The process of community building by Community Social Coordinators: The possibility of enhancing social capital in a disaster-affected city

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  • ISHIGURO Aya
    Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan Jean Hailes Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • TOGITA Yuriko
    Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
  • INOUE Mariko
    Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
  • YANO Eiji
    Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan

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Other Title
  • 地域福祉コーディネーターによる地域への介入プロセス：被災地A市における社会関係資本の強化につながる可能性
  • チイキ フクシ コーディネーター ニ ヨル チイキ エ ノ カイニュウ プロセス : ヒサイチ Aシ ニ オケル シャカイ カンケイ シホン ノ キョウカ ニ ツナガル カノウセイ

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Abstract

<p>Objectives　To build a healthy and safe community, it is important to provide direct services, such as health, medical, and social welfare services. However, it is also crucial to enhance the community's social capital by promoting self-help and mutual aid within the community. The development and utilization of resources/networks as well as community empowerment are possible methods to enhance social capital, but there is no conclusive method to facilitate effective coordination within the community. The purpose of this study is to clarify the community building process. This is achieved through qualitative research on community social coordinators (CSCs) who worked in an area that was significantly damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake.</p><p>Methods　A qualitative approach was employed to assess 10 individuals who worked as CSCs in a city within Miyagi Prefecture. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, which were between 40-90 minutes in length. A modified grounded theory approach (M-GTA) was used to analyze the data obtained from the interviews.</p><p>Results　The CSCs “built a relationship with the community,” “assessed the community,” and “intervened in the community.” While assessing the community, they considered both its strengths and weaknesses, not limiting the fields it covered. To “solve the issues in the community,” the CSCs “intervened in the community by themselves,” “supported the autonomy of the residents,” and “connected the residents to resources.” This intervention was facilitated through “cooperation with the community” or “cooperation with other supporters.”</p><p>Conclusion　Three stages were observed in the community building process. First, the CSCs built a relationship with the community. They then assessed the community, and intervened as required. It was found that the intervention—which was based on the CSCs’ assessment of the community's strengths and weaknesses—was facilitated by the cooperation of the community or that of other supporters. Additionally, the CSCs aimed to promote the autonomy of the residents.</p>

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