Once established, a strong community generates a participatory energy that makes residents feel integrated and empowered. A community social worker can play a key role in establishing this within the community they work in. This sense of community brings out the best in people, and inspires them to do more for themselves and those around them.

Researchers suggested that this empowerment leads to long-lasting and sustainable community improvement. The problem is that people often lack confidence in their own ability to generate a change. The solution to building this skillset and knowledge base lies within community development — a tactic that community social workers spend their careers perfecting.