The role of animation as a program development strategy

As an approach to community organization, animation involves the activation of people to take responsibility for their own affairs, with the aim of achieving their own, self-defined ends. The authors analyze the use of animation as a strategy of social program development undertaken by a nonprofit organization to initiate a clubhouse serving people with serious mental illness. Six animation strategies and their impact on the local community, sponsoring organization, and subsequent clubhouse program development are examined. The authors recognize the intensive resource requirements of animation, but they conclude that successful animation results in a program that enjoys high levels of community support, understanding, and legitimacy.