strengths & empowerment perspectives

STRENGTHS & EMPOWERMENT PERSPECTIVES

Presented by: Latira Barnett, Angie Graves, Jeniene Jourdan, and Jodi Kelley

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Understanding of Strengths Perspective

“helping to discover and embellish, explore, and exploit clients’ strengths and resources in the service of assisting them to achieve their goals, realize their dreams…” (Saleebey, 2006, p1)

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Who are the claim makers? University of Kansas School of Social Welfare - 1982

Saleebey Rapp

Claims: Instead of focusing on clients' problems and deficits, the strengths perspective centers on clients' abilities,

talents, and resources. Encouraged social workers to shift from this problem-focused approach to helping.

(Kim, 2008)

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Six hallmarks of strengths-based practice:

1. It is goal oriented

2. Systematic assessment of strengths

3. The environment is seen as rich in resources

4. Explicit methods are used for using client and environmental strengths for goal attainment

5. The relationship is hope-inducing

6. The provision of meaningful choices is central and clients have the authority to choose

(Rapp, Saleebey, & Sullivan, 2005, p81)

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5 Concepts of Strengths Perspective: Resilience Membership Dialogue Collaboration Suspension of disbelief

Schiver, JM (2011). Human behavior and the social environment, Boston: Allyn and Bacon. p. 119.

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Saleebey, D. ( 2006 ). The strengths perspective in social work practice (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. p. 10.

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P

C R

Strengths

Core values of the strengths lexicon


Populations who may benefit the most from strengths perspective: Elderly Partner Violence Families Adolescents Mental Health

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(Kim, 2008)

Application of Strengths Perspective:

Strengths Scenario

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What strengths can you identify?

Application of Strengths Perspective:

How would you use strengths perspective to help client, community, and society?

Micro Guidelines for Strengths

Assessment (Cowger, 1994, p.265)

Mezzo Support group School policies

Macro Legislative advocacy for Bully

Prevention

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Critical Reflection Questions:

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#1 – What claims can be made about the Strengths Perspective?

#2 - Who are the claim makers?

#3 – What empirical evidence exists to support claims?

#4 – What is the affective appeal of the Strengths Perspective?

#5 – What sociological, political, and economical contexts promote the

Strengths Perspective?

#6 – Unanswered questions?

Understanding of Empowerment Perspective

“Empowerment practice helps individuals and groups to overcome social barriers to self-fulfillment within existing social structures” (p. 297)

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Payne, M. (2005). Modern social work theory, 3rd Ed. London: Lyceum Books.


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Who are the claim makers? Solomon -1976 Cox

Claims: Powerlessness is caused by economic insecurity, absence of political

involvement, absence of resources and access to information. (Parsons, 2008) Social workers do not empower people, rather help others to empower

themselves. (Cowger, 1994)


Populations that may benefit from the Empowerment Perspective:

WomenPoorMinoritiesVictims of abuseIndividuals with physical or mental disabilitiesOther vulnerable populations

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Payne, M. (2005). Modern social work theory, 3rd Ed. London: Lyceum Books. p. 298

Application of Empowerment Perspective

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Anderson, Wilson, Mwansa, & Oseu-Hwedie (1994)

Application of Empowerment Perspective:

Empowerment Scenario

What powers could you help this client realize?

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Application of Empowerment Perspective:

How would you use empower-ment perspective to help client, community, and society?

Micro Individual therapy

Mezzo Support groups Shelters

Macro Advocate for legislative policy

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Payne, M. (2005). Modern social work theory, 3rd Ed. London: Lyceum Books.

Critical Reflection Questions:

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#1 – What claims can be made about the Empowerment Perspective?

#2 - Who are the claim makers?

#3 – What empirical evidence exists to support claims?

#4 – What is the affective appeal of the Empowerment Perspective?

#5 – What sociological, political, and economical contexts promote the

Empowerment Perspective?

#6 – Unanswered questions?

References:

Anderson, S.C., Wilson, M.K., Mwansa, L., & Oseu-Hwedie, K. (1994). Empowerment and social work education and practice in Africa. Journal of Social Development in Africa 9(2), 71-86.

Cowger, CD. (1994). Assessing client strengths: clinical assessment for client empowerment. Social Work, 39(3), pp. 262-268. 2006

Kim, JS. (2008). Strengths perspective. In T. Mizrahi & L.E. Davis (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Work. (e-reference edition). Retrieved from http://www.oxford-naswsocialwork.com/entry?entry=t203.e382&srn=1&ssid=466511042#FIRSTHIT

Miley, K. K, O’Melia, M. & DuBois, B. (2009). Generalist social work practice: An empowering approach. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

National Criminal Justice Reference Service. (2010). Family violence. Retrieved from http://www.ncjrs.gov/spotlight/family_violence/legislation.html

Parsons, RJ. (2008). Empowerment practice. In T. Mizrahi & L.E. Davis (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Work. (e-reference edition). Retrieved from http://www.oxford-naswsocialwork.com/entry?entry=t203.e128&srn=1&ssid=1075340437#FIRSTHIT

Payne, M. (2005). Modern social work theory, 3rd Ed. London: Lyceum Books. Rapp, CA. Salebeey, D, & Sullivan, WP (2005). The future of strengths-based social

work. Advances in Social Work, 6(1), pp. 79-90. Saleebey, D. (1996). The strengths perspective in social work practice: extensions

and cautions. Social Work 41 (3): 296-305. Saleebey, D. (2006). The philosophy, principles, and language of the strengths

perspective. In D. Saleebey (Ed.), The strengths perspective in social work practice (4th ed., pp. 1-22). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.

Schriver, J. (2011). Human behavior and the social environment, 5th Ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

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