KEY CONCEPTS OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY - IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSULTING INEDUCATIONAL AND HUMAN-SERVICE SETTINGS

In this article we describe how community psychology can enhance the c onsultation process in settings such as schools and other human servic e organizations. We detail the core community psychology concepts of e mpowerment and systemic change, and we illustrate the ecological persp ective as an encompassing theoretical framework. We then identify and address the following three common dilemmas consultants face when work ing with human service agencies: representation of the client's intere st, implementation of changes, and dissemination of results. Limitatio ns of the community psychology approach are also discussed.