Community care as a strength-based strategy to mitigate vulnerabilities: an empirical study in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to explore how ancestral native community care practices can support and strengthen organizational efforts to increase service inclusion. Specifically, it highlights various community care practices that can complement organizational initiatives aimed at enhancing the well-being of vulnerable communities. Design/methodology/approach This paper explores five native communities in Latin America and the Caribbean through an eight-month study. Semistructured interviews and focus groups were conducted and applied thematic analysis was used to identify how those communities adopt strength-based strategies to mitigate vulnerabilities. Findings This study demonstrates how native communities in Latin America and the Caribbean adopt community care to address challenges in accessing services through disseminating, empowering and caring practices. It further illustrates how micro- and meso-level interactions generate transformational mechanisms that mitigate vulnerabilities and produce macro-level outcomes that enhance well-being. Research limitations/implications This paper contributes to transformative service research by advancing the strength-based approach to addressing vulnerabilities and highlights how community-based care practices generate transformational mechanisms that complement organizational efforts, enhance service inclusion and promote culturally grounded well-being within transformative service initiatives. Practical implications This research discusses how integrating community-based systems into contemporary service frameworks enhances the effectiveness of transformative service initiatives, acknowledges community knowledge and promotes sustainable, empowering and community-driven development. Originality/value This paper acknowledges the pivotal role of native meso-level practices in adopting strength-based strategies to mitigate vulnerabilities in accessing services in Latin America and the Caribbean.