Section 3: Engage

Community-based organizations provide important services yet are often understaffed and under resourced. All psychologists have the potential to be a Citizen Psychologist. Psychologists have skills and expertise that can benefit their community, but they need to identify how they can best contribute and reach out to organizations to offer their assistance. Watch this video to learn more about the Engage challenges, which focuses on partnering with a community-based organization. 

Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) is a research method founded on elevating and amplifying community members by building on the strengths and resources within it. Familiarize yourself with CBPR principles by reading one (or more) of the articles below, then consider how CBPR compares to your current research and practice methods.

• Review Community Campus Partnerships for Healthopens in new window. 
• Read Doing Community-Driven Research: A Description of Seattle Partners for Healthy Communitiesopens in new window.
• Read Can Communities and Academia Work Together on Public Health Research (PDF, 101KB)opens in new window.
• Watch the 30-minute documentary video A Bridge Between Communities: The Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Centeropens in new window.
• For more information refer to the Society for Community Research and Actionopens in new window.

The first step to community engagement is determining where and how you can be involved. Listed below are some sources related to community organizations:

• APA’s Get Involved webpage, which lists volunteer opportunities related to the profession. 
• Local health department or mayor’s office websites, which may have lists of local programs and initiatives (e.g., 100 Resilient Citiesopens in new window).
• Search online to identify local community action groups,xii urban leagues,xiii charities,xiv and organizationsxv that work with individuals in deep poverty. 

Before communicating with an organization, complete a step-by-step assessment of community needs to organize your thoughts and reflect on where your skills can be useful. Once you complete these steps, you will be better prepared to have a conversation with service providers and community-based organizations: 

• First, complete the Community Tool Box: Assessing Community Needs and Resourcesopens in new window.
• Second, read the Community Tool Box: Defining and Analyzing the Problemopens in new window and complete the following checklist.
• Third, read the Community Tool Box: Identifying and Analyzing Stakeholders and Their Interestsopens in new window and the associated checklist.
• Fourth, consider your responsibilities and how much time you have to offer to avoid overcommitting. 

Building trust with community stakeholders is key to being community engaged. Read The Role and Importance of Building Trustopens in new window. Afterward, contact the organization you are interested in working with to discuss how you can get involved. 

• Some organizations have online volunteer forms that you can fill out, but others you may have to call or email.
• Things to keep in mind if you are “cold calling:” (a) ask if it’s a good time to talk, (b) explain your interest in the organization and connection to the community, (c) ask if there are opportunities to get involved, and (d) ask to schedule a second call with the appropriate staff person at the organization to discuss in more detail larger organization needs and your potential involvement beyond current initiatives. 

Discuss with the appropriate staff person the organizational needs beyond entry-level volunteer positions and how you may be able to apply your specific skills to meet their needs. Keep in mind that although this step is listed as Day 6, it is not likely to happen the day after your “cold call” because many organizations are under-staffed and meeting the needs of those, they serve is their priority. Schedule follow-up appointments as necessary to continue your engagement with the organization or your plan your work together. If it appears that the organization cannot use your skills at the moment, consider either volunteering in the capacities they need or contacting the next organization you might want to work with to see if there is a better fit elsewhere.  

Grassroots organizing is crucial to advocating for systemic change for individuals and families experiencing economic insecurity. Educate yourself on other advocacy or partnership-based organizations. For example, the Poor Peoples Campaign launched in 1968 to advocate for economic justice for poor people in the United States, and their grassroots efforts continue today.

• If you aren’t familiar with The Poor Peoples Campaign, review the Souls of Poor Folk Report (PDF, 9.76KB)opens in new window.
• If you are aware of their work, investigate what advocacy groups for people in deep poverty exist in your community or join your local chapter of the Poor People’s Campaignopens in new window to learn directly from and about the experiences of income insecurity and deep poverty.
• If no groups exist close to you, consider starting a chapter of the Poor People’s campaign in your community by filling out their formopens in new window.