What is Community Approach?

It is the approximation made by the

social researcher
a
a community
determinada, mediante el uso de la
methodology as a theoretical tool and
systematics of the experience; strengthening the
contact between the subject and the social plot, in
to understand social needs,
already complex.
The community approach seeks to involve the stakeholders in
its social medium, increasing their sense of belonging to it, in order
that they obtain an appropriate situational overview of the
issues detected in your community, from a perspective
strategic.
A key element when it comes to
approaching a community, it is constituted by the
intention to recognize individuals as
complex systems that interact with
inevitable form with other systems (familiar,
labor, social characterized by having
historicity
allowing to formulate timely strategies,
that he himself implements, in the search
of solutions to social conflicts.
customs,
culture
What is the importance of the Community Approach?
The community approach refers to a particular conception of the
reality, constructed from gradual moments that range from actions
isolated, informal encounters, fragmented dialogues with the subjects
addressed, to conclusions and concrete actions.
In Venezuela, community engagement has strengthened due to the
new social policies implemented by the State, where it is granted
greater decision-making power over social foundations in the hands of the community;
making this an excellent tool in the determination of
priorities based on the proper management of resources.
Venezuelan laws, through their unavoidable commitment to the
social development oriented from the grassroots clearly shows the
importance of implementing the community approach in the determination and
solution of needs. The following table presents some aspects
important that support the functionality of the community approach in the
current affairs.
Venezuelan Laws
Elements that support the
social commitment
Applicability to the Approach
Community
Law
Planning
Organic
Fundamental element, in the
construction, viability and
To achieve the development of
proposals, based on the
identification of priorities, is
it is necessary to channel the
perfectibility of plans that
allow the full development of the
social participation, understood as this
like the right that they have
social sectors of being
social participation
strengthening it and directing it
by means of the approach
properly informed, to prepare community.
proposals to identify priorities
and to recommend new ways to
participation. (Art. 4, 9, 12 and 58).
Statute Law of the The Public Administration is at
The institutions of the State
Venezuelan, aware of
social commitment to which it is
called the public servant; must
implement tools of the
social approach, to optimize
your results.
Public Function
service to the citizens and it
based on the principles of
honesty, participation, speed
effectiveness, efficiency, transparency
accountability and
responsibility in the exercise of the
public function, with submission
full to the law and the right.
Statement of reasons.
Law of the Councils
Based on the existence of
a participatory democracy and
protagonist, it is established
mechanisms that support the
social development, from the micro to the
macro, empowering the
town. Just as well,
social co-responsibility between the
In the previous table, the performance and prominence of the people are
fundamentals when conducting a community approach; for which it
it is necessary to define community participation as a process through
from which people with a genuine interest exert influence and share the
control over construction initiatives, decision-making, and resources
that affect them(Urban Dictionary: [Link]).
There are certain methodological techniques that facilitate the development of a
community approach, among which the following stand out:
APPROACH TECHNIQUE
DEFINITION
INSTRUMENTS
Interview not
The Interview
It is a technique for obtaining data that
consist of a dialogue between two
personas: El entrevistador "investigador"
and the interviewee.
structured.
Structured interview.
It is carried out in order to obtain
information from this, what is,
generally, a knowledgeable person
in the field of research.
The Observation
It consists of observing carefully the
phenomenon, fact or case, to take
Direct Observation.
Indirect Observation.
information and register it for your
posterior analysis. An observation must
determine the situation, the objectives, the
the way in which they will be registered
data, as well as the recording and analysis of
the observed data for
Observation
Participant.
Observation no
Participant.
subsequently draw conclusions.
Observation
Structured.
Observation no
Structured.
Community assemblies
The community assembly is the highest
instance in decision-making for
the community matters. it is carried out
to address matters that are of greater
interest inside and outside the community;
that is to say, topics that are for him
Attendance list.
Act.
Brainstorming.
common benefit, whether for the solution
of agrarian, political problems,
social and/or cultural.
Work Tables
They are spaces for participation and
articulation of objectives and actions in
back to specific topics identified
as priorities.
Brainstorming.
Debate.
Minute.
It is a tool through which,
the discussion is made possible in a way
in-person, projects or initiatives
that articulate the work of people,
groups and institutions about a
determined theme.
Act.
Agenda.
Content analysis
Method that, based on a
established categorization, allows
identify, inventory, and classify the
concepts or ideas that refer to
knowledge or feelings
expressed in different sources of
information, in order to formulate
explanations. In its application, it
they manage counting techniques of
frequencies whether of words or
categories in the structure of a
speech or determined text.
Analysis of dilemma
Method that allows identifying,
inventory and classify an argument
formed by two propositions
contradictory, whether denied or granted
either of the two works.
demonstrated what is intended to be proven,
express the doubt or dilemma that it captures
the contradiction in a situation
issues and can have several
response alternatives.
Stages of Community Approach
For the achievement of the community approach, it is essential that the
achievement of three basic stages, such as community integration,
participatory diagnosis and the action plan; stages through which it
ensures the development of social action.
In this sense, community insertion is positioned as the first
where the first approach to the social plot begins that the
subjects establish in their daily lives regarding the satisfaction of their
needs.
There are four (4) key elements to be developed within the
community insertion, which seeks to establish the appropriate connection between the
social researcher and the community. The applicability of such elements
provides great support when generating the link, however, does not
it guarantees; as the success of this insertion largely depends on the
present social dynamics. These elements are noted below:
The identification of objectives
parte de una planificación previa, en la
which
himself
they are located
the
interests
institutional or in case of being a
independent project, the purpose
of the approach. The objectives can
suffer modifications as the
insertion will continue to develop.
As for the identification of key actors, it becomes necessary
handle the different types, according to their development in the
social networks allow the development of decision-making processes
chords with the needs that may arise. They will be grouped into:
a) Political actors, being the officials who represent or are
involved with a state institution.
b) Technical Actors - Specialists, associated with the academic level -
educational.
c) Involved actors (on the ground), being the beneficiaries
direct and indirect of the projects, programs that are developed
in their social environment.
The third and fourth elements are the identification of the
grassroots organizations in the community and state institutions;
allowing the insertion to strengthen ties between them, ensuring
to the extent possible, the resources correspondingly with the
priority needs in the community.
Community insertion is considered the first methodological moment.
which, connected to an investigative attitude, enables the development of a
community diagnosis that explains the problematic field. It is a
constant reformulation of that problematic field.
In this line of thought, it is necessary to state the second stage of
approach: the community diagnosis, understood as:
a process of information creation that seeks the
understanding of problems and needs within a context
determined, its causes and evolution over time, as well as the
conditioning or risk factors. These elements allow
establishing priorities and intervention strategies, in a way
that its degree of viability can be determined in advance and
feasibility, considering the available means, as well as the forces and
social actors involved in them. (Ander-Egg, 2006)
The diagnosis should be as comprehensive as possible; in this sense, it can
based on guidelines outlined from the documentary nature, that is to say,
based on the review of maps, technical reports, statistics or
field observations, however, the diagnosis can also be of
participatory character, based on the initiative of social actors
involved.
Among the most important tasks involved in performing a
social diagnosis, we have:
PEOPO004

Detection of needs, problems,

areas of interest and opportunities for improvement.
It is relevant to pay particular attention to what
that the community expresses, also considering
the opinion of other social agents. For the
achievement of said identification of needs
the use of various becomes necessary
information collection instruments such as
such as: the test, the questionnaire, interview guide, observation guide, among others
others.
The diagnosis should not only report on the needs,
problems and areas of interest from which action should be initiated;
it should also account for the way in which one acts professionally or
they suspend services, and about the possibilities of improving care
that is provided to people. (Ander: p.48)

Forecast of the situation. It should serve to establish the means

necessary to correct and guide the trends, considering that we
provides information about the possibilities of reversibility of the
situation-problem that one wants to improve.

Identification of resources and means of action. It is not enough to

to know the situation (needs and problems of a community), also
it is necessary to have information about the resources and means available for
solve the problems and address the detected needs.
This information includes: existing resources in the community and
external resources, distinguishing the various sources where they could be
have them available and the conditions to access them; resources
available and potential.

Determination of priorities. The

criteria for establishing priorities can be
of an ideological nature (which establish a
kind of 'ought to be', of the 'desirable' or of
technical character. These technical criteria must
be consistent with the ultimate ends and purposes
of the community action program.

Determination of causes or contextual factors that influence and/or

they condition the problem or need.

Analysis of interested, involved, and affected social actors

(directly and indirectly) by the actions of the action program
community. It helps to understand the type of demands and interests they have
the involved actors, in order to anticipate possible conflicts arising from the actions
which are going to be undertaken: it is a matter of a political feasibility analysis,
social and cultural of the community action program. This task must be done
to be considered in each and every phase of community work
(study, diagnosis, programming, action and evaluation).
Among the disadvantages of social diagnosis are:
Reality is not stable, but dynamic and
complex, that is to say, there is a constant change in
the society addressed by social actors that
they integrate it, which can result in a
diagnosis located at a specific moment,
but not generalizable over time.
When interpreting a phenomenon as a problem or as
No problem, within a social diagnosis, a value judgment is established.
by the investigator, when discerning between both probabilities. This
this aspect is of special attention for the social scientist, as the balance
between the objective information and the value that may be given to it, it is difficult to
maintain and achieve.
Regarding the studies and
community diagnoses and, in particular,
the proposed methodology and practices
for its realization, Ander-Egg (2006a)
warns that it is not necessary to finish a
research
for
start
some
concrete actions. On the contrary,
it supports the convenience that, once
about the ground, the promoting team of
development program or project of the
community start to carry out
some activities as soon as possible. From your point of view:
The reasons why we encourage starting activities or actions
before having a fully finished study and diagnosis, they are based on
conclusions that have been dictated to us by experience. On the other hand, we
are based on the distressing and explosive situation of some communities that
They are waiting for collaboration ("), not to be studied. (p.21)
Likewise, it indicates that a team,
social worker or community promoter
that works on the ground performing
only 'research' can predispose
adversely to the community that does not
understand what all that is for
some experiences, has been the only one
work phase. (p.21)
Regarding the importance of the
previous studies, the author reflects on this and concludes that while in
Latin America for a long time, these studies lacked importance,
now it seems there is a 'surplus' of studies and research, and a
"acting deficit". Currently, studying social problems has become
transformado en una especie de ³aspirina´ tranquilizadora de conciencia de
those who do not want to take action (pp.21-22)
For these and other reasons, the author suggests the possibility of scheduling
and carry out specific activities while conducting an in-depth study
about the reality in which it is intended to act. Likewise, it maintains the
need to 'take action' as soon as possible, but without stopping
a minimum examination and analysis of the situation and the advantages and
disadvantages of the possible actions to undertake. These actions, ultimately
instance, they must adhere to the procedures indicated by the own praxis
of community development.
It is important to highlight that the
execution of the preliminary tasks
what entails the preparation of a
diagnosis, depends on a series of
factors
conditions
o
circumstances
which
between
highlight the type of institution
sponsor or executor of the program
community action.
When it comes to programs
institutional that decides to involve
the recipients giving prominence
the people, in accordance with the principles
from the development of the community, it will be necessary to discover and identify who
(among the target population of the program) express their willingness to
participate. (») consequently, it is necessary to know who the possible
actors of the research/action process and the level of participation of
each one of them (Ander-Egg, 2006, p.148a)
The author raises the need to integrate popular knowledge in the
set of the research. In his opinion, to the extent that one wants
generate processes of participation and integration, the methodology of
community development must integrate popular knowledge.
The worker or community promoter, when performing a
research or diagnosis must have the necessary intelligence and humility
to gather and integrate popular knowledge that will ultimately allow
strengthen the work that has been obtained from the application of techniques
typical of scientific research.
Finally, stage three (3) of the community approach, Action Plan, in
which aims to integrate all the information collected, through the
presentation of a results report to the community itself,
protagonist of the diagnostic plan. At the same time, the social researcher clarifies in
great way, community action lines.
The results report must contain the following points:
Introduction to the intentionality of the community approach.
Justification of the community approach.
Objective and preliminary activities.
Territorial and historical context of the community.
Institutional context.
Community scope.
Needs detected in the community.
Techniques and Instruments of Community Approaches.
Analysis of Priorities.
Analysis of the results.
Activity schedule.
Limitations and Recommendations.