their techniques and who was writing what about the process

need to integrate some of the best parts of community based research, and their own positive experiences of this, into the project.

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solution was to work with a "methods consultant", who volunteered her time, and ensured that the group paid attention to ethical processes of research and sound methods of recording discussions and decisions

Use principles of community based research articulated by Minkler and Wallerstein (2003); participatory, cooperative, engaging community members and researchers in a process where both contribute equally, co-learning process, involves systems development and local community capacity building, empowering process in which participants can increase control over their own lives, attempts to achieve a balance between research and action.

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3. Process

Process was facilitated, records were kept, consent forms signed

Use of metaphors at beginning, end and in rating system (spidergram)

Read out loud portions of the Goodman et al article Discussed 1 or 2 of the dimensions as it related to their

experience Developed a working definition of each of the dimensions Choose the order of discussion around each according to

what might be most useful at the time given the current realities and issues the group was facing. (eg: conflict in skills dimension; power).

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Interplay between dialogue, analysis and action is 1 example of how the principles of community based research was being used.

Focus group to engage other people who had been involved in the earlier years of the Coalition. Group wanted a “then and now” comparison.

Closure and final reflection gathering.

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Labour intensive (met 12 times for 2.5 hours each time)

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Rating

Rated each of the dimensions separately.

4 = very high (understanding of what their group would “be like” if the dimension was at its optimum); 1 = very low (understanding of what there group would be like if the dimension was totally absent)

Glenn Lavarack’s (2005) spidergram technique

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Discovery: What We Found Out

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Grappling with the Definition

Choose/adapt one of: " An approach to the development of

sustainable skills, organizational structures, resources, and commitment to health improvement in health and other sectors, to prolong and multiply health gains many times over "(Hawe et al 1999).

"The increase in community groups' ability to define, assess, analyze data and act on health (or an other) concerns of importance to their members" (Labonte and Laverack 2001).

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"Characteristics of a community that affect their ability to identify, mobilize and address social and health problems, and the cultivation and use of transferable knowledge, skills, systems and resources that affect community and individual level changes consistent with public health-related goals and objectives." (Goodman et al 1998)

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Group choose Goodman et al definition:

1. Definition Resonates embraced the first of these 2 aspects of the

definition, but did not want to tie any definition to public health goals they might not understand;

adapted definition of community capacity is: “building upon the characteristics of a community that affect their ability to identify, mobilize and address social health problems”.

2. Engaging Process process used by Goodman was based on a broad

engagement of people from different disciplines who had experience in the field had worked with people who were marginalized.

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3. Dimensions Made Sense

agreed that each dimension was important to their work

there was nothing of real substance missing wanted to add some additional elements to

each dimension especially struggled with “sense of

community” several sessions trying to articulate the

element of “soulfulness” in building a sense of community.

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4. Practical Value believed that using the tool from Goodman

et al would have some practical value it was understandable and could be used to

help with future planning.

although many of the other dimensions were common amongst all the authors, Goodman offered one dimension that dealt with community history that people found important.

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C8 Group: Dimensions, Definitions and Ratings: Now and Then

Dimension Notes from Evaluation Tool

C8 Definition of Dimension

Optimum Definition

Absent Definition

Ratings

Then Now

2001 2005

Participation Strong participant baseDiverse network that enables different interests to take collective actionBenefits overriding costs associated with participationCitizen involvement in defining and resolving needsEmbrace inclusivity

Active contribution of a diverse network of people (organizations & individuals) in a safe environment where the people share a common concern about the issue

The Saskatoon Anti-Poverty Coalition is at its optimum for participation when it is safe, inclusive, respectful, barrier-free and diversity is celebrated

Participation is absent from the Saskatoon Anti-Poverty Coalition when there is a lack of trust, tokenism and low attendance

3 2

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Dimension Notes from Evaluation Tool

C8 Definition of Dimension

Optimum Definition

Absent Definition

Ratings

Then Now

2001 2005

Leadership Inclusion of formal and informal leadersProviding direction & structure for participantsEncouraging participation from a diverse network of community participantsImplementing procedures for ensuring participation from all during group meetings & eventsFacilitating the sharing of information & resources by participants & organizationsShaping & cultivating development of new leaders

Leadership is the ability to engage & inspire a diverse network of people toward a common goal

Leadership is at its optimum when the SAPC is working toward fulfilling its vision by:Taking risks,Being innovative,Out of our comfort zone,Challenging the status quo,Dreaming big,Motivated, andBeing passionate

Leadership is absent in the SAPC when there is no common vision, people aren’t working together and personal agendas interfere with reaching success.

2 3

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Dimension Notes from Evaluation Tool

C8 Definition of Dimension

Optimum Definition

Absent Definition

Ratings

Then Now

2001 2005

Understanding of Community History

Awareness of important social, political & economic changes that have occurred both recently and distally.Awareness of the types of organizations, community groups & community sectors that are present.Awareness of community standing relative to other communities

History is the acknowledg-ment of the quality of collective, personal & external experiences mapped over time. (do their own mapping)

History is at its optimum when SAPC will see opportunities & has the courage to take action.

History is absent when SAPC lacks identity, suffers from isolation, has a poor reputation and is unable to take action.

2 3

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Dimension Notes from Evaluation Tool

C8 Definition of Dimension

Optimum Definition

Absent Definition

Ratings

Then Now

2001 2005

Community Power

Ability to create or resist change regarding community turf, interests or experiencesPower with not control over themInfluence across a variety of domains or community contextsAbility to challenge the status quo

Power is the shared ability to influence the thinking, actions and/or decisions of others.

When Power is at its optimum, goals are achieved, by a commitment to power-with instead of power-over and letting go of unreasonable expectations of outcome

When Power is absent, common goals are not achieved because there is power-over and individuals try to control outcomes.

2 3

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The Meaning of the Project: “Good Medicine”

process had been a meaningful learning experience they had deepened their relationships with one

another it was worthy of celebration (fun barbeque) and

deeper reflection (collage exercise) learning could be integrated into planning for the

future visual images group members chose to represent

their feelings about the project and symbolize the meaning the project held for them varied

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Getting our ducks in a row

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Planting seeds for future growth

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The discussions came from the heart

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We all have wisdom, have more wisdom together, wisdom was valued

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At the beginning this was unknown, sometimes it was chaotic, new questions were good for development

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Lessons Learned Useful tool for collective reflection Wisdom in room, help create atmosphere of

trust, mutual respect, quietness and silence Builds relationships if done with respect Tool to create safe place to talk about conflict

and need for improvement with judgement or blaming individuals

Labour intensive Must be linked back into ongoing work (will be

used in planning and monthly meetings)