Abstract
Community development is an empowering and comprehensive method for
social workers to address individual and societal challenges facing Chinese
older people. This chapter explores the different meanings of community development in Chinese contexts, including communities in Mainland China and
Chinese immigrant communities. When actualizing community development,social workers require theories to guide their actions, and this chapter proposes three interrelated theoretical bases: ecological system theory, empowerment theory, and anti-oppressive theory. Based on these theoretical bases, three practice directions are suggested to guide community development at different levels: “aging in place,” “age-friendly community,” and “gray power.” In particular, social workers need to adapt community development approaches to Chinese cultural contexts. Case examples are discussed to illustrate how to implement community development projects with older people in Chinese contexts and the roles of social workers in such projects.
social workers to address individual and societal challenges facing Chinese
older people. This chapter explores the different meanings of community development in Chinese contexts, including communities in Mainland China and
Chinese immigrant communities. When actualizing community development,social workers require theories to guide their actions, and this chapter proposes three interrelated theoretical bases: ecological system theory, empowerment theory, and anti-oppressive theory. Based on these theoretical bases, three practice directions are suggested to guide community development at different levels: “aging in place,” “age-friendly community,” and “gray power.” In particular, social workers need to adapt community development approaches to Chinese cultural contexts. Case examples are discussed to illustrate how to implement community development projects with older people in Chinese contexts and the roles of social workers in such projects.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Community Practice and Social Development in Social Work |
Editors | Sarah Todd, Julie L. Drolet |
Publisher | Springer Singapore |
Chapter | 13 |
Pages | 245-261 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Edition | 1 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9789811369698 |
ISBN (Print) | 9789811369681 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 27 May 2020 |