Community Development
The purpose of community development is to continually improve the health and well being of the population we serve by engaging in a broad range of strategies including organizational capacity building, intersectoral networking and local area development.
Values of Community Development
Respect
We value the inherent worth, dignity, diversity, and abilities of all individuals, families, groups and communities. By working together in solidarity with people, we create improved conditions for health and productive relationships.
Equity
We value fairness and justice and believe that we must strive to reduce inequities in the conditions for health, and in health outcomes.
Meaningful Participation
We value inclusive participation meaningful to all people in decisions that affect their lives; we believe that this is fundamental to good health. We will make efforts to include people who are least heard, to participate in a meaningful way, in decisions that affect their lives.
Meaningful Process
We value hope. We believe that community development and change begins with individual people and that they must have hope that things change through collective action. We believe that community development is an on-going, dynamic process of social change that can lead to sustained improvements in people's lives.
Integrity
We value honesty and transparency of our intent and priorities and believe that we must demonstrate our accountability to all with whom we work. Integrity is our commitment to act in ways that enhance, and to not detract from, community development values.
Inclusion
We value the diversity within communities and their contributions.
Collaboration
We value working together with communities and partners within or across sectors.
Hope
We value hope. We believe that community development and change begins with individual people and that they must have hope that things change through collective action.
Strengths Based Assets
We value building on local strengths and assets of the community to achieve local vision.