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Social planners improve communities by identifying strengths and weaknesses, conducting social surveys, evaluating programs, providing education and awareness, building partnerships, advocating for those in need, and facilitating community mediation. They use a variety of research methods and work to provide advocacy for individuals living in a community.
A social planner works to improve the quality of life in a community. This process takes place using a variety of tools, such as identifying strengths and weaknesses in a community, conducting social surveys, evaluating services and programs, and providing education and awareness. Other aspects of the work include policy analysis, building local partnerships and advocacy for those in need. Social planners also provide safe places for meetings and help facilitate community mediation.
Identification of strengths and weaknesses is done by a planner through a variety of means. Often, social research is carried out independently by a social planner to provide information about the needs of a community or is carried out in conjunction with other organizations or agencies in the community. The research can be casual and qualitative, such as talking to local residents or visiting locals in the area. It can also be more structured and generally quantitative through the use of data analysis and statistics. Some planners will publish this research in journals or publications related to social planning.
In order to receive funding for certain programs and services in a community, programs must first be evaluated. A social planner helps evaluate services and programs through the use of surveys, usage data and other means to determine whether they are useful in a community. In that case, the planner will try to help groups receive funding and continue to be open. When the planner does not find them useful, he recommends that the services or programs be discontinued.
Social planners work to provide advocacy for individuals living in a community, particularly those who cannot help themselves. Another part of the job is to develop partnerships with companies in the area to try to improve the community. Sometimes associations are developed for things like the arts, downtown neighborhoods or community centers. The planner helps bring people together in a united cause or effort, and also enlists the help of the local government to meet the needs of the community.
A social planner also provides education and awareness in the community, as well as providing safe venues for meetings and mediation sessions. These issues range from fundraising to homelessness and other causes that can be important to those who live in an area. A person with this role often goes out into the community to talk with others about issues that affect them on a daily basis.
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