Artículos destacados del alrededor del Mundo

Community Psychology Practice Competencies: A Global Perspective

Susan M. Wolfe, Victoria Chien Scott, & Tiffeny R. Jimenez
Guest Editors

Community Psychology is a unique field of community science incorporating research and action that seeks to promote social change by challenging the status quo and promoting social justice. Accordingly, within this special issue, we challenge our current educational practices in the belief that we could have greater impact if we were more intentional and consistent in the development of professionals of the field who work in more applied positions. It is within these action-focused positions that we expect to most affect change within communities. Our educational opportunities in community-based research methods have been consistent across training programs; however, those competencies alone are not enough to create the change we wish to see.

Are Our Competencies Revealing Our Weaknesses? A Critique of Community Psychology Practice Competencies

Peta Dzidic, Lauren J. Breen, & Brian J. Bishop

Peer Reviewed

In this paper we argue that the focus on the development and application of practice competencies for community psychology runs the risk of being a distraction from good practice. We outline three areas that demonstrate the inherent flaws in focusing on traditional notions of competencies for community psychology – the limitations of competencies themselves, the schism between competencies and ethics, and the disconnect between competencies and applied practice.

Community Psychology Practice Competencies in Undergraduate and Graduate Programs in Italy

Donata Francescato & Bruna Zani

Peer Reviewed

In this paper we discuss several Community Psychology (CP) practice competencies learned in our existing undergraduate and graduate programs, which are similar to the ones taught in most international settings. We then describe some specific intervention methodologies that have been developed in Italy and in Europe. In the third part of the paper, we attempt to look at some of the challenges facing CP training programs in this time of crisis and uncertain future.

Community Psychology Practice Competencies in Egypt: Challenges and Opportunities

Amy Carrillo & Carie Forden

Peer Reviewed

The Society for Community Research and Action’s proposed competencies for community psychology practice are examined within the Egyptian context, specifically from the perspective of a Master’s program at The American University in Cairo. While this program integrates most of the competencies into the curriculum, thesis, and internship opportunities, the emphasis on various competencies may differ from programs in the United States because the program is situated within a different cultural and political climate.

Building Community Practice Competencies Globally through the Community Tool Box

Christina Holt, Stephen B. Fawcett, Jerry A. Schultz, Bill Berkowitz, Thomas J. Wolff, & Vincent T. Francisco

Peer Reviewed

People throughout the world are working together to improve conditions in which they live. Although the issues and resources vary by context, what people actually do to effect change—core competencies of assessment, planning, action, evaluation, and sustainability—may be quite similar. To examine what competencies may be most valued in community practice, this report uses data analytics for what users are accessing in the Community Tool Box http://ctb.ku.edu/.

Community Psychology and the Future of Healthcare

Chris Michael Kirk and William D. Neigher

Peer Reviewed

Healthcare reforms and market pressures are rapidly moving U.S. healthcare systems from volume to value, from traditional medicine to population health. In this environment, a new set of skills will be required for organizational success. We believe that community psychologists are uniquely positioned to contribute to these efforts. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relevant practice competencies in the evolving context of health care in the United States.

A Learning Journey I: Curriculum Mapping as a Tool to Assess and Integrate Community Psychology Practice Competencies in Graduate Education Programs

Gregor V. Sarkisian and Sylvie Taylor

Peer Reviewed

Curriculum mapping is introduced as a practical tool for community psychology graduate and professional education programs to assess how their curriculum addresses community psychology practice competencies and to further develop their program. Using the Applied Community Psychology Specialization as an illustrative case study, a six-step process for mapping curriculum to community psychology practice competencies is described. Implications for academic program development and limitations to the curriculum mapping process are discussed.

A Learning Journey II: Learned Course Maps as a Basis to Explore How Students Learned Community Psychology Practice Competencies in a Community Coalition Building Course

Gregor V. Sarkisian, M. Ameerah Saleem, Jeremy Simpkin, Ann Weidenbacher, Natalie Bartko, & Sylvie Taylor

Peer Reviewed

This paper presents an illustrative case study of how students learned community psychology practice competencies. Utilizing course mapping, focus groups, and reflective writing, students and faculty coded, analyzed and interpreted student data to better understand learning activities and processes which contributed to learning community psychology practice competencies in a coalition building course.