As Seen by the System versus the Community
In a social service system:
people are known by what’s wrong: by their condition or label
In community:
people are known as individuals.
In a system:
people are incomplete and need to be changed or “fixed”
In community:
people are as they are, with opportunities to follow their own dreams.
In a system:
relationships are unequal; service workers do things “for’ clients and don’t look for any contribution in return
In community:
relationships are reciprocal, give and take, and the diverse gifts of many people are recognized.
In a system:
people are broken into parts and separated into groups
In community:
people have the chance to be accepted as whole persons, and viewed as part of the whole society.
In a system:
problems are solved by consulting authorities, policies , procedures
In community:
people seek answers from their own experience and the wisdom of others.
In a system:
there is no room to acknowledge mistakes and uncertainty; information is communicated in professional jargon that distances individuals from their actions
In community:
people can make honest efforts and acknowledge honest mistakes and fears.
In a system:
all problems have a rational solution
In community:
there is room for confusion and mystery, and recognition that some things are beyond human control.
Written By: Mary O’Connell, produced By: The Community Life Project, Center for Urban Affairs and Policy Research, Northwestern University Evanston, IL.
From the newsletter ‘Sharing of the Down Syndrome Parent Support Group in Phoenix, AZ,