Designed for students who want to move beyond the theoretical discussion of community and become effective agents of change, PROMOTING COMMUNITY CHANGE, 6th Edition addresses the real-world issues facing professionals in social work, human services, and community health. By emphasizing the role a strengthened community can play in preventing and solving the problems commonly experienced by individuals and families, the author gives students the tools they need to improve the lives of individual clients as well as entire communities. Students learn to identify the issues related to change so that they can bring clients, families, and other community members together to build a healthier community for themselves, their families, and their neighbors. Rather than offering a passive "service" model, the author presents a development model that empowers communities to transform their own conditions.

Preface.
Part I: RESPONDING TO THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE.
1. Understanding the Challenge to Change.
2. Theoretical Frameworks for Community Change.
3. Relating Community Change to Professional Practice.
4. Putting Yourself in the Picture.
Part II: PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER.
5. Knowing Your Community.
6. People--The Most Valuable Resource.
7. Power.
8. Powerful Planning.
9. Raising Other Resources.
10. Getting the Word Out.
11. Building the Organized Effort.
12. Taking Action-Strategies and Tactics.
Part III: A CLOSER LOOK AT TYPICAL CHANGE CONTEXTS.
13. Enhancing the Quality of Neighborhoods.
14. Increasing the Effectiveness of Health and Human Services Organizations.
15. Lobbying for Change.
References.
Index.

Designed for students who want to move beyond the theoretical discussion of community and become effective agents of change, PROMOTING COMMUNITY CHANGE, 6th Edition addresses the real-world issues facing professionals in social work, human services, and community health. By emphasizing the role a strengthened community can play in preventing and solving the problems commonly experienced by individuals and families, the author gives students the tools they need to improve the lives of individual clients as well as entire communities. Students learn to identify the issues related to change so that they can bring clients, families, and other community members together to build a healthier community for themselves, their families, and their neighbors. Rather than offering a passive "service" model, the author presents a development model that empowers communities to transform their own conditions. A commitment to human rights and social justice has always been at the core of this book. In this edition, the author highlights human rights and social justice even more prominently to keep these issues top of mind as students consider and reflect on the book's topics. Given the pervasiveness of social networking and other new communication, linking, problem-solving, and information-gathering tools, many chapters introduce and further develop aspects of e-organizing, mobilizing, and advocacy. Discussion of new techniques for fundraising and resource development, along with methods for students to connect with potential contributors, address the continuing challenge of fundraising by community advocates. New topics include the ability of communities and groups to examine difficult issues through dialogue and deliberation, how population-focused funds help counter the common mistake of keeping under-represented groups under-represented in matters of fundraising and resource development, and how community benefit agreements provide a tool to assure that residents, particularly in inner cities, get their share of economic growth. These and other new topics add to students' understanding of community practice and give them more options for engagement. This edition presents expanded discussions of the various models of community practice. The author has also re-examined aspects of social capital, an important element in many approaches to strengthening communities and securing human rights. Completely up to date, this edition includes a picture of current conditions that have a bearing on community work. Updated data, information on new regulations, introduction of innovative methods, and other features keep information relevant to the real world where students will be promoting community change. A three-part approach begins with a look at the need for community change, how community change activities relate to the change agent's professional and personal life, and a theoretical framework. Part 2 gives clear, practical guidance on how to go about the business of promoting change, presenting specific issues with which a successful change agent needs to be familiar. Part 3 offers more detailed insights into three common arenas of change, building on principles and techniques described in earlier chapters and introducing students to relevant knowledge and skills. Coverage of recent global events gives students an international perspective on community change. Activities at the end of each chapter help students connect theory to practice and connect the classroom to real-world experience in the students' communities.