在已開發和開發中國家的政策中，「社區參與」已在政策中扮演重要的角色，推動社區參與能夠促進正面的健康行為改變、動員人們、獲得資源、以及讓社區充權。本研究藉由「台南市社區參與計畫」觀察到參加和不參加健康社區計畫的社區組織，希望透過比較參與及不參與健康社區計畫的社區組織兩者的差異，找出影響社區組織領導人參與或不參與的因素，藉此協助研擬適當的社區參與策略。
　　影響社區參與的因素有很多，本研究主要是探討社區能力和社區組織領導才能；首先利用社區能力問卷分析比較參加和不參加健康社區計畫兩者的社區能力差異，結果顯示參加者的各項社區能力分數明顯高於不參加者，尤其在社區組織合作和活力的能力分數部分的差異最大，顯示影響參加者和不參加者社區能力分數的差異的是社區的活躍程度。
　　另外，本研究透過對社區領導者進行深度訪談，結果顯示影響領導者決定是否參與健康社區計畫的原因，包括社區組織領導人的領導才能（leadership）、社區能力、社區內組織合作的程度及其他原因等；而在探討影響里長和理事長相處情況部分，研究結果顯示，長期以來台灣的里辦公室和社區發展協會這兩個並存的社區組織對於里的發展是「雙頭馬車」，且深受選舉的政治因素干擾。
　　因此，本研究建議，里辦公室和社區發展協會組織應隨著社會變遷，予以重新考量，區分里辦公室和社區發展協會的角色和功能，以免政治角力造成基層社區發展之衝突或抵制。

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