Building Community Trust Trough Cooperatives:

The case of Caring Home Services

Wilson Majee, PhDUniversity of Missouri ExtensionNorthwest Region102 S. BroadwayPrinceton, MO 64673Tel: 660-748-3315Email: majeew@missouri.eduWEB: extension.missouri.edu

Building Community Trust

Why the fuss about building community trust?

SOCIAL CAPITAL INDICATORS

Trust

Participation/ Engagement

Networks/Connections

stronger communities are built on trust, participation and

networking.

The Power of Trust

So what matters? Organizations that build trust:Cooperatives

Principles and values Voluntary and Open Membership Democratic Member Control Cooperation Among Cooperatives Education, Training and Information Concern for community Member Economic Participation Autonomy and Independence

Research Question

How do worker-owned cooperatives create TRUST?

When cooperatives create TRUST, how do they do it?

Assuming cooperatives create trust, worker-owned cooperatives provide the greatest opportunity for the creation of trust and enhancement of community stability.

Research DesignQualitative Design:

Case Study: Caring Home Services, a worker-owned cooperative

83 member owners Established in 1991

Case Qualifiers: Less than 10 yrs old Successful Operating in a rural area Employees or members are low to moderate income people

Data Collection

In-depth Interviews: 22 members, 10 professionals and 5 clients.

Survey: 27 members

Document Analysis: Business Plan, Bylaws, Newspapers, Newsletters, Reports and Minutes.

Data Analysis

FINDINGS

Findings

They [doctors] were going to put me in a nursing home and she [Smith] came to my house to help. She said, ‘do not worry,

you do not have to give me money, you are my friend,

friends do not pay each other. (Interview with caregiver,

August 30, 2006).

Findings“I do see them out in the community telling

people that they work for Caring Home Services. It has been fun to watch their transition…. I believe it [the cooperative] has boosted their self-esteem and their confidence enormously. They have all

learned a great deal about the day to day operations of a business....It’s not just me

it’s now us, I see that just in their body language. They walk taller, they have pride

in what they are doing, they are able to verbalize”

(Interview with a professional, May 10, 2006).

Findings

One client, a young quadriplegic woman, described her caregivers as “girls” who are “dependable” and “great”. “I never worry about anything” she added (Interview with

client, June 14, 2006).

Findings Members felt they were enjoying increased:

self-confidence (20 of 22 members, all profs)member/client/professional/community interaction (all

interviewees) trust among them, with professionals and their clients

(18 of 22 members) skills (leadership, organizational, punctuality) which

improve their employability within and outside the co-op (17 of 22 members)

Summary

Mentorship

Training

Annual meetings

Newsletter

Conferences/workshops

Community volunteerism

Member/client picnics

Task committees

Live. And Learn.