Increasing Social Action Competency: A Framework for Supervision

Social action-organizing requires the use of confrontation-related skills that are substantially different from collaborative and problem-solving strategies commonly used in community development and social planning. Consequently, field instructors must use training strategies for community organizers that are unique to this type of practice. In this paper, the authors develop a conceptual model that can be used in supervising students in social justice-related field placements that require the use of confrontation tactics. The model includes eight skill areas that will help students develop engagement and communication skills needed to work in partnership with constituents to fight for social justice.