This document discusses models of community organization. It begins by defining a model as a simplified way to understand complex community realities. Three main approaches to community organization are then described: general content, specific content, and process. Rothman's three basic models of community organization are also outlined: locality development focuses on community building; social planning evaluates needs and services; and social action aims to achieve social progress through confrontation and pressure on power structures. Key aspects of each model are defined in 1-3 sentences.

1. BY AMIT KUMAR MOB NO.: +919435028022/9708811272 EMAIL-amitranjanfn09@outlook.com
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DCTCL, CUJ RANCHI
WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES
BY
AMIT KUMAR
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF CONTEMPORARY AND TRIBAL CUSTOMARY LAW
CENTRAL UNIVIERSITY OF JHARKHAND
Lecture 5
Models of Community Organisation
What is Model?
It is a medium through which a person looks at the complex realities of the community. Model
is a simplistic version of a complex situation. Models serve as a reference for the work and
give us a clear understanding of what would happen. They describe strategies for
accomplishing a vision, the appropriate steps to be taken to get there. Some models grow out
of the specific ideologies of change and some in response to concrete situations.
A. Murray. G. Ross (1955) preferred to use the term ‘approach’. He identified three main
approaches to community organization. These are:
1) The General Content Approach
2) The Specific Content Approach
3) The Process Approach
1. The General Content Approach
The focus of this approach is on the coordinated and orderly development of services in the
community. This approach incorporates two sub-approaches viz. (a) the strengthening of the
existing services and (b) initiating new services. The general objective is effective planning
and organization of a group of services in the community.
2. The Specific Content Approach
This approach comes into operation when an individual organization or the community itself
becomes concerned with some specific issue of concern or some requisite reforms, and
consciously launches a pro- gramme to achieve the stipulated goal/s or objective/s. Thus, this
approach involves specific issue-oriented organization of services.

2. BY AMIT KUMAR MOB NO.: +919435028022/9708811272 EMAIL-amitranjanfn09@outlook.com
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DCTCL, CUJ RANCHI
3. The Process Approach
This approach does not focus so much on the ‘content’, as on the initiation and sustenance of
a ‘process’ in which all the people of the community are involved, either directly or through
their representatives. It involves identification of problem/s and taking purposeful action with
regard to the same. The emphasis is more on building the capacity of the community for self-
help initiatives and collaborative enterprise. Four factors are very important for this approach.
These are (i) Self-determination of the community; (ii) Indigenous plans; (iii) People’s
willingness to change; and (iv) Community pace
Model of Community Organisation
By ROTHMAN
For 100 years people in various situations, countries have been trying to address the issues of
social welfare. The study of the history helps us to know the drastic changes that took place. A
major shift from the charity approach to the professional delivery of services. Jack Rothman
has introduced three basic models of community organization. They are:
1. Locality Development
2. Social Planning and
3. Social Action
1. LOCALITY DEVELOPMENT:
Locality development model is a method of working with community groups. It was earlier
used by the settlement houses. Here the important focus is about the process of community
building. Leadership development and the education of the participants are the essential
elements in the process. According to Murray Ross the "process of self-help and communal
action is valuable in its own right". The model of locality development is based on this
particular thought process. It originated from the traditional community organization practice.
The main focus of this model is whole community or a part of it. The basic belief is that
communities have some common needs and interests and once the people realize this need and
work together democratically, they can take appropriate steps to improve the quality of life.
Here the role of the community organizer is to enhance the involvement of the people in the
community and help the community to plan and help them find a solution to the problem. It is
similar to work of community development, which is done in the underdevelopment world. It

3. BY AMIT KUMAR MOB NO.: +919435028022/9708811272 EMAIL-amitranjanfn09@outlook.com
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DCTCL, CUJ RANCHI
refers to the community organization practice when a worker or an agency attempts to develop
various schemes and programs to meet the needs of the target population in a defined area. It
also includes coordination of various agencies providing a variety of services in the area.
2. SOCIAL PLANNING:
It refers to the type of community work where a worker or agency undertakes an exercise of
evaluating welfare needs and existing services in the area and suggests a possible blue print for
a more efficient delivery of services, it is termed as social planning. It is concerned with social
problems, for example: Housing, education, health, childcare and so on. Its aim is to affect a
large population. The community planner works in greater capacity with the government and
is often identified with power structure of the community but interested in the needs and
attitudes of the community.
3. SOCIAL ACTION:
According to Friedlander, W.A. (1963) " Social Action is an individual, group or community
effort within the framework of the social work philosophy and practice that aims to achieve
social progress, to modify social policies and to improve social legislation and health and
welfare services". Another model of community organization suggested by Rothman is that of
social action. According to him social action is a strategy used by groups or sub communities
or even national organisations that feel that they have inadequate power and resources to meet
their needs. So, they confront with the power structure using conflict as a method to solve their
issues related to inequalities and deprivation. In this type of community organisations, the
community organizer uses all means to pressure the power structure to give in to demands. The
role of organizers may differ depending the issues they get involved in. The role may be of
advocate, activist, agitator, broker or negotiator. It is a process. This organizing process goes
through different stage. So, the role of the organizer will also change as per the roles of the
organiser at each stage. This model was commonly used during the 1960's. This has been used
as a means to redress the social problems of the nation, redistribute the resources and power to
the poor and powerless. Social action as model has an important role in community
organization.