community advocacy for

psychiatry residents

Sourav Sengupta, MD, MPH

Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic

Agenda

Getting to know your communityGetting to know your community

Needs Assessment vs. Capacity MappingNeeds Assessment vs. Capacity Mapping

Community Events and PartnershipsCommunity Events and Partnerships

CoalitionsCoalitions

Have fun!Have fun!

Getting to know your community

You already know… BUT,You already know… BUT,

mostly “tip of the iceberg”mostly “tip of the iceberg”

certain certain neighborhoods, groups, communitiesneighborhoods, groups, communities

Get out there…Get out there…

Understand challenges AND strengthsUnderstand challenges AND strengths

Leave any judgment at home. Listen, look, Leave any judgment at home. Listen, look, learn!learn!

Getting to know specific community organizations

Who are they?Who are they?

Who do they serve?Who do they serve?

Why do they do what they do? (mission)Why do they do what they do? (mission)

What are their strengths and resources?What are their strengths and resources?

Any specific liabilities?Any specific liabilities?

What is their funding and financial status?What is their funding and financial status?

First impressions matter!

Think of it like an interview…Think of it like an interview…

Do your research!Do your research!

Respect their time.Respect their time.

Respect their experience, solicit their input.Respect their experience, solicit their input.

Plan together. Make (reasonable) commitments.Plan together. Make (reasonable) commitments.

Follow through. Follow through. Follow through.Follow through. Follow through. Follow through.

Needs Assessment

Who are the relevant stakeholders?Who are the relevant stakeholders?

Describe your community.Describe your community.

Literature? Best Practices? Community Literature? Best Practices? Community Standards?Standards?

Informal? Key meetings? Focus Groups? Informal? Key meetings? Focus Groups? Survey? Town Hall Meeting?Survey? Town Hall Meeting?

Capacity Mapping

Focusing solely on needs ignores community’s Focusing solely on needs ignores community’s STRENGTHSSTRENGTHS

Think of community assets and capacitiesThink of community assets and capacities

Within the community and controlled by the Within the community and controlled by the communitycommunity

Within the community, controlled by outsidersWithin the community, controlled by outsiders

Outside of the community, controlled by outsidersOutside of the community, controlled by outsiders

Needs…

Capacity…

Community Events and Partnerships

FundraisersFundraisers

Educational Outreach – one-time vs. ongoingEducational Outreach – one-time vs. ongoing

Ongoing partnership with community Ongoing partnership with community organizationorganization

Coalition around event or causeCoalition around event or cause

Fundraisers

Educational Outreach

Target content to community interestsTarget content to community interests

Team up with national organizations/eventsTeam up with national organizations/events

Know your audience!!Know your audience!!

One time event vs. ongoing seriesOne time event vs. ongoing series

Ongoing partnerships

Community organizations want PARTNERS!Community organizations want PARTNERS!

Residents enjoy being affiliated with Residents enjoy being affiliated with community organizationcommunity organization

Have to manage the relationshipHave to manage the relationship

Develop plans for SUSTAINABILITYDevelop plans for SUSTAINABILITY

Assess impact, measure outcomesAssess impact, measure outcomes

Coalitions

CauseCause

EventEvent

Often temporary or issue-focusedOften temporary or issue-focused

Have fun!

Be flexible and creative! Be patient! Keep Be flexible and creative! Be patient! Keep working! Celebrate success, generous in praise!working! Celebrate success, generous in praise!

Focus on the community – needs and strengths!Focus on the community – needs and strengths!

Advocacy is entrepreneurial! If this doesn’t work, Advocacy is entrepreneurial! If this doesn’t work, that’s okay – maybe the next project will!that’s okay – maybe the next project will!

Questions: Email Questions: Email sourav.sengupta@alumni.duke.edu!