Social Planning Model
Goals
Solving community problems
Problem solving, task oriented goals (versus the process) are the focus of an assessment in social planning. Techniques are selected that gather social indicators of need.
Assumptions
Social problems addressed through formal services
The collection of data is usually done to lobby for additional services. This approach is more likely to rely on secondary data analysis to demonstrate needs of community and current level of services.
Change Strategy
Decisions made based on data collected
Change in the community is more focused on formal services, so data collection and analysis are completed by professionals to demonstrate the need. Surveys focus on utilization of formal services and perceptions of service providers (less focused on the informal supports and strengths of the community). Decisions made by professionals.
Change Tactics
Consensus or conflict
Data are summarized and distributed to an audience of professionals. Data are need focused. The information may be used to formally or informally lobby for services.
Community Worker (CW) Role
Fact gatherer and implementer
The focus of the CW is researcher/fact gatherer and the methodology for collecting and reporting is more quantitative and objective.
Medium of Change
Formal organization
Data are collected and issues prioritized by service providers, interagency groups.
Orientation Toward Power Structure
The power structure and the planner are almost synonymous
Usually an organization/government body has directed the planner to be involved, so the planner's interests, motivations and techniques are the same as their employer's. Planners are seen as possessing a high degree of technical expertise and power. Their recommendations will be grounded in an analysis of objective fact.
Boundary Definition of the Community
Total geographic community or a community segment (i.e., the homeless, the mentally ill)
Social planners may focus on the prevalence of issues across the entire city, and find city-wide solutions to the issues. They may also decide what the priority issues are and develop a plan focusing on a targeted segment of the population.
Assumptions Regarding Interests of Community Sub-groups
Interests reconcilable or in conflict
A planner would analyze the competing interests in order to predict resistances.
Conception of the Client Population or Constituency
Consumers of services
Planning is done "for" as opposed to "with" community members.
Conception of Client Role
Consumers or recipients
Members and consumers have no/minimal involvement as planners' efforts are not directed at organizing community members or putting mechanisms in place for community input.