This new handbook builds on The Handbook of Community Movements and Local Organizations published in 2007, and is the only resource defining the field of study related to small nonprofit organizations and to studying communities from the standpoint of associations that make up communities. It explores the history and conceptualizations of community, theoretical concepts in community organizations, social movements ranging from health to crime, and community practice methods. Further it provides authoritative statements of major theory areas, gives examples of different sub areas of the field, provides guidance to people working as practitioners in the field, and nicely coincides with the increasing interest in clinical sociology. This handbook is of great interest to academics, students and practitioners with an interdisciplinary resource to understand and collaborate in work with contemporary communities.
Ram A. Cnaan is a Professor and Director, Program for Religion and Social Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice. He is the founder and Faculty Director the Goldring Reentry Initiative which works to reduce recidivism. He is also a Global Eminent Scholar at Kyung Hee University Graduate Institute of Peace, South Korea. Professor Cnaan is the past president of ARNOVA (Association for Research on nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary action). He is the originator of the first practice doctoral degree in social work (DSW) which is now in its 10th year and replicated by some 12 schools nationwide. Processor Cnaan received his doctorate degree from the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh, and his B.S.W. and M.S.W. (both cum laude) from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. Professor Cnaan has published numerous articles in scientific journals on a variety of social issues (mainly faith-based organizations, volunteerism, social policy, and development) and serves on the editorial boards of 11 academic journals. He is the author or editor of eight academic books including The Other Philadelphia Story: How Local Congregations Support Quality of Life in Urban America (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2006) and Cases in innovative nonprofits: Organizations that make a difference (Sage, 2014). Currently, professor Cnaan works on three new books: one on religious organization and society; one on community organizations; and one a family history project. In his spare time professor Cnaan collects and publish books on antique obsolete tools. He also collects Inuit prints. Professor Cnaan is considered an international expert in the areas of faith-based social care, volunteering, prisoners’ reentry, and social policy. He lectures widely and teaches regularly in four countries.
Carl Milofsky has an interest in communities, community organizing, and
ways to mobilize small community organizations. As one of the original members of Yale’s Program on Nonprofit Organizations, his niche in the nonprofit research community has been community organizations. He has authored several books on that subject and he has served as editor of the NONPROFIT AND VOLUNTARY SECTOR QUARTERLY. Milofsky also focuses on medical sociology, which is one of his main teaching areas. He is particularly interested in how community structures affect the health of residents and he partners in his work with professionals from local health and social welfare organizations.
