Level of research support: Based on sound theory
What is it?
Community engagement is often recognized as a means to an end—a means of accessing resources, understanding a priority population, and so on. But it should also be recognized as an end in itself. A community in which all members are included as fully participating citizens tends to be a healthy community. So, engaging the community not only helps you do what you want to do for your community but also serves itself as a step toward health and well-being.
The process is challenging and can be "messy." It involves reaching out to, and bringing together, groups that may not always understand each other (e.g., youth, parents, teachers, local politicians, police, faith groups, concerned citizens, neighbourhood organizations, schools, media, local businesses, service providers, marginalized groups and those most affected by substance use). Like any other process that involves respecting multiple perspectives and seeking solutions to complex problems that do not fit into nice, neat categories, community engagement is real work. It requires making decisions, implementing those decisions, assessing the value of those decisions and perhaps changing your mind and making new decisions based on the involvement of new participants. Messy or not, the process can help you achieve your goal of a healthy community.
Why do it?
Evidence shows that inclusive communities—where members are engaged and contributing to the building and maintenance of a positive environment—are healthier than communities where significant numbers of people are excluded from community involvement or where inequity exists (Kawachi, 1999).
Social connectedness is related to longer life and better health. People who belong to an extended family, network of friends, social or volunteer organization or faith tend to be healthier (House et al., 1988). Conversely, stigmatized, marginalized and otherwise excluded members of society tend to have poorer health (Berkman, 1995; Loxley et al., 2004). For example, social exclusion and a lack of social support are associated with morbidity and depression.
Social equity works alongside social connectedness. For example, poverty isolates individuals and families, and segregates neighbourhoods. By contrast, social and emotional relationships help mediate the impact of broader political and economic factors by supporting resilience and well-being (Loxley et al., 2004).
Who is it for?
Who can facilitate it?
How can we implement it?
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