Community profiling, Community development and health: Lessons from Quebec
Paul Morin, Professor, Department of Social Work, Sherbrooke’s University,
Scottish Community Development CentreMarch, 6th, Glasgow
Contents Community development in
Québec Eastern Townships Community
Development Observatory Estrie Community Dashboard: a
project for mobilization and joint planning in community development.
First experimentation (2009-2011)
Contents Development phase (2011- Realistic evaluation (2012-2014) Challenges
Community development in Québec
Since the early 70’s they are community organizers in the health and social services local public institutions
Now called Heath and Social services Center (94 of them)
Also community organizers in the third sector (mostly sectorial)
Community development in Quebec
As stated in Québec’s national public health program, the capacity of people to change their habits and control their situation as regards health and well-being does not only depend on their willpower and capacity to act but also on the conditions of their socio-economic, physical, social, and cultural environment.
With regard to this point, community development is one of the leading priorities in regional and local public-health action plans all over Québec.
Third sector organisation (2006) Mandate: a partnership between
practitioners and academics to create a synergy to promote and develop practice in community development
Membership and Composition of the board
Shoestring budgetA web site : www.oedc.qc.ca
Eastern Townships Community Development Observatory
What is the Eastern Townships Community Dashboard? A tool designed to help orient people, allowing them to take action.A winning combination of statistics and information on the dynamics of local communities, based on census results (2001, 2006 but also 2011, 2016…) and original use of social data.
Estrie Community Dashboard
Eastern Townships Community development Observatory
Eastern Townships Community development Observatory
Estrie Community DashboardA participative initiative of
participants, citizens, elected officials, groups of consultants and researchers.
The ability for everyone to be able to detect complex problems that can arise in local communities as well as potential issues that can develop.
A tool to support the efforts of local development in progressAn acute knowledge of all
communities is essential in order to determine what sort of support is needed.
The purpose of the dashboard is to compile data on communities and their projects to provide support for the implementation of the developments through :
A tool to support the efforts of local development in progressstrategic planning; citizen participation; the creation of action plans; the politics of community
development; interventions on social inequalities.
An interactive and cross-sectoral process An interactive and cross-sectoral process An interactive and cross-sectoral process L’Observatoire estrien du développement
des communautés (OEDC) supports this project, in collaboration with the Direction de la santé publique et de l’évaluation (DSPÉ). At least two representatives from each RMC territory and from Sherbrooke as well as representatives from local organizations form the OECD’s scientific committee.
The main goals of this committee are:
Estrie Community DashboardDefining local communities
In the spring of 2008, 66 local communities consisting of ± 5 000 people were identified by 73 pivotal members of the Eastern Townships.
Choosing quantitative indicators In autumn 2008, the scientific committee chose a series of indicators (age of the population, income, crimes against the person, rate of cancer, housing, etc). (19 indicators = 126 informations)
Estrie Community DashboardProducing Statistics
Statistical research is undertaken by the regional public health agency.
Acknowledging communities’ potential for development The leaders of each territory invite the citizens and businesses of the local communities to identify their most vital and dynamic areas as well as their zones of vulnerability.
Estrie Community Dashboard Producing statistics
The first statistics were available on the OEDC website by the summer 2009.
Disseminating resultsCommunities and regional authorities will acquaint themselves with the results and discuss how to best transform the information into action. (knowledge transfert)
Assessing the process of implementationEvaluations will be made throughout the entire process.
Community Potential AppraisalThis questionnaire contains 40 statements on life in a local
community.• Every group member must complete this questionnaire.• Read each statement while thinking about your local
community, and then state whether you agreeor disagree with each statement by checking the box which corresponds best to your opinion.
• We ask that you answer individually and as spontaneously as possible. You are being asked to give your impression. There are no correct or incorrect answers.
• Your answer will remain confidential and will not be disseminated. Only a summary of the discussion will be made public.
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard: Action Based on
KnowledgeEastern Townships Community Scorecard:Action Based on Knowledge Tota
lly disagree
Somewhat
disagree
Neithe
r agree nor
disagree
Somewhat
agree
Totally
agree
Not
Applicable (N/A)
Statement 1 2 3 4 5 --—
Potential of Individuals
1 It is easy to find people who can participate in community projects.
2 People do volunteer work.
3 People feel that they can make a difference in their community.
4 Relations in the neighbourhood are good.
5 People have a social life (family, friends, business, etc.) within the community.
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard:Action Based on Knowledge Tota
lly disagree
Somewhat
disagree
Neithe
r agree nor
disagree
Somewhat
agree
Totally
agree
Not
Applicable (N/A)
Statement 1 2 3 4 5 --—
Potential of Individuals
6 People have a social life (family, friends, business, etc.) outside the community.
7 People feel concerned about events in their community.
8 People use public or community services when needed.
9 People enjoy living in this community.
10 People help one another in their daily lives.
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard: Action Based on Knowledge
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard:Action Based on Knowledge Tota
lly disagree
Somewhat
disagree
Neithe
r agree nor
disagree
Somewhat
agree
Totally
agree
Not
Applicable (N/A)
Community Potential 1 2 3 4 5 --—
11 People are interested in local news.
12 People frequently use the Internet.
13 People have access to a variety of organizations and associations within the community.
14 Organizations and associations work together to solve common problems.
15 It is easy to get involved in the community.
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard: Action Based on Knowledge
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard:Action Based on Knowledge Tota
lly disagree
Somewhat
disagree
Neithe
r agree nor disagree
Somewhat
agree
Totally
agree
Not
Applicable (N/A)
Community Potential 1 2 3 4 5 --—
16 Public institutions are close to citizens (schools, CLSC, municipality, police, etc.).
17 People visit a public library.
18 Young people participate in athletic and cultural activities.
19 There is a variety of local services to respond to everyday needs (corner store, ATM, pharmacy, gas station, etc.).
20 People have access to a variety of modes of transportation for their daily activities.
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard: Action Based on Knowledge
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard:Action Based on Knowledge Tota
lly disagree
Somewhat
disagree
Neithe
r agree nor
disagree
Somewhat
agree
Totally
agree
Not
Applicable (N/A)
Environmental Potential 1 2 3 4 5 --—
21 People care about maintaining their homes and the community in general.
22 Buildings and public spaces are attractive.
23 Outdoor public spaces have been laid out.
24 People use public or community spaces to meet each other.
25 People take daily measures to preserve the environment (composting, selective collection, etc.).
Eastern Townships CommunityScorecard: Action Based on
Knowledge
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard:Action Based on Knowledge
Totally
disagree
Somewhat
disagree
Neither
agree
nor
disagree
Somewhat agree
Totally
agree
Not
Applicable (N/A)
Collective Potential 1 2 3 4 5 --—
26 The contribution of elders is recognized within the community.
27 Young people feel that they fit into their community.
28 There are leaders who encourage people to get involved in community projects.
29 There are leaders who can seek grants to fund community projects.
30 People feel safe in the community.
31 Children can play outdoors safely.
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard: Action Based on
Knowledge
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard: Action Based on
Knowledge
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard:Action Based on Knowledge
Totally
disagree
Somewhat
disagree
Neither
agree
nor
disagree
Somewhat agree
Totally
agree
Not
Applicable (N/A)
Collective Potential 1 2 3 4 5 --—
32 People have access to a broad selection of quality and affordable foods in their community or nearby.
33 People want to gather to celebrate events.
34 People rally when the community faces a trial or hardship.
35 People are proud of the patrimony and history of their community.
36 People dream of a better future for their community.
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard:Action Based on Knowledge
Totally
disagree
Somewhat
disagree
Neither
agree
nor
disagree
Somewhat
agree
Totally
agree
Not
Applicable (N/A)
Socio-Economic Potential 1 2 3 4 5 --—
37 People have sufficient funds to meet their basic needs (housing, food, clothing, transportation).
38 Significant gaps exist among people living in the community (income, education, etc.).
39 There are poor people living in the community.
40 People in the community benefit from a dynamic economic environment.
This appraisal of community potential is directly inspired from: Réal Boisvert (2007). Les indicateurs de développement des communautés. Vers un dispositif national de surveillance, Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de la Mauricie et du Centre du Québec, p. 56-58.
Eastern Townships Community Scorecard: Action Based on
Knowledge
Advance knowledge for better actions
A quantitative and qualitative tool
A participatory process, intersectoral and to the point
Observatoire estriendu développementdes communautés
Comité de suivi
Comité de mise en oeuvre du Tableau de bord des
communautés de l’Estrie
MRCdes Sources
Intervenantspivots (MRC)
Communautés statistiques
/vécues
Inst
ance
s in
ters
ecto
rielle
s
Comitéopérationnel
ad hoc*
MRCdu Granit
Intervenantspivots (MRC)
Communautés statistiques
/vécues
Inst
ance
s in
ters
ecto
rielle
s
Comitéopérationnel
ad hoc
MRC du Haut-Saint-François
Intervenantspivots (MRC)
Communautés statistiques
/vécues
Inst
ance
s in
ters
ecto
rielle
s
Comitéopérationnel
ad hoc
MRC du Val-Saint-François
Intervenantspivots (MRC)
Communautés statistiques
/vécues
Inst
ance
s in
ters
ecto
rielle
s
Comitéopérationnel
ad hoc
MRC de Memphrémagog
Intervenantspivots (MRC)
Communautés statistiques
/vécues
Inst
ance
s in
ters
ecto
rielle
s
Comitéopérationnel
ad hoc
Ville de Sherbrooke
Intervenantspivots (Ville)
Communautés statistiques
/vécues
Inst
ance
s in
ters
ecto
rielle
s
Comitéopérationnel
ad hoc
ÉTAPES TB
POUR ÉVALUATION
PRINCIPES D’ACTION
Concertation/intersectorialité
Participation des acteurs
Autonomie des milieux
Autonomie des milieux
Étape 1 : Délimitation des
communautés locales
Étape 2 : Choix des
indicateurs statistiques et les
analysesÉtape 3 :
Groupes de discussion de
l’appréciation du potentiel de la communauté
Étape 4 : Présentation des portraits dans les
communautés
Étape 5 : Mise en action des
communautés
ÉTAPES TB
POUR ÉVALUATION
PRINCIPES D’ACTION
Concertation/intersectorialité
Participation des acteurs
Augmentation du pouvoir
d’agir
Autonomie des milieux
Étape 1 : Délimitation des
communautés locales
Étape 2 : Choix des
indicateurs statistiques et les
analysesÉtape 3 :
Groupes de discussion de
l’appréciation du potentiel de la communauté
Étape 4 : Présentation des portraits dans les
communautés
Étape 5 : Mise en action des
communautés
ÉTAPES TB
POUR ÉVALUATION
PRINCIPES D’ACTION
Concertation/intersectorialité
Participation des acteurs
Autonomie des milieux
Autonomie des milieux
Étape 1 : Délimitation des
communautés locales
Étape 2 : Choix des
indicateurs statistiques et les
analysesÉtape 3 :
Groupes de discussion de
l’appréciation du potentiel de la communauté
Étape 4 : Présentation des portraits dans les
communautés
Étape 5 : Mise en action des
communautés
ÉTAPES
PRINCIPES D’ACTION
Participation citoyenne
Renforcement du pouvoir
d’agir
Concertationintersectorielle
Autonomie des milieux
Étape 1Délimitation des
communautés
Étape 2 Choix des
indicateurs
Étape 3Discussion sur le
potentiel des communautés
Étape 4Validation des
portraits
Étape 5Mise en action des
communautés
Principes d’action
Étap
es
Février 2009 − Octobre 2010An evaluation
of the implantation process5 steps
Delimitation of the communities
Choice of indicatorsDiscussion on the
communities’ potentialValidation of descriptionCommunities at work
4 principles of action Citizen participation Strengthening of
empowermentIntersectoralityAutonomy of territories
8 pilot communities
3 in Sherbrooke1 in 5 of the 6 RCM
The TBCE can be linked to:
Place-based policy spaces and strategies
Local knowledge for community-based planning and
Collaborative community building
Creation and consolidation of spaces of concertation :the most important effect of the TB dashboard
Intersectoral process demanding and complex which requires the development of a common vision of the process The co-construction of a « territorial
intelligence » (RCM, communities)A long term commitment of partners to
this concerted action
First experimentation (2009-2011)Intersectoral concertation
First experimentation (2009-2011)AppropriationBy the regional stakeholders:They had to reflect on the process
and construct tools
By the key territorial persons:Understand themselves the process
Staff movementPartial vision at the start without always understanding the finality
First experimentation (2009-2011)
To adapt the process in their territory
To have the partners adhesion:
- by the key territorial persons (with one-off or longer term involvement)
- by the citizens during the appreciation of the potential
First experimentation (2009-2011)Citizen participationA difficult principle to operationalise
for the practitionersCitizens especially present at the
stage of the appreciation of the potential of the communities
The necessity emerged:Of reinforcing the consensus in the
territoriesOf being equipped with tools and
mechanisms to be able to make things differently
The TB dashboard is completed (first phase)
At the end of 2013, 27 of Sherbrooke’s 33 communities will have completed the process
TB is utilized by third sector organisations for planning and demanding subventions
TB has been utilized for determining the allocation of a regional fund on poverty and social exclusion
Development phase (2011-
Realistic evaluation (2012-2014) funded by the CIHRThe current research aims to
evaluate TBCE’s approach in terms of its position in response to the question:
What is the potential impact of the TBCE’s strategies on social determinants of health (SDH)?
Realistic evaluation (2012-2014) funded by the CIHR
The approach of the TBCE has a substantial impact in assisting residents to take ownership of the reality of their devitalized community (which is not easy to accept) and to guide them in their first steps towards mobilization in order to take action on this reality.
Realistic evaluation (2012-2014) funded by the CIHR
Dedicated and visionary leaders
Access to ressources, with
supportJoined-up action
Participation: structured,
concerted and inclusive
Concrete and innovative actions
Realistic evaluation (2012-2014) funded by the CIHR (Sherbrooke) Adhesion to TBCE of public institutions
and third sector organizations as being perceived in synergy with their mandate
Support and expertise of key human resources, mainly from public institutions
Recognition that for acting on the quality of life, the action must be intersectoral and having a dynamic of partnership
The staged implementation of TBCE has produced an appropriation of the process and its concrete potential
Realistic evaluation (2012-2014) funded by the CIHR Challenges at the municipal level:
Find the funds that will permit the concretisation of the municipality orientation in community development
A better articulation between the diverse responsibilities of the key stakeholders
Realistic evaluation (2012-2014) funded by the CIHR Challenges at the municipal level:
Being able to start community development in communities very much disadvantaged
Consolidate community development that is already in place
Develop the reflex of using the TBCE
Realistic evaluation (2012-2014) funded by the CIHRMont-Bellevue’s district example:Leadership of the district and of the
councillors for the TBCE process A territorial third sector organization
is using the TBCE in conjunction with its mobilization strategy
Appropriation of the intersectoral dimension by key stakeholders
Realistic evaluation (2012-2014) funded by the CIHR (Mont-Bellevue)
Realistic evaluation (2012-2014) funded by the CIHR
Example of a project in Mont-Bellevue: the primary school project:
The community organizers have used the TBCE as the tool for organizing the information:
Realistic evaluation (2012-2014) funded by the CIHR
The level of schooling is way under the average
One household of three is under the annual poor income level
23.4 % of children are living in a household under the annual poor income level
An evolving partnership between the Health and Social services center and the School board
Final Challenges
Consolidate the partnership between communities, academics and other stakeholders
Junction with the economic world