https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.240

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Supporting Refugees by Facilitating the Innovation of Nonprofit Resettlement Agencies: A Case Study

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This study tested the implementation of the Info rmation for Innovation model (IIM). The IIM posits that to implement innovations and adapt to external change, nonprofits must increase both the inward and outward flow of information. This increased flow comes through experimentation, information-seeking, and self- expression. Over 1 year, the researcher implemented the model with a refugee resettlement nonprofit in the Southeastern U.S. A case study design was used, following the approach of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR). The implementation of the IIM followed the structure of Communities of Practice (COP), and participants held several face-to-face meetings and engaged in virtual information-seeking. Results show that increases in information-seeking improved the nonprofit's confidence in its ability to manage change. Improvements in self- expression enabled the nonprofit to benefit more fully from the diversity of existing staff. Yet, the IIM's impact on implementation was limited by lack of resources. This study contributes to literature on the expansion of Library and Information Science (LIS) into communities by proposing an evidence-based approach to work-ing with nonprofits. This study also contributes to literature on the role of LIS in refugee populations, suggesting that these institutions work more directly with the nonprofits whose expertise and funding most directly supports refugees.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.240

APA Citation

Freeburg, D. (2021). Supporting Refugees by Facilitating the Innovation of Nonprofit Resettlement Agencies: A Case Study. Proceedings Of The Association For Information Science And Technology, 57(1), e240. https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.240

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