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Strengthening parent-community member relations on agency boards: comparative case study
1Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Lowell 01854, USA. meg_Bond@uml.edu
Mental Retardation
|November 4, 2000
Summary
Successful agency boards balance acknowledging differences and valuing similarities between parents of children with developmental disabilities and community members. This approach enhances board operations and service delivery.
Area of Science:
- Community psychology
- Organizational behavior
- Disability studies
Background:
- Navigating relationships between parents of children with developmental disabilities and community members on agency boards presents challenges.
- Effective board functioning is crucial for delivering quality services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine factors influencing the quality of relations between parents and community members on agency boards.
- To understand how intergroup dynamics impact board effectiveness in community agencies.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study of the boards of three community agencies.
- Analysis of forces influencing parent-community member relations within these boards.
Main Results:
- Acknowledging and respecting group differences while recognizing and valuing similarities leads to more successful board operations.
- Organizational factors such as history of intergroup relations, group identification, and bridging practices influence the management of intergroup tensions.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of intergroup dynamics is key for successful agency boards serving children with developmental disabilities.
- Strategies that bridge group differences while respecting diversity can improve board collaboration and service focus.