Good Health: A Glass half full!

Cormac RussellAsset Based Community Development Institute

people focusedtheir attentionon….

What can be doneinstead of what can’t be done

rather than problems

more than weaknesses

What

might be

possible if

In the real world there are both strengths and needs

So where is most practice focused?

Where is most policy

focused?

The dilemma . . .

Individuals and Communities have deficiencies & needs

Individuals and Communities have skills and talents

Everyone should have the opportunity to be a producer of their own and their community’s

well-being

It takes everyone to build a strong and safe

community.

Policy objectives on health inequities

• Give every child the best start before school age

• Give all the chance to develop skills and opportunities to control their life chances

• Create fair employment and decent work for all

• Ensure healthy standard of living for all

• Create sustainable communities and places that foster health and well-being

• Strengthen the role and impact of prevention

Source: Marmot Review: Second Interim Report - 30 September 2009

Neighbourhood needs map

Environmental pollution

Unemployment

Gangs Literacy challenges

Early SchoolLeaving

Broken Families Poor Housing

Joy riding

Drug Dealin

g

CrimeDisability

Graffiti

Neighbourhood assets map

The three key arenas for uncovering community assets

PeopleFormal

Institutions

CommunityAssociations

Features of asset-based work• Collecting stories/Appreciative Inquiry• Organising a core group• Mapping the capacities and assets of

individuals, associations and local institutions

• Building a community vision and plan• Mobilising and linking assets for economic

development• Leveraging activities, investments and

resources from outside the community

Social inclusion? Where it matters?

Participation

Friendship

Intimacy

Economic Exchange

Full circles indicate capacity to deal with life and

are a powerful measure of health in our society.

Spot the difference?

Traditional approach

A new policy anyone?Present Policy Why not also have a model

that…

Focus on Deficiencies Focus on Assets

Problem Response Opportunity Identification

Charity Orientation Investment Orientation

Grants to Agencies Grants, Loans, Investments, Leverage

More Services Fewer Services

High Emphasis on Agencies Emphasis on Associations

Focus on Individuals Focus on communities/neighbourhoods

Maintenance Development

See People as Clients See People as Citizens andCo-producers

‘Fix People’ Develop Potential

Programmes are the Answer People are the Answer

In the final analysis

Community Assets Determine Our Health; that’s why we’re better together…