Community Psychology and Community Mental Health: A Call for Reengagement

Community psychology is rooted in community mental health research and practice and has made important contributions to this field. Yet, in the decades since its inception, community psychology has reduced its focus on promoting mental health, well‐being, and liberation of individuals with serious mental illnesses. This special issue endeavors to highlight current efforts in community mental health from our field and related disciplines and point to future directions for reengagement in this area. The issue includes 12 articles authored by diverse stakeholder groups. Following a review of the state of community mental health scholarship in the field's two primary journals since 1973, the remaining articles center on four thematic areas: (a) the community experience of individuals with serious mental illness; (b) the utility of a participatory and cross‐cultural lens in our engagement with community mental health; (c) Housing First implementation, evaluation, and dissemination; and (d) emerging or under‐examined topics. In reflection, we conclude with a series of challenges for community psychologists involved in future, transformative, movements in community mental health.     

Community Context for Teaching

Summary

A Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) methodology can assist Family Practice faculty in implementing clinical and teaching activities designed to address interpersonal violence against adult women. The traditional COPC steps are as follows: (1) define the practice population; (2) assess a specific health problem; (3) develop and implement a strategy to address the issue; and (4) evaluate the impact of the intervention. At Ramsey Family Medicine we've developed a conceptual tool we call “the wheel” of community medicine which depicts the five arenas where resident physicians can work to end domestic violence: in the exam room; within the clinic; as part of a network of providers; within the larger community; and, as a part of a state or national initiative. We've also developed an operational tool called “the matrix” of community medicine which outlines specific COPC activities in each of the aforementioned arenas. We've arranged the matrix to apply to clinical practice and resident education activities regarding abuse intervention and prevention at Ramsey. This approach stresses partnerships with community organizations with expertise and commitment to ending domestic violence.     

社区变迁与社区建设的沿革

社区是指聚集在相对独立的区域内,通过社会交往而形成的人口共同体.本文首先从社会史学的角度勾勒了人类社区发展演变的三种形态,即血缘型社区、地缘型社区和业缘型社区的各自结构特征;然后结合对20世纪中叶展开的国际社区发展运动的回顾,分析了当代社会社区建设运动的兴起和国内社区建设的主要模式.     

社区、社会资本与社区发育

社区发育作为社区发展理论的一个重要组成部分,在社区发展的研究中有着特别重要的意义.在现实社区中,由于对相关问题的忽视等原因,缺少社会资源和社会资本的情况十分普遍,它对于宏观社区的得失和其长期发展的兴衰,都具有不可估量的影响.本文要分析的问题是社区发育的概念是什么,它与社区建设的异同在哪里;社区的社会资本或者说其社会性的内涵是什么;社会资源、社会资本是如何形成和发育成长的;社会资本的创造与社区发育之间的内在联系是什么等.     

Developing a Community Science Research Agenda for Building Community Capacity for Effective Preventive Interventions

Research has shown that prevention programming can improve community health when implemented well. There are examples of successful prevention in local communities, however many continue to face significant challenges, demonstrating a gap between science and practice. Common strategies within the United States to address this gap are available (e.g., trainings), but lack outcomes. Building community capacity to implement high quality prevention can help communities achieve positive health outcomes, thereby narrowing the gap. While there is ample research on the efficacy of evidence-based programs, there is little on how to improve community capacity to improve prevention quality. In order to narrow the gap, a new model of research—one based in Community Science—is suggested that improves the latest theoretical understanding of community capacity and evaluates technologies designed to enhance it. In this article, we describe this model and suggest a research agenda that can lead to improved outcomes at the local level.     

Educating for Informed Community Involvement

Service learning, which integrates community service into coursework, provides a pedagogical intervention that can promote the civic growth of students in unique and powerful ways. Research is reviewed that documents the capacity of service learning to meet learning objectives associated with a conceptual framework that focuses on the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of a civic-minded college graduate. The outcomes of service learning should facilitate these students assuming influential roles in helping others become empowered, and thereby are important for enhancing the quality of life in communities. We also review research that focuses on the impact of service learning for community outcomes. Finally, we present implications for teaching community psychology, and recommendations for future research on service learning and community engagement.     

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

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.     

Realities and Myths of Safety Issues for Community Researchers Working in a Marginalized African American Community

Community psychologists often conduct research in collaboration with marginalized communities in which safety is an issue. However, we rarely talk about what specific safety issues we experience and how we deal with them. Our story describes the realities and myths of neighborhood safety that were experienced in a low-income African American neighborhood of Chicago, while collaborating on a project designed to increase access to the Internet to obtain health information. We examine both the challenges experienced and our responses in the context of a community intervention planned, implemented, and evaluated by a partnership team composed of various stakeholders. Critical lessons such as the importance of building on community strengths and the need to be aware of our own biases are discussed.     

The After-School Needs and Resources of a Low-Income Urban Community: Surveying Youth and Parents for Community Change

Using a collaborative research approach, this project describes a partnership between community residents and university researchers to develop a comprehensive survey of the after-school needs of a low-income urban community in a large Midwestern city. Surveying parents and children was considered particularly important because the current literature on after-school does not include much input from them, the key stakeholders in programming. By surveying pre- and young adolescent youth (N = 416) and parents (N = 225) in the community, information was gathered to document the need for after-school programming, tap program preferences, and uncover barriers to participation and enrollment. Survey findings revealed significant differences between youth and parent perspectives. Disagreements between youth and parent survey responses suggest that after-school programs in the community should offer a balance of academic, recreational, and social activities, as well as a tutoring or homework component. Further, in order to increase participation and attendance rates, community after-school programs need to address the following barriers to participation: safety, transportation, family responsibilities (e.g., care for siblings, household chores), and access to information about available programs. These findings guided the planning of future after-school programs. The survey results and comparisons between youth and parent data will be presented.