Why Are We Called Community 247?

Community 247, pronounced as twenty-four seven, was founded under the notion that we all get the same twenty-four hours, seven days a week; your community makes a difference. Currently, we are not a twenty-four hour, seven days a week operation, though we aspire to be. When Community 247 was originally founded in 2016 the goal was to offer connection, tips and resources to single and co-parenting moms whose needs were unique. The name Community 247 is also grounded in a perspective that I learned during my short time as a social work student (unfortunately, I had to withdraw) - the perspective of "person in environment."

The person in environment perspective takes into consideration the individual, family or community in relation to all the external factors that can impact their overall health and well-being. The person in environment perspective highlights how the power of context, the power of place, and the power of social relationships encourages us to collaborate with others in our pursuit of social change and community well-being (Cournoyer, 2017). In other words, what's going on around you can effect what is happening to you in addition to your biological makeup, genetics, cultural and religious identities.

Environment/community makes a difference, and community looks different for different people. Community includes access to resources - finances, food, housing, healthcare, etc. Community can also include connections to people, organizations, businesses and systems that offer resources and support. It is our goal at Community 247 to help connect women experiencing all forms of abuse or hardship to resources and support that will help them overcome and thrive. Oftentimes in abusive or toxic relationships perpetrators often seek to isolate victims from their families and friends because that sense of connection offers strength and power; and one of many tactics for perpetrators is to take and hold power and control. Additional societal/environmental issues like federal furloughs, delays in SNAP benefits, inflation, and limited access to healthcare, etc. - all play a role in increasing stress which can lead to both physical and mental health challenges.

Community is needed now more than ever. What does community look and feel like to you and how can you be that for someone else? I invite you to join Community 247 in our work, because we all get the same twenty-four hours, seven days a week...your community makes a difference.

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B. Cournoyer (2017). The Social Work Skills Handbook 8th Edition. Cengage.