230709 Models of community governance in the Good Neighborhoods: Authentic community participation, community well being and social justice

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 5:15 PM - 5:30 PM

Larry M. Gant, PhD, LMSW , School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, MI
Leslie Hollingsworth, MSW, PhD , School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, MI
Trina Shanks, MSW, PhD , School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Paula Allen-Meares, MSW, PhD , Office of the Chancellor, University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL
Patricia Miller, MSW , School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Rachel Williams, MSW , School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
The development of six types of community governance models is outlined and presented. Created as essential community components of the Skillman Foundation Good Neighborhoods Initiative (Good Neighborhoods), this paper outlines the emergence of governance models in years four and five of the ten year initiative. We review the differential processes of community participation, procedures and processes for election to governance bodies in the six GN communities. We present a criterion alterative matrix model of governance types and criterion matrix of legal status of governance models. We also present a series of required and requested workshops of use in facilitating and enhancing stability and sustainability of governance models. The types of citizen participation and community well being endorsed by each model of community governance are explained and discussed. The implicit models of social justice for each governance model are explored. We outline presumptive economic models of resource allocation and decision making inherent in each model of community governance. Implications for replication, delimitations of the strategy, lessons learned and future prospects complete the presentation.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Other professions or practice related to public health
Program planning

Learning Objectives:
1) List 4 models of social justice 2) Apply social participation ladders in assessment of citizen participation 3) Differentiate four models of community governance in comprehensive community development programs.

Keywords: Community Building, Community Participation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have over 25 years experience in community organization and development, and I am Principal Investigator for the Technical Assistance Center that is responsible for governance group development, deployment and technical assistance.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.