Developing a compassionate community: a Canadian conceptual model for community capacity development
The purpose of this article is to share a Canadian model called Developing a Compassionate Community (DCC) in which aging, dying, caregiving, and grieving are everyone’s responsibility. The model provides a research-informed practice guide for people who choose to adopt a community capacity developm...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Palliative Care and Social Practice |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524231193040 |
| _version_ | 1797689827436527616 |
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| author | Mary Lou Kelley |
| author_facet | Mary Lou Kelley |
| author_sort | Mary Lou Kelley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of this article is to share a Canadian model called Developing a Compassionate Community (DCC) in which aging, dying, caregiving, and grieving are everyone’s responsibility. The model provides a research-informed practice guide for people who choose to adopt a community capacity development approach to developing a compassionate community. Based on 30 years of Canadian research by the author in rural, urban, First Nations communities, and long-term care homes, the DCC model offers a practice theory and practical tool. The model incorporates the principles of community capacity development which are as follows: change is incremental and in phases, but nonlinear and dynamic; the change process takes time; development is essentially about developing people; development builds on existing resources (assets); development cannot be imposed from the outside; and development is ongoing (never-ending). Community capacity development starts with citizens who want to make positive changes in their lives and their community. They become empowered by gaining the knowledge, skills, and resources they need. The community mobilizes around finding solutions rather than discussing problems. Passion propels their action and commitment drives the process. The strategy for change is engaging, empowering, and educating community members to act on their own behalf. It requires mobilizing networks of families, friends, and neighbors across the community, wherever people live, work, or play. Community networks are encouraged to prepare for later life, and for giving and getting help among themselves. This Canadian model offers communities one approach to developing a compassionate community and is a resource for implementing a public health approach to end-of-life care in Canada. The model is also available to be evaluated for its applicability beyond Canada and is designed to be adapted to new contexts if desired. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:51:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-539412a6d9424c92aced7e3d6a27fc43 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2632-3524 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:51:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Palliative Care and Social Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-539412a6d9424c92aced7e3d6a27fc432023-09-08T13:03:27ZengSAGE PublishingPalliative Care and Social Practice2632-35242023-08-011710.1177/26323524231193040Developing a compassionate community: a Canadian conceptual model for community capacity developmentMary Lou KelleyThe purpose of this article is to share a Canadian model called Developing a Compassionate Community (DCC) in which aging, dying, caregiving, and grieving are everyone’s responsibility. The model provides a research-informed practice guide for people who choose to adopt a community capacity development approach to developing a compassionate community. Based on 30 years of Canadian research by the author in rural, urban, First Nations communities, and long-term care homes, the DCC model offers a practice theory and practical tool. The model incorporates the principles of community capacity development which are as follows: change is incremental and in phases, but nonlinear and dynamic; the change process takes time; development is essentially about developing people; development builds on existing resources (assets); development cannot be imposed from the outside; and development is ongoing (never-ending). Community capacity development starts with citizens who want to make positive changes in their lives and their community. They become empowered by gaining the knowledge, skills, and resources they need. The community mobilizes around finding solutions rather than discussing problems. Passion propels their action and commitment drives the process. The strategy for change is engaging, empowering, and educating community members to act on their own behalf. It requires mobilizing networks of families, friends, and neighbors across the community, wherever people live, work, or play. Community networks are encouraged to prepare for later life, and for giving and getting help among themselves. This Canadian model offers communities one approach to developing a compassionate community and is a resource for implementing a public health approach to end-of-life care in Canada. The model is also available to be evaluated for its applicability beyond Canada and is designed to be adapted to new contexts if desired.https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524231193040 |
| spellingShingle | Mary Lou Kelley Developing a compassionate community: a Canadian conceptual model for community capacity development Palliative Care and Social Practice |
| title | Developing a compassionate community: a Canadian conceptual model for community capacity development |
| title_full | Developing a compassionate community: a Canadian conceptual model for community capacity development |
| title_fullStr | Developing a compassionate community: a Canadian conceptual model for community capacity development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing a compassionate community: a Canadian conceptual model for community capacity development |
| title_short | Developing a compassionate community: a Canadian conceptual model for community capacity development |
| title_sort | developing a compassionate community a canadian conceptual model for community capacity development |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524231193040 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maryloukelley developingacompassionatecommunityacanadianconceptualmodelforcommunitycapacitydevelopment |