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Community Based Research, Community Based Research, Practice and Intervention: Practice and Intervention:

The Community Based The Community Based InitiativeInitiative

Larry M. Gant, LMSW, PhDLarry M. Gant, LMSW, PhDProfessor, School of Social Work, Professor, School of Social Work, University of Michigan-Ann ArborUniversity of Michigan-Ann Arbor

University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan

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Overview: CBI Overview: CBI

Coordinated faculty work in Coordinated faculty work in communitiescommunities

Coordinated student education and Coordinated student education and practicapractica

Specific course sections taken by all Specific course sections taken by all CBI studentsCBI students

Immersion learning – all courses taken Immersion learning – all courses taken in Detroit (as much as possiblein Detroit (as much as possible

Certificate upon completionCertificate upon completion

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Why CBI? What’s the value added?Why CBI? What’s the value added? Clear focus on urban cities (only 16% of US population lives in cities, but that’s still about 45 Clear focus on urban cities (only 16% of US population lives in cities, but that’s still about 45

million people)million people) Analysis, restoration, recreationAnalysis, restoration, recreation

Detroit: “ the forces that produced detroit (bitter racism and single-industry failure) are Detroit: “ the forces that produced detroit (bitter racism and single-industry failure) are anomalous, but the general recipe of deindustrialization,n depopulation and resoruce anomalous, but the general recipe of deindustrialization,n depopulation and resoruce depletion will likely ouch almost all regions of the global north in the next century or two. depletion will likely ouch almost all regions of the global north in the next century or two. Dresden was rebuilt, and so was Hiroshima, and so were the cities destroyed by natural Dresden was rebuilt, and so was Hiroshima, and so were the cities destroyed by natural forces – San Francisco and Mexico City and Tangshan – but Detroit will never be rebuilt as it forces – San Francisco and Mexico City and Tangshan – but Detroit will never be rebuilt as it was. It will be the first of many cities forced to become altogether something else”was. It will be the first of many cities forced to become altogether something else”

Acquisition of skills that make immediate impact now and for the future:Acquisition of skills that make immediate impact now and for the future: GISGIS Analysis of Cities and CommunitiesAnalysis of Cities and Communities Asset DevelopmentAsset Development Community Organization/MobilizationCommunity Organization/Mobilization Community Leadership DevelopmentCommunity Leadership Development Comprehensive Community DevelopmentComprehensive Community Development

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Faculty and StaffFaculty and Staff Erin PenaErin Pena William (Bill) VanderwillWilliam (Bill) Vanderwill Larry M. GantLarry M. Gant Julia PaleyJulia Paley Mike SpencerMike Spencer Lorraine Guiterrez (emeritus)Lorraine Guiterrez (emeritus) Barry CheckowayBarry Checkoway Michael Reisch (emeritus)Michael Reisch (emeritus) Pat MillerPat Miller (and several faculty who also really ‘get it’(and several faculty who also really ‘get it’

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Academic and Academic and University Partners

Detroit InitiativeDetroit Initiative Edward Ginsberg Center for Edward Ginsberg Center for

Community Service and LearningCommunity Service and Learning Michigan AmeriCorps Neighborhood Michigan AmeriCorps Neighborhood

Program Program SSW Technical Assistance CenterSSW Technical Assistance Center National Center for Institutional National Center for Institutional

DiversityDiversity

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What you will learn to doWhat you will learn to do Identification and Development of Social Identification and Development of Social

CapitalCapital Identify social and structural history (past Identify social and structural history (past

and current) of community/citiesand current) of community/cities Understand the theories of community Understand the theories of community

development and buildingdevelopment and building Use of GIS for Community Planning, Use of GIS for Community Planning,

Organization and advocacyOrganization and advocacy Fund Development, Community and Fund Development, Community and

Organizational StabilityOrganizational Stability

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CBI RequirementsCBI RequirementsStudents must: Students must: Select a CBI field placement or a field placement that is Select a CBI field placement or a field placement that is

intimately related to Southwest Detroit or Dearbornintimately related to Southwest Detroit or Dearborn Enroll in CBI sections (specific or approved) of the following Enroll in CBI sections (specific or approved) of the following

courses ( mostly located in SW Detroit):courses ( mostly located in SW Detroit): SW Social Work 647: Policies and Services for Social Participation and SW Social Work 647: Policies and Services for Social Participation and

Community Well-BeingCommunity Well-Being Social Work 683: Evaluation in Social WorkSocial Work 683: Evaluation in Social Work Social Work 697: Social Work Practice with Community and Social Social Work 697: Social Work Practice with Community and Social

SystemsSystems Social Work 654: Concepts and Techniques of Community ParticipationSocial Work 654: Concepts and Techniques of Community Participation

Participate in a CBI community projectParticipate in a CBI community project Present all research, findings, and outcomes to community Present all research, findings, and outcomes to community

agenciesagencies Attend at least 2 CBI meetings/semesterAttend at least 2 CBI meetings/semester  

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Conceptual Model of Conceptual Model of Community Building Includes:Community Building Includes:

Academic-Service Academic-Service LearningLearning

Community-Based Community-Based ResearchResearch

Diversity and Diversity and Inequality Inequality

Social JusticeSocial Justice University-University-

Community Community PartnershipsPartnerships

Cross-Cultural Cross-Cultural ExchangeExchange

Professional Social Professional Social Work TrainingWork Training

Community Community EmpowermentEmpowerment

Collaborative ActionCollaborative Action Capacity BuildingCapacity Building Neighborhood Neighborhood

EmpowermentEmpowerment

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Development of Social Development of Social CapitalCapital

EducationalEducational FinancialFinancial ResourceResource HealthHealth HousingHousing

Housing property values, Harms

School Area, 2002

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AcademicsAcademics

CurriculumCurriculum Two Required:Two Required:

SW 697: Social Work Practice with SW 697: Social Work Practice with Community and Social SystemsCommunity and Social Systems

SW 683: Evaluation in Social Work SW 683: Evaluation in Social Work One from: One from:

SW 647: Policies and Services for Social SW 647: Policies and Services for Social Participation and Community Well-BeingParticipation and Community Well-Being

SW 654: Concepts and Techniques of SW 654: Concepts and Techniques of Community Participation Community Participation

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Core CBI Field Instruction SitesCore CBI Field Instruction Sites Good Neighborhood Good Neighborhood

Initiative (6 neighborhoods Initiative (6 neighborhoods throughout Detroit)throughout Detroit)

Arab Community Center Arab Community Center for Economic and Social for Economic and Social ServicesServices

Detroit Hispanic Detroit Hispanic Development CorporationDevelopment Corporation

Latin Americans for Social Latin Americans for Social and Economic and Economic DevelopmentDevelopment

Communities in SchoolsCommunities in Schools People’s Community People’s Community

Services of Greater Services of Greater Metropolitan DetroitMetropolitan Detroit

Southwest Detroit Business Southwest Detroit Business AssociationAssociation

Southwest Counseling and Southwest Counseling and Development ServicesDevelopment Services

Casa de Unidad Media and Casa de Unidad Media and Cultural Arts CenterCultural Arts Center

All Saints Neighborhood All Saints Neighborhood CenterCenter

Matrix Theatre Co.Matrix Theatre Co. Latino Family ServicesLatino Family Services Bagley Housing AssociationBagley Housing Association

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Faculty InvolvementFaculty Involvement

Faculty know the these Faculty know the these communities *extremely* wellcommunities *extremely* well

Communities know the faculty Communities know the faculty nearly as wellnearly as well

CBI faculty – combined 100+ CBI faculty – combined 100+ years of work in Detroityears of work in Detroit

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Student CensusStudent Census Small Cohorts (Small Cohorts ( 18 students) 18 students)

2001: 20 students2001: 20 students 2002: 31 students2002: 31 students 2003: 35 students2003: 35 students 2004: 35 students2004: 35 students 2005: 57 students2005: 57 students 2006: 56 students2006: 56 students 2007: 55 students2007: 55 students

Practice MethodsPractice Methods Primary: Community Organizing, Policy and Evaluation, Primary: Community Organizing, Policy and Evaluation, Secondary: Management and Human ResourcesSecondary: Management and Human Resources (Very) Tertiary: Interpersonal Practice(Very) Tertiary: Interpersonal Practice

Practice AreasPractice Areas Children and Youth, Communities and Social Systems, Aging, Children and Youth, Communities and Social Systems, Aging,

Health, Mental HealthHealth, Mental Health

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Realities of Realities of CBICBI

FacultyFaculty Due diligenceDue diligence Extensive involvementExtensive involvement

CommunitiesCommunities Managed expectationsManaged expectations Realities of their Realities of their

organizationsorganizations StudentsStudents

Don’t personalize Don’t personalize frustrationsfrustrations

Trust the processTrust the process Personal transformations Personal transformations

can happencan happen Learning and ‘unlearning’ Learning and ‘unlearning’

can be painful and stressful, can be painful and stressful, but worthwhilebut worthwhile