Introduction

This chapter will define the concept of community and provide information on community development, community support work, and Wahkohtowin principles. You will learn about the diverse groups that community support workers interact with and assist. This chapter will outline and discuss the living environments of clients, such as group homes, shelters, encampments, multiple family dwellings, nursing homes, schools, communities, and other settings. The duties, obligations, and skills needed to be an effective community support worker will be explained. These responsibilities can be grouped into supporting, encouraging, aiding with personal care, documenting, reporting, observing, accessing community resources, attending traditional Indigenous and cultural ceremonies, advocating, consulting and collaborating, ensuring safety, and more. Finally, this chapter will highlight the key characteristics of a helper in the human services field that lead to positive outcomes for clients.

Specific Learning Outcomes