“One cannot be creative without learning what others know, but then one cannot be creative without becoming dissatisfied with that knowledge and rejecting it for a better way.” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1996)
In looking at domains where creativity is needed, one that is often overlooked is in human services and community health. Within human services, these are often Government and non-profit organizations supporting people with developmental disabilities, mental health conditions and other marginalized populations.
Background of the need for creativity in human services
Over the years, some leaders in the disability services sector have realized that one of the reasons for low quality services is due to professionals adhering to old ways of providing service. Often, these are services where systems and institutions become the focus rather than the people served, (Pitonyak, 2002). To get our minds unstuck from old assumptions, some questioning and fresh thinking is required. As Michael Kendrick, a world leader in disability services has said, "The culture of innovation is one in which there needs to be a great deal of questioning of status quo assumptions or other apparent givens. It is through the ability to look at practices with new eyes that the much vaunted paradigm shifts become possible." (Kendrick, 2007a)
To read the full, original article click on this link: Enhancing Creative Organizational Cultures | The Creativity Post
