overview of community resilience models and...

OVERVIEW OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TOOLKITS: JULY 2013 1

Overview of Community Resilience Models and Toolkits

Strengthening resilience, or our ability to respond and adapt to changes, is perhaps the most significant thing we can be doing in our communities today. TUS is

interested in supporting community resilience by developing and testing a Resilience Toolkit. The Toolkit will support assessment and planning around ways to

strengthen community resilience. The use of the toolkit will help TT’s to focus their resources on essential (resilience strengthening) priorities. The use of the

toolkit will also increase community engagement and collaboration and build local knowledge and skills for long term self-reliance.

The first stage of this project is to convene a co-lab of resilience practitioners to build a common understanding of resilience and share practical experiences and

lessons from their work. This document describes some of the other models and toolkits that exist as a background to that conversation. There is also an

Exploring Options two page summary document that you should read after this Overview. Exploring Options begins to think about specific features of the

models that we want to consider integrating into the TUS Toolkit. This overview is not intended to be a complete literature review. There are several

bibliographies available that include a huge range of material. Most of the manuals or toolkits being considered here have been developed as a result of

considering the field more broadly, so we start with this existing foundation.

Criteria for Selection of Models

1. Resilience: the definition of resilience is related to capacity to adapt to change.

2. The theoretical foundation for the tool is resilience. We also want the tool to reflect sustainability principles, social justice principles and have a focus on

strengthening social capital. We included an emergency preparedness model because of it’s strong focus on overall community resilience as the

foundation for coping with emergencies. The Happiness Index is included because of the on-line assessment and a focus on social cohesion.

3. Resilience of what: Our focus is on overall community or place based resilience, as compared to a focus on a sector (health), or individual resilience.

4. Resilience to what: Ideally the model will include (or be adaptable to) an assessment of vulnerability to pre-eminent threats such as climate change,

reliance on oil and economic instability. The model supports attention to essential needs being met (such as food, energy, housing and income/trade).

5. The model needs to go beyond a theoretical framework. It has to practically support communities to undertake the work themselves and to take action.

Our goal is to create a tool and a process that is as user friendly as possible for community based groups to use. This includes considerations of time,

human and financial resources and types of expertise. Ideally we can include an on-line assessment program that supports individual community analysis

and decision-making, comparisons between communities, and over time a national pool of experience for ongoing learning and best practice.

Focus of the Model Review (see the summary table next page)

1. Theoretical foundations, definitions of resilience and scale of application.

2. Primary domains or dimensions of resilience considered in the model (we will look at the indicator level of models only after we finalize the

characteristic level of the TUS draft model)

3. Steps in the process

4. Tools and approaches provided related to the implementation of the model


Summary Table of Community Resilience Toolkits

Community Resilience Manual (CCE/Canada, 2000) www.communityrenewal.ca

Exploring Resilience Toolkit (UK, 2011) www.fieryspirits.com

Building Resilience in Rural Communities Toolkit (AU, 2008)

Community Resilience Toolkit (Bay Area/USA, 2009) www.baylocalize.org

Communities Advancing Resilience Toolkit (Terrorism/Disaster Centre, USA, 2012) www.oumedicine.com

The Happiness Index (USA, 2011) www.happycounts.org

Conceptual Lenses

Community economic development, Soc. Justice

Localization

Sustainability

Change Theory

Localization

Social Capital

Popular Education

Resilience from more of a health and social services perspective

Equity

Localization

Sustainability

Disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery

Individual life satisfaction/happiness

Definition A resilient community is one that takes intentional action to enhance the personal and collective capacity of its citizens and institutions to respond to and influence the course of social, ecological and economic change.

Both resilience and community are relative terms with different meanings in different places and times, for different groups of people. Ultimately it doesn’t matter what this work is called, what matters is that it helps people future proof their community on the basis of agreed values.

Resilience refers to the capacity of an individual or community to cope with stress, overcome adversity or adapt positively to change. (NOTE: this model targets staff of NGOs who want to integrate resilience strengthening approaches in their work)

Community resilience is the ability of a community to withstand and quickly recover from difficult situations and hard times. Resilient communities use their assets to meet basic human needs, no matter what the circumstances.

Resilience can be thought of as an attribute, process or outcome associated with successful adaptation to, and recovery from, adversity. A resilient community has the ability to transform the environment through deliberate, collective action.

Happiness is synonymous with well-being, quality of life and holistic sustainability. It is satisfaction with life, including: (see domains below)

Scale of Focus

Organization or group, Community

Individual, Community Individual, Organization or group, Community

Household, Collective, Policy

Organization or group, Community

Individual, Community

Dimensions or Domains of the Model

Attitudes and behaviours of people

Care for Others

Healthy engaged people

An inclusive culture creating a

Social networks

Positive outlook

Learning

Equity

Quality (of resources)

Sustainability

Connection and caring

Resources

Material well-being

Governance

Environment

http://www.fieryspirits.com/


Attitudes, awareness, use of resources/infra. (includes local economy)

Leadership and planning (includes organizational collaboration)

positive sense of place

A localizing economy – towards sustainable food, housing, energy

Strong links to other places and communities

Early experiences

Environment/ lifestyle

Infrastructure and support services

Sense of purpose

Diverse economy

Embrace differences

Beliefs

Leadership

Ownership (of resources)

Transformative potential

Disaster management

Community

Culture

Learning

Health

Mental well-being

Time balance

Work

Steps in resilience assessment and planning

a. Form steering group representing community

b. Assess resilience – interviews/survey/ data

c. Portrait of Resilience

d. Community Analysis and Priority setting Workshop

e. Community Action Planning Worjshop(s)

a. Invite people to a workshop on community resilience

b. Introduce the compass

c. Groups brainstorm possible indicators

d. Groups then use a blank compass handout to shade where they think their community is at.

e. Discussion of similarities/differences

f. Discussion of any additional information they want to gather –

a. Read about the resilience concept

b. Ask yourself some questions about it

c. Review ideas for how to strengthen it at individual, group, community levels

d. Read the case examples and community stories for more ideas

a. Form planning group

b. Introductory workshop

c. Assessment workshop

d. Planning workshop

a. Generate Comm. Profile – survey/interviews/data

b. Community Analysis and Refine Profile – conversations, mapping, SWOTs, etc.

c. Community groups develop Strategic Plan

d. Implement the plan

a. Establish a team b. Define the

initiative c. Survey/collect

data d. Happiness

report card e. Town meetings f. Action planning g. Happy City

report/plan


suggest they do interviews or hold another workshop

g. Discussion of next steps

Tools Introduction to CED and Strategic Planning

Forming the Steering Committee

Data collection framework

Introduction to indicator types and selection

Organization map table

Survey/interview guide

Focus group guide

Sample portrait and tips for analysis

Town Hall Meet. Fac guide

Workshop guides: priority setting/action planning

Ranking priorities worksheet

The compass is a navigation tool for communities that describes the domains and their relationships – the inter-active nature.

Identifies social capital types: bonding, bridging and linking as all being important

Talks about how important change literacy is, and three types of communities: break through, break even and at risk of break down.

Appendix 2 is a community workshop outline using the tool.

This is not an assessment tool per say. (It assumes that professionals will have their client or community needs assessed already.) Each section describes the domain, questions to ask and ideas. This is followed by case examples and stories of how other communities have strengthened this area. Sections also include literature reviews.

Workshop fac. guide

Handouts and resources for peak oil, localization, resilience, equity

Sector Fact sheets

Assessment worksheets

Action menus

Force field analysis worksheet

Setting goals and objectives and measuring impact handouts

Some interesting games and activities

Assessment survey

Interview guide

Data collection framework

Conversation guide

Mapping guides

Stakeholder analysis

SWOT analysis

Capacity and Vulnerability assessment

On-line survey, analysis and comparisons

Guide has suggestions for activities

They indicate they will help with presentation and town hall design and materials


Resilence and Transformation – a regional approach (a working paper of Ecotrust, Portland Oregon)

(http://www.ecotrust.org/publications/resilience_and_transformation.html)

This work is shared by way of adding to our understanding of “resilience thinking” that is going on. This paper shares a focus on adaptive capacities that we see

in the toolkits, and although there is no assessment of those capacities or a planning process, it poses questions for reflection. It is more akin to the “exploration”

approach of the UK Toolkit. The section describing important systems and our vulnerabilities is a useful backdrop for these discussions.

The paper describes 5 Resilience Principles and suggests capacities that are required to implement each principle:

1) Plan for change: flexibility, awareness of uncertainties, functional redundence

2) Expand opportunities: human potential, diversity, leadership, creativity, entrepreneurship

3) Develop rich relationships: social capital, local/regional self-reliance, rich feedbacks

4) Design for learning: integrate knowledge and practice, social memory and learning, continual institutional innovation

5) Consider multiple scales: systems thinking, foresight, compassion

There is discussion of resilience definitions (similar to the CRM), resilience of what, to what and regional analysis of situations in food, ecosystem health, water.

The paper moves on to discuss 7 Significant Systems in need of transformation and our particular pacific northwest vulnerabilities in each system:

Oceans, Forests, Water, Food, Energy, Built Environment, Finance

The paper ends with a discussion of resilience in practice – recommendations for policy and practices related to 9 different priority themes:

Working with Nature

Connecting Value Chains

Strengthening Collaborative Management

Sharing resources

Shifting to Renewables

Reforming Capitalism

Planning for Equity

Measuring what Matters

Deepening Democracy


CCCR Community Resilience Manual DRAFT Version II, 2009, Not yet tested

Attitudes of People Care for Others Resources Planning and Leadership

People in the community are open to and accepting of people from different cultures and perspectives.

The community is planning for the critical healthcare needs of citizens.

Community actively works to diversify and strengthen local ownership of business and employment.

The community systematically assesses significant risks to its well being.

People in the community believe in their capacity to positively influence its future.

There is a high value given to the well-being of vulnerable populations in the community.

Community places high value on enhancing the knowledge and skills of its people.

Leadership is intentionally cultivated.

People in the community take responsibility and co-operate to ensure local needs are met.

There are locally controlled assets, sources of finance and other forms of exchange.

Local governments intentionally share power and seek consensus.

People in the community have a sense of belonging.

The community is aware of and has access to outside policy, programs and expertise relevant to strengthening its resilience.

The community is aware of its

relative position in the broader

economy.

The community places high value on the health of natural eco-systems.

The community undertakes land use planning that considers longer-term risks and needs.

Citizens are involved in planning and

action to strengthen the

community’s future.

There is high value placed on learning and innovation.

The community is planning for the long-term viability of its infrastructure.

There is co-operation between levels of government.

The community feels a sense of pride.

Energy is used wisely. There is co-operation and collaboration between groups and organizations in the community.

Water management practices are in place to meet local needs.

The community works to strengthen long-term access to food.


Bay Localize Resilience Toolkit

Equity Quality Sustainability Ownership

Food Residents have enough to eat

Healthy, organic food is convenient & affordable

Local & regional food is grown sustainably

Our community has a strategy to ensure food supply

Water Residents have enough water to meet basic needs

Our water is clean & safe Our water comes from a local watershed & we conserve it

Our community owns our water rights & can guarantee access

Energy Residents have enough energy to meet basic needs

Our energy supply is stable & consistent & can withstand disasters

Our community conserves energy & gets the rest from local renewable sources

Our community controls where our energy comes from & how it is distributed

Transportation & Housing

Those who wish to live in our community can find quality affordable housing near jobs & schools.

Neighborhoods have access to jobs, schools, open space, fresh produce, & key services via walking, biking, and public transit

Our transportation is powered by renewable energy sources

Our community has adequate political control over our transportation & housing systems to keep them affordable

Local jobs & Economy

Residents of our community have access to sufficient income to sustain a household

Our schools and training programs prepare students to secure or create work locally.

Our community’s economy is based on sustainable use and re-use of our region’s resources.

Our community has effective public strategies to secure local employment opportunities.

Social Services & Civic Preparedness

Neighbors in our community are well organized to help each other in times of need.

Our local government is adequately prepared for climate change, rising costs, and natural disasters.

Our local government services are funded from sources that are sustainable (as energy prices rise)

Our local government responds effectively to community needs


Exploring Resilience Toolkit (UK)

overview of community resilience models and...

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