Abstract
How can clinical sociologists contribute, through research, training or intervention, to the development of community action? That is the question that is addressed in this presentation of selected case studies in community development, using a specific clinical approach—collective life history. These clinical sociology experiences took place in an urban community, Montreal, Quebec in Canada. The collective life history produced a multilevel description of the development, over 20 years, of two community organizations, one working with street people, producing a street newspaper and other services, and the other working with underprivileged people and offering food assistance. Community development is defined and situated in the context of an empowerment strategy that commands a close partnership in an action-research process, from entry to closure, involving researchers, professional practitioners and community members. The exchange of different types of knowledge, from sociologist’s expertise to practitioners’ and community participants’ knowledge, is a core experience in the process. Collective life history is shown as a complex and very effective clinical sociology approach that links personal and individual reality and social and institutional dynamics.
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Notes
- 1.
I refer here to three types of knowledge of which the epistemological bases are: scientific knowledge, practical and specialized work knowledge, and knowledge gained through the relationships of daily life. These types of knowledge constitute an established hierarchy based on a socio-historical evolution. Scientific knowledge is now sanctioned by academia, and professional knowledge is sanctioned partly by formal education, but also by professional orders or guilds. Finally, experience-based knowledge is the “common sense” shared by a given social group. Other types of knowledge also could be mentioned. For instance, aesthetic knowledge forms the common ground for arts, and spiritual knowledge is the basis of all religions.
- 2.
The city of Montréal is located on an island, by the St.-Lawrence River, in the Province of Québec. The greater Montréal region has 3 million people.
- 3.
The primary researcher was Jacques Rhéaume and the co-researcher was Réjean Mathieu.
- 4.
“CLSC” designates a Local Community Service Center offering, on a territorial basis, social and health services. Côte-des-Neiges is a neighborhood located in the central west area of Montréal. One hundred CLSCs cover the territory of Québec. A reform recently transformed this institution by regrouping several CLSCs under the umbrella of the Social and Health Services Center (CSSS). This reorganization was based on population and territory.
- 5.
The primary researcher was Jacques Rhéaume. Roger Côté was the CLSC’s community organizer and co-researcher Alain Landry, a research partner, represented Multicaf as the group’s coordinator. Multicaf received a grant from the Fond Québécois de recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC) (the Québec Foundation for Societal and Cultural Research) (Grant SR-4346). This research was conducted between 2001 and 2005.
- 6.
The Board of Directors is defined as a major authoritative body in the governance of any institution but takes on a specific meaning within community organizations. It often combines collective management with legislative and operational functions.
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Rhéaume, J. (2014). Community Development and Empowerment: A Clinical Sociology Perspective. In: Fritz, J., Rhéaume, J. (eds) Community Intervention. Clinical Sociology: Research and Practice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0998-8_5
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