Welfare Reform on the Web (August 2002): Community Regeneration and Development - Overseas

COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT IN PRACTICE: HUMANISING INSTITUTIONS FOR CHILDREN AND OLDER PEOPLE IN RUSSIA

E Domatov and others

Development in Practice, vol. 12, 2002, p.200-208

Children in orphanages and many elderly people in Russia are in dire circumstances due to a serious failure in social policy since the transition to capitalism started in 1991. As a solution for the two "at risk" generations, authors propose the establishment of communal type orphanages where children and the elderly can live together as a family.

DO PUBLIC NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE IN HUMAN SERVICES?

D L Poole and I C Colby

Social Work, vol. 47, 2002, p.142-152

Data from a study of 45 neighborhood centres in central Florida were used to assess their ability to act as vehicles for innovation in social planning and community development. Results showed that the centres reflected the characteristics of static rather than dynamic organisations. Major adjustments in their goals, funding, technology, decision making and performance would be needed to enable them to assume a community leadership role.

SHOWING RESULTS IN COMMUNITY ORGANISATION

H Itzhaky and A S York

Social Work, vol. 47, 2002, p.125-131

Article describes the results of a six-year community development programme in a deprived neighbourhood in Israel. The results, measured quantitatively and objectively, included a large increase in the number of community activists: strong and statistically significant increases in self-esteem and mastery of surroundings; increases in family, service delivery and community empowerment among the activists; and the participation of residents and outsiders in a project to build their own homes.