MEDT 03: COMMUNITY IN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE

LECTURE 3: COPAR
MRS. FLORDELIZA A. DE GUZMAN, FADG, RMT, MAT-Phy
2ND SEMESTER | A.Y 2022 - 2023
ADAPTED FROM: POWERPOINT/LECTURE/BOOK

COURSE OUTLINE .APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY

1. COPAR
2. Approaches to Community
Development
3. Importance, Principles, and Methods
Used in COPAR
4. Phases of COPAR Process
5. Basics of Community Organization
6. Community Organizing Process
REFERENCE BOOK
https://www.elmhurst.edu ›What is Community
Health? | Blog | Elmhurst University
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov > The role of
DOTS in tuberculosis treatment and control -
PubMed
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A
%2F%2Fwww.id.theclinics.com%2Farticle%2FS
0891-5520(12)00013-X%2Ffulltext&psig=AOvVa
w3WoSuy9hKQUvlVEQT4msPy&ust=16511427
86350000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0Q
jhxqFwoTCPiO3JOGtPcCFQAAAAAdAAAAABA
D education, resources such as capital and
COPAR
COPAR
● Community Organizing Participatory
Action Research
● A social development approach that aims
to transform the apathetic, individualistic,
and voiceless poor into a dynamic,
participatory and politically responsive
community.
● A continuous and sustained process of
educating the people to understand and
develop their critical awareness of their
existing conditions, working with the
people, efficiently answering their
long-term problems and mobilizing the
people to develop their capability and
readiness to respond and take action on
their immediate needs towards solving the
problem.
DEVELOPMENT
WELFARE APPROACH
● the immediate and spontaneous response
to ameliorate the manifestation of poverty,
especially on the personal level.
● Assume that poverty is God-given;
destined hence the poor should accept
their condition since they will receive as
reward in heaven.
● Believes that poverty is caused by bad
luck, natural disaster and certain
circumstances which are beyond the
control of people.
● Ameliorate – to make it better
MODERNIZATION APPROACH
● believes that poverty is due to lack of
technology.
● assumes the development consists of
abandoning the traditional methods of
doing things and must adopt the
technology of industrial countries.
● It is a project development approach
● It introduces whatever resources are
lacking in a given community.
● Consider the national strategy which
adopts the western mode of technological
development.
TRANSFORMATORY/PARTICIPATORY
APPROACH
● the process of empowering/transforming
the poor and the oppressed sector of
society.
● Assumes that poverty is not God-given,
rather it is rooted in the historical past and
is maintained by the oppressive structures
in society.
● Believes that poverty is caused by
prevalence of exploitation, oppression,

24 I BALDEZAR | BSMT 1-3

 MEDT 03: COMMUNITY IN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
LECTURE 3: COPAR
MRS. FLORDELIZA A. DE GUZMAN, FADG, RMT, MAT-Phy
2ND SEMESTER | A.Y 2022 - 2023
ADAPTED FROM: POWERPOINT/LECTURE/BOOK

domination and other unjust structures. 3. COPAR is participatory and

mass-based because it is primarily
directed towards and biased in favor of the
IMPORTANCE, PRINCIPLES, AND poor, the powerless and the oppressed.
METHODS USED OF COPAR
4. COPAR is group centered and not
leader-oriented. Leaders are identified,
IMPORTANCE OF COPAR emerge and are tested through action
rather than appointed or selected by some
1. It is an important tool for community
external force or entity.
development and people empowerment in
order to help community workers to
generate community participation in
development activities. IMPORTANCE, PRINCIPLES, AND
2. COPAR prepares people to eventually
METHODS USED OF COPAR
takeover the management of the programs
in the future. PRE-ENTRY PHASE
● It is the initial phase of the organizing
3. COPAR maximizes community
process where the community/organizer
participation and involvement, community
looks for communities to serve/help.
resources are mobilized for community
services. ● It is considered the simplest phase in
terms of actual outputs, activities and
strategies and time spent for it.
PRINCIPLES OF COPAR ● Activities include:
1. Designing a plan for community
1. People, especially the most oppressed,
development, including all its
exploited and deprived sectors are open to
activities and strategies for care
change, have the capacity to change and
and development.
are able to bring about change.
2. Designing criteria for the
2. COPAR should be based on the interest of
selection of site.
the poorest sectors of society.
3. Actually selecting the site for
3. COPAR should lead to a
community care.
self-reliantcommunity and society.

METHODS USED IN COPAR ENTRY PHASE

1. Progressive Cycle of
Action-reflection-action which begin with
small, local and concrete issues identified
by the people and the evaluation and
reflection of and action taken by the
people.
2. Consciousness-raising through
experiential learning. It is the center of the
COPAR process because it is more on
learning that emerges concrete action
which enriches succeeding action.
● Sometimes called the social preparation
phase as the activities done here include
the sensitization of the people on the
critical events in their life. Motivating them
to share their dreams and ideas on how to
manage their concerns and eventually
mobilizing them to take collective action.
● Signals the actual entry of the community
workers/organizers into the community
(with IDB- survey form)
● Guidelines to follow:

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 MEDT 03: COMMUNITY IN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
LECTURE 3: COPAR
MRS. FLORDELIZA A. DE GUZMAN, FADG, RMT, MAT-Phy
2ND SEMESTER | A.Y 2022 - 2023
ADAPTED FROM: POWERPOINT/LECTURE/BOOK
1. Recognize the role of local
authorities by paying attention to
them by means of visits to inform
them of their presence and
activities.
2. Appearance, speech, behavior
and lifestyle should be in keeping
with those of the community
residents without disregard of
their being role models.
3. Avoid raising the consciousness
of the community residents;
adopt a low-key profile.
Guides for entering the community:
1. Know the situation in the community
2. Prefer a low profile entrance into the
community.
3. Pay attention to the recognized leaders of
the community.
4. Be realistic when presenting expectations
5. Have contact with people in the
community before entering it.
Formation Phase:
- creates a core group, trained, and
develops their capabilities to lead their
community.
ORGANIZATION-BUILDING PHASE
● Entails the formation of more formal
structures and the inclusion of more
formal procedures of planning,
implementing, and evaluating
community-wide activities. At this phase
where the organized leaders or groups
are being given training (formal, informal,
OJT) to develop their AKS (Action
Knowledge Skills) in managing their own
concerns/programs.
SUSTENANCE AND STRENGTHENING
PHASE
● Occurs when the community has already
been established and the community
members are already actively participating
in community-wide undertakings. The
different committees set-up in the
organization-building phase are already
expected to be functioning by way of
planning, implementing and evaluating
their own programs, with the overall
guidance from the community-wide
organization.
● Strategies used:
1. Education and training
2. Networking and linkaging
3. Conduct of mobilization on
health and development
concerns.
4. Implementation of livelihood
projects.
5. Developing secondary leaders.
BASICS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
CO-COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
● Is a process that revolves around the
lives, experiences, aspirations of the
people.
● Is a process that creates the conditions
for development through people
participation.
● Is a strategy for mobilizing people to
become fully and collectively involved in
activities that aim to improve their lives.
CO-DEFINES
● Is a process that is people-centered, and
geared towards the people’s continuing
capability building, self-reliance and
empowerment.
● Is a process that presents opportunities
for growth to both the people and the
organizer through the full use of their
capabilities and resources.
26 I BALDEZAR | BSMT 1-3
 MEDT 03: COMMUNITY IN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
LECTURE 3: COPAR
MRS. FLORDELIZA A. DE GUZMAN, FADG, RMT, MAT-Phy
2ND SEMESTER | A.Y 2022 - 2023
ADAPTED FROM: POWERPOINT/LECTURE/BOOK

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CO STRATEGIES IN COMMUNITY

INTEGRATION
1. Start from the people’s felt needs and
interest
1. Home visit
2. Emphasize collective action
2. Participation in the production process
3. Identify and develop local leaders
3. Discussion with key informants
4. Raise the people’s consciousness through
4. Informal talk with the people
experiential learning.
5. Participation in social activities
5. Make sure that the organization is people
centered, strong, viable and sustainable.
6. Prepare for the CO worker’s phase-out INSIGHTS IN COMMUNITY INTEGRATION
from the community.
Viable – will live 1. Live with the people to fully understand
them.
2. Start integration with the household where
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PROCESS one (CO) worker lives
3. Choose a place to stay which is typical of
● Entry into the community the houses in the area.
● Integration with the people in the 4. Be patient, understanding of people’s lives
community comes gradually
5. And integrating with people takes time
● Analysis of the community

● Identification of the Local Leaders

POINTERS IN COMMUNITY ANALYSIS
● Development of the Local leaders
● Formation of the core group
● Recruitment of Members
● Setting Up the Organization
● Action Planning
● Implementation of the Projects
● Resource Generation
● Networking with other Organization
● Institution Building
1. Let the people participate in the analysis.
2. Use tools and symbols that are familiar to
the people.
3. Use the community analysis as an
instrument for conscientization.
Conscientization – conveys idea of
developing, strengthening and changing
consciousness
4. Remember that the people can do
something to change for the better.
5. Unearth the resources in the community.

● Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects INSIGHTS ON IDENTIFYING AND

● Sustaining the Organization
DEVELOPING LOCAL LEADER
1. Leaders must represent the whole
community

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 MEDT 03: COMMUNITY IN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
LECTURE 3: COPAR
MRS. FLORDELIZA A. DE GUZMAN, FADG, RMT, MAT-Phy
2ND SEMESTER | A.Y 2022 - 2023
ADAPTED FROM: POWERPOINT/LECTURE/BOOK

2. The needs, interests and aspirations of the 4. Make the organization active, dynamic and
people must be shared by the local democratic.
leaders.
3. Leaders may not recognize at first their
potential.
STEPS IN ACTION PLANNING
4. The identification and development of 1. Know the Strength and Weakness of the
leaders cannot be done haphazardly. organization.
5. It may be necessary to overcome the 2. Know the Opportunities for and Threats to
leaders' traditional beliefs and attitudes. the organization.
6. It is best to tap leaders who are credible to 3. Consider the environment of the
the people organization.
4. Set the goals or objectives.
QUALITIES OF THE CORE GROUP 5. Identify the actions that can achieve the
MEMBERS objectives.
6. Compare alternatives.
1. Thorough knowledge about the community
communication skills 7. Choose the appropriate action or
alternatives.
2. Deep understanding of the community’s
needs 8. Identify the activities to implement the
action or plan.
3. Possession of more ideas and opinions
than others. 9. Identify the resources needed for the plan.
4. Sympathy for the people.
5. Availability for the organization's activities.
6. Bonafide members of the community
7. Value orientation
8. Innovativeness and creativity
9. Team orientation
10. Development-oriented

POINTERS IN SETTING UP
ORGANIZATIONS

1. Anchor the organization on the lives,

experiences, and aspirations of a
community.
2. Base the goals of an organization on the
conditions and needs of the community.
3. Let the organization evolve from where the
people are and what they have.

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