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Community based services (CBSs) are provided by various types and structures of community-based organizations (CBOs) that serve diverse population segments. CBSs address income, housing, mental health and substance abuse, health, child welfare, child care, criminal justice, disabilities, educational, long-term care, and other similar social welfare needs; these services can be prevention-or intervention-oriented. Some CBOs are specialized in providing services to specific age groups experiencing specific issues, while others provide a range of services to several population segments. For instance, community-based adoption agencies provide adoption services for children under the age of 18; community action agencies may provide a wide range of services (e.g., income maintenance, child care, home-based parental skills training, energy assistance, etc.) to clients of all age groups. typically, CBSs in nonprofit organizations are supported by mixed funding streams; private fees, philanthropy, grants, contracts with public agencies, and income from the sale of services and/or goods are some of the funding mechanisms. The structure and type of CBO influences the structure and type of services provided by the organization.

Professionals and programs within CBSs implement specific theories of change—assumptions about clients and their behaviors and causal relationships between interventions and outcomes. CBSs attempt to create empowering environments for clients and communities as well as actively engaging community members in designing programs. Notwithstanding the wide range of CBSs, CBOs encounter challenges in delivering high-quality services. Each of these concepts is relevant for human service professionals.

Theory of Change

CBSs and programs are designed to create specific outcomes and provide specific benefits to clients and communities. These services and programs are generally based on theories of change, in which specific activities and steps are expected to produce specific outcomes. theory of change is a road map for creating the desired change. Ideally, leadership within CBOs explicates each program's and/or intervention's theory of change so that employees implementing the programs are clear about the relationship between their activities and the desired outcomes. Explicating theories of change is more important when organizations are serving diverse population segments because the assumptions about the change process may not be the same for all population segments. Professionals within CBSs attempt to create change in people's lives by changing their knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors, and health, or by changing conditions for children, individuals, families, and within communities. by explaining—with a theory of change road map—how a CBS creates desired changes, the program evaluation process can become easier for professionals.

Empowering the Community

Empowerment, a multidimensional concept, can be both personal and social. Professionals within CBSs attempt to create environments for clients to increase their sense of personal, interpersonal, socioeconomic, and political strength and develop a strong sense of self-efficacy. Some strategies for enhancing clients' sense of self-efficacy are: building trusting relationships between program employees and clients, collaborating with clients to design solutions, raising clients' awareness about power and class differences and related issues, teaching specific skills to clients, and promoting activities that will enhance clients' sense of personal power and self-advocacy. Regular in-serving training is essential for promoting and maintaining empowerment-oriented practices within CBSs, especially in light of the diverse population segments that seek assistance from CBOs.

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