ERIC Number: ED222317
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1981
Pages: 19
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Vocal Minority Rural Organizing Model.
DeGraw, Richard G.; Magel, Donald G.
Rural communities have traditionally been overshadowed by urban centers, thus losing the political clout necessary for adequate rural social service program development/delivery. Social service delivery in rural areas is complicated by lack of power and organization and represents a complex interplay among values, beliefs, social organization, patterns of behavior, and patterns of cultural relationships, which, in turn, effect the social service delivery system. Empowerment which takes place at the community level may be used to counteract the overwhelming impact of plans conceived outside the community by persons who know little about rural residents. A vocal minority rural organizing model can lead to empowerment and impact on vertical decisionmaking bodies. The model encompasses a vocal minority who have a popular issue, dangerous or detrimental incident, or a large support group. If these are combined with an understanding of the community characteristics (ethnic/racial dominance, type of power structure, economy, political centralization, and cultural or religious restrictions) and leadership availability, access to power sources, or control of local decisionmaking, then empowerment and impacts on vertical decisionmaking bodies can be accomplished. (AH)
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Rural Social Work Conference (Penn Center, SC, 1981).