This paper provides an opportunity to consider the concept of community practice from the vantage point of community psychology. The author argues that community psychology has significant potential to change organizations, communities, and other settings to benefit setting occupants. However, it is the author's contention that the full realization of this potential is contingent upon an organized effort to engage in formal community practice. The author defines community practice in terms of four skill sets related to mobilization, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The author also describes settings that might support community practice and discusses implications for training and the field of community psychology in general. Finally, the author illustrates several community practice skills and roles in the context of a local community-based initiative in Ohio called Partnerships for Success.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author would like to thank Tom Wolff for his thoughtful review of an early draft of this paper. The author would also like to thank Erin Galloway for her contributions to this paper.
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Julian, D.A. A Community Practice Model for Community Psychologists and Some Examples of the Application of Community Practice Skills from the Partnerships for Success Initiative in Ohio. Am J Community Psychol 37, 21–27 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-005-9004-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-005-9004-5