Academic Profile:
D.Sc. 1994, technion; Senior Teacher, 1999.
Research Interests:
Empowerment theory and practice
Community organization
Public participation.
Research Projects:
Developing a community-focused strategy for social work services.
Empowerment - the process and the practice.
Abstracts of Current Research :
Abstract of current research project with Dr. Dorit Barak:
“Organizers for social change in Israel – mission, vision and practice”
Social action grassroots organizations are a relatively new phenomenon in Israel. These organizations have promoted civil rights, environmental justice, neighborhood revitalization, and the empowerment of oppressed groups. Yet, little is known about the people who built them, and about the practice of organizing. The research explores these unknown aspects of social life in Israel. Depth interviews with 48 well known organizers of varied backgrounds were conducted. The data analysis of the interviews is based on the method of ‘grounded theory’, in which we develop ‘coding’ categories and search for main themes.
Our study focuses on the organizers’ own perceptions of their practice, their believes, principles, and sources of inspiration, and their special gifts and strengths.
The project may advance both theory and practice of community organizing and social change in Israel.
Recent Publications:
Books
Sadan, Elisheva (2009) Community Practice: Methods for social change. Tel Aviv: Hakibutz Hameuhad (In Hebrew).
Churchman, Arza & Sadan, Elisheva (2003). Participation: Your way to make a difference. Tel Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad, Kav Adom. [in Hebrew].
Sadan, Elisheva (1997). Empowerment and Community Planning: Theory and Practice of People-Focused Social Solutions. Tel Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad Publishers [in Hebrew].
Papers
Sadan, E. (2001). Empowerment, aging and old people. In I. Brick (Ed.) The politics of aging. Tel Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad Publishers [in Hebrew].
Sadan, E. (2002). The community school in a democratic civic society. In G. Bar-Or (Ed.). Schools. Tel Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad Publishers [in Hebrew].
Barak, D. & Sadan, E. (2003). Empowerment & Partnership: Misleading Terminology. In A. Churchman & E. Sadan.Participation: Your way to make a difference. (Pp. 106-124). Tel Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad, Kav Adom. [in Hebrew].
Churchman, A. & Sadan, E. (2003). The spirit of participation. In A. Churchman & E. Sadan. Participation: Your way to make a difference. (Pp. 7-22). Tel Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad, Kav Adom. [in Hebrew].
Churchman, A. & Sadan, E. (2003). Participation - A second look. In A. Churchman & E. Sadan. Participation: Your way to make a difference. (Pp. 273-287). Tel Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad, Kav Adom. [in Hebrew].
Churchman, A. & Sadan, E. (2004). Public participation in environmental design and planning. (Pp. 793-800). In C. Spielberger (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology. Oxford: Elsevier.
Simkin, H. & Sadan, E. (2007). Issues of power and control in the professional intervention process conducted by child protection officers: The points of view of the officers and the parents in cases of legal intervention in the family. Social Security. 75, 115-137. (In Hebrew).
Haj-Yahia, M. M., & Sadan, E. (2007). Battered women in collectivist societies: Issues of intervention and empowerment. Society and Welfare. 27(3): 423-451. (In Hebrew).
Haj-Yahia, M. M., & Sadan, E. (2008). Issues in intervention with battered women in collectivist societies: An essay.Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 34 (1), 1-13.
Sadan E. (2008). Empowerment : A key concept in humane discourse of our times. In N. Aloni (Ed.). Empowering dialogues in education. (pp. Tel Aviv – Hakibutz Hameuchad.
Sadan, E. & Chtchman, A. (2012). The experience of public participation in Israel: Obstacles and opportunities. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 29(1), 65-75.
Elisheba Sadan's site at the Research and Development Authority