Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

This paper discusses the merits of the community capacity and capacity building concepts, the strategies used for building community capacity and their implications for community health nursing. Community capacity is defined as the interaction of the human capital, organizational resources, and soci...

This paper discusses the merits of the community capacity and capacity building concepts, the strategies used for building community capacity and their implications for community health nursing. Community capacity is defined as the interaction of the human capital, organizational resources, and social capital existing within a given community that can be used to improve or maintain the health of the community. Community capacity building is one approach to promoting community health. This approach takes a comprehensive, dynamic, and multidimensional view of community needs and circumstances and places an emphasis on asset development, collaboration among community organizations, and community participation. The major strategies for community capacity building involve activities such as facilitating the development of an asset-based approach to community, developing leadership, establishing partnership, organization development, utilizing community resources, and developing public relations. The implications of community capacity for community health nursing are addressed in terms of the need for community health education and practicum, long-term commitment, partnerships, and a paradigm shift. The author suggests that the concept of community capacity building may be useful for improving the health of both the entire community and its individual residents.

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