130 Chapter 6 DEVELOPING COMMUNITY COMPETENCE THROUGH THE WORK GROUP APPROACH Araceli S. Maglaya INTRODUCTION The concept of community as client can be difficult for the commun ity health nurse, especially when the emphasis of a community is a location in space and time of aggregate s or groups of people. Precision in explicating community as client-par tner is attained when nursing practice is focused on comn1u11ity compete nce, as both process and outcome of integrating individual selves into functioning collectives. It is rooted in social interaction, where each participant in the interaction becomes part of lhe other, learning not only his or her own part but the part o. fthe other as it is experienced or understood. Sustained social interaction results in increasin gly congruent mutual perception among members as they develop a generalized concept of t J1e group or community which shapes U1eir expectations and actions (Cottrell & Mead, 1980). Within this social interaction framework, the community as client-partner can deve. lop or enhance its ability as constin. 1ent pnrn to create,md 1,1i;;e :1tnicturl;!s ~nd l?Chemes t. hat allow it to address problems, issues and challenges related with its col Jective life such that its members can e Kperience improved psychosocial adaptation, socioeconom ic productivity or better quality of life. Working with the community or i L'> aggregate parts is facilitated when the nurse-partn er understands the psychosocia l processes in the life of community aggregates or groups as members go through a 'lived' experience of interacting with each other in addressing problems, issues and challenges as a functioning unit. This chapter discusses U1e concept and dimensions of community competence and how the nurse catalyst-partner can work with the community as client-partner to develop, enhance or sustain its ability to address issues or manage problems related to its collective life, using the work group model as strategic approach to an empowerment tract. Stages of group develo J)ment will he described in order to understand the behavior of the group as a funct. ioning unit. Specific interventions to facilitate group growth towards the work group stage are included. The work group model can facilitate the community's confidence and com. mitment to pursue empowerment challenges. 