Rothman (1979) suggested three models for community organisation i.e. locality development model, social planning model and social action model.

1. The locality development model refers to the popular notion of community organisation practice whereby a worker or an agency attempts to develop various services or program to meet the need of target population in a defined area. This may also include the coordination of various agencies providing services in the area and the generation of new program and services as well.


2. The social planning model refers to community work where a worker or an agency undertakes an exercise evaluating the welfare needs and existing services in a town, village or municipal area or may be in a state and suggest a possible blueprint for more efficient delivery of social services. Generally such attempts are confined to a particular field such as housing, education, health, child care or women’s development.


3. The social action model refers to community work which is issue oriented and attempts to generate a social movement. The worker or agency attempts to mobilize public opinion on a particular issue by educating people. The issue may range reorganizing relief during natural calamity, or combating problems like dowry or wife battering to a more radical change in society or in social institution.