The Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice (GJCCP) is an online journal for practitioners of community psychology and community improvement. We look forward to working with practitioners and applied researchers to share quality work and to foster a learning community that will contribute to ongoing advances in the broad field of Community Practice, both in psychology and related disciplines.
We seek contributions from community practitioners in many fields including community development, public health, community organizing and others. Please consider sharing your knowledge, insights and accomplishments with the practice community along with innovations that may help communities throughout the world.
The GJCPP is published quarterly on-line. Articles are a mix of peer-reviewed (e.g., articles and tools) and non-peer-reviewed materials (e.g., submissions from section editors for videos, book reviews and interviews). Manuscripts are invited on a variety of topics related to the application of community practice in various settings. Manuscripts addressing the following topics are especially encouraged:
- Case studies of approaches to community psychology practice that would serve to teach others about values and techniques
- Ethical and philosophical issues related to practice
- Tools and materials that would be useful to share with other practitioners (such as professional development, new software, social media tips, etc.)
- Innovative partnership arrangements between practitioners and academics/researchers
- Community applications of new or innovative intervention strategies
- Policy advocacy and social environmental interventions to promote health and development
- Evaluations of community interventions focusing on the utility for practitioners as well as translation of evaluation/research into practice
- Marketing of community psychology practice
- Jobs and career development
- Lessons learned
- Sustainability/durability of interventions and policy initiatives
- Other applied practice topics, open to editorial board interpretation and based on innovative submissions to the journal including practical considerations for facilitating and measuring community change, implications for special populations, diversity and disparity, cultural competence, etc.
- Special issues and theme issues as proposed by potential special issue and theme editors
History of Development
The GJCPP grew out of earlier organizing activities to develop more of a community psychology practice presence within SCRA. That effort spanned decades but more recently found traction at the Biennial Conference held at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Since then a "Community Psychology Practice Group" emerged with a newfound zeal. At the Biennial Conference in Pasadena the Group sponsored the "Practice Summit." Members have also actively participated at both International Conferences on Community Psychology where there has been an even greater interest in promoting the efforts of community psychology practitioners. It became quite clear that there was not a single venue to publish the work of practitioners or to serve as a forum where practitioners and researchers could effectively collaborate. This new e-journal was designed to take advantage of new and emerging internet-based technologies to facilitate its mission.
Mission
The following mission emerged over the past year as a way to guide the e-journal's initial development:
The Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice is devoted to providing high quality and practical information on community practice. It publishes authoritative peer reviewed articles and tools of strategic importance to a broad base of professionals engaged in the practice of developing, implementing and evaluating community interventions. The Journal is committed to engaging and expanding the practice community and its broader social impact by offering a new opportunity for community practitioners of a variety of backgrounds and professional affiliations for collaborative development, to increase skills and to exchange information, ideas and resources. To that end, the Journal has sections with videos, book reviews and interviews with practitioners in addition to peer-reviewed articles and tools.