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Question: I work in a shelter for homeless pregnant women. I am looking for group exercises to use to help build community in the shelter. Any ideas? Our residents stay with us during their pregnancy (3 - 6 months) and then move out into the community or return to their hometown. They are young adults (16 - 23, on average). I am looking for skill building exercises for use in groups, especially those with low literacy skills
Answer: You might start by considering the concept of "sense of community." Sense of community is the belief that one's needs will be met by being part of a group. Members feel a sense of belonging, that their opinion is important and a strong connection to the group. This concept is well defined in a paper by D. W. McMillan and D. Chavis (Sense of Community: A Definition and Theory, American Journal of Community Psychology, 14, 1, 6-23. Once you understand the concept you might be able to identify a variety of group activities that strengthen such feelings.
Question Date: Sat, 10/10/2009