Research and Evaluation Producing and sharing credible and meaningful community-based research and program evaluation that informs and influences health and social policy and practice. Public Policy Analysis Producing timely, valuable and accurate information on policy choices for use by citizens and policy makers in developing solutions for community problems. Community Organizing Helping people and organizations most affected by public policies, services or community conditions develop and carryout activities that build community and neighborhood capacity and enhance health, economic conditions, and social well-being. Information Services Producing and disseminating timely, accurate information for health and human services planning, fund distribution, policy development, and services referral. Creating a safe, unaligned environment for the resolution of community problems and engaging multiple community sectors in addressing identified community issues.
Some councils are newly developing while others have served their communities for many decades.
In the late 1800's and early 1900's, planning in the human services field began to emerge, with the establishment of Charity Organization Societies and Councils of Social Agencies. Charity Organization Societies reflected an effort to provide some coordination among the many agencies providing emergency relief for basic needs, while Councils of Social Agencies reflected the desire of the rapidly increasing number of agencies for coordination and cooperative efforts in the development of resources for the correction of injustices. These early emphases on coordination, community education, and social action and reform have continued to influence the social planning movement. The early work described above preceded the existence of federated fund raising efforts. As Community Chests increasingly became voluntary efforts to meet community needs, the necessity and potential for planning emerged further, with increased attention to monitoring, evaluation, response to changing needs, and leadership in guiding the voluntary sector's impact on a community's human service efforts.