Technical Assistance Model

Definition: One of three themes/models developed by Christenson (1989) to describe common approaches to community development practice. The model focuses on a community developer as an advisor who facilitates task seeking to accomplish an end outcome.

Application:  In practice this could take the form of a community resource center for the unemployed. The center would focus on advising residents on how to complete a resume and job application with the goal of becoming employed. The focus is on helping the residents get a specific job that is available. The community developer would measure success based on the number of jobs secured, not on future capacity to find a job if the resident was to become unemployed again.

Adaption: This approach is often found in higher education related to financial aid. When students are seeking federal aid as incoming first-year students, they must  complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form which is notoriously complicated. Many organizations will assist students in completing this form by providing their technical expertise and familiarity with filling it out. This ultimately saves students time and helps them get the aid they deserve without providing them a detailed understanding of how to fill it out in the future.

Sources:

Christenson, J.A. (1989). Themes of community development. In Eds. J.A. Christenson and J. Robinson Jr. Community Development in Perspective. (pp.26-47). Ames: Iowa State University Press.