In order to effect lasting social change, it is important to engage in careful forethought and planning. For the Final Project in this course, you will create a community needs assessment plan to address a social problem in your community. Your plan will include an in-depth analysis of the problem, a proposed team of stakeholders with whom you could consult about the problem, and concrete strategies that you would implement to address the problem and prevent its recurrence.
For this Discussion, you will select a social problem to focus on for the Final Project. You will also use people-first, strength-based language and metaphors to effectively frame the problem. This will help you complete the first section of your community needs assessment plan.
• Review the Learning Resources on the Final Project. Pay particular attention to the definition of a community needs assessment, the importance of planning for one, and how to select an appropriate social problem for your community needs assessment plan.
• Identify a social problem to focus on for the Final Project. The problem should align with the human services profession, your human services specialization, and your individual aims, morals, and values. The problem should also affect your local community and exist on a global level.
• Reflect on how the problem you identified has been framed in the past with legacy language that might be off-putting to the affected population(s).
• Review the Learning Resources on using people-first, strength-based language to frame social problems. Consider how you would use people-first, strength-based language and at least one metaphor to effectively frame the social problem you selected.
Full Answer Section
Reframing the Problem with People-First and Strength-Based Language:
Historically, food insecurity has sometimes been framed with language that can be off-putting, such as "the hungry" or "food deserts." Here's a reframing using people-first language and a metaphor:
- Instead of: "The hungry need access to food banks"
- People-first approach: "Individuals and families experiencing food insecurity can benefit from increased access to fresh food resources."
Metaphor: Replacing "food deserts" with "food oases" creates a more hopeful image and emphasizes the potential for solutions. We can work towards creating a community where healthy food options are plentiful and readily available, just like finding water in an oasis during a journey.
This reframing empowers individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, highlighting their strengths and resilience. It also emphasizes the importance of building a community with abundant resources, fostering collaboration to find solutions.
Additional Considerations:
- This reframing acknowledges the systemic issues causing food insecurity while focusing on creating a more equitable and sustainable system.
- It opens the door to community partnerships with local farmers, food banks, and organizations promoting health and nutrition education.
By using people-first, strength-based language, and a hopeful metaphor, we can create a more inclusive and empowering approach to addressing food insecurity in my community.
Sample Answer
Identified Social Problem: Food insecurity and access to healthy food options
This social problem aligns with the human services profession by impacting individuals and families' well-being, often requiring interventions like food banks, nutrition education, and access to social safety nets. It connects to the specialization of community development as it involves addressing systemic issues affecting access to resources within a community. This problem directly affects my local community, with pockets of food deserts lacking access to fresh produce and grocery stores, while also being a global concern with millions facing hunger.