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Essays focusing on the perspectives of strength-based approach
Strength Based approaches paper
Utilizing the strength perspective
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Strength Based Philosophy Strength-based approach is a successful implementation that is important to the social service field and is particularly useful to youth justice. Through the years, the strength-based philosophy has used in some type of client population and in areas to assist professions. Today many fields have developed their own approaches similar to strengths perspective which focuses on the development of resilience, community development, or solution focused therapy. Strength-based philosophy develops individual’s strengths and works to enhance their characteristics. Often the strength-based approach is compared to a deficit-based approach which means it focuses on failures. To better understand strength-based philosophy, it …show more content…
is best to know the definitions of strength-based approach; what strengths are; the concept of resilience; and personal care. The idea of the strength-based approach is how you view people. Roebank (2007) discusses a variety of definitions for strength-based from a number of different authors. The core belief of strength-based philosophy is that everyone has their own strengths and resources. Even the most trouble youth has some type of unique talent, skill, and other resources that can aid them in recovery (Roebank, 2007, p. 6). It is important to use the client’s interest, skills, and support system to address their problem and to strive to help them move towards positive change. Resourcefulness and creativity are heavily relied on and having common sense and courage is important for both the social worker and the client (Roebank, 2007, p. 6). To have a better understanding of the strength-based approach, it is essential to have an understanding of what strengths are.
Usually strengths are known for being positive factors that support healthy development in the individual and in their environment (Roebank, 2007, p. 6). There have been studies done by prevention researchers that have found that strengths can be a as a protective mechanism. Some strengths can include hope, courage, honesty, optimism, and faith. Another factor to look at is how strengths are affected by an individual’s environment. A person’s positive environments, such as families, communities, or culture, are important contributions to the outcomes of their strengths (Roebank, 2007, …show more content…
p.7). Resilience is another important factor for the strength-based philosophy. The concept of resilience is the ability to utilize positive features of the environment and the positive ways people respond to stress (Roebank, 2007, p. 7). Resilience changes the risk found in individual, familial, and environmental characteristics and allows for thriving of those in at-risk situations. When you build up resilience, it is the key to the outcomes for strength-based programs and the center for the philosophy. However social workers are concerned with resources, connections, skills, and gifts that enhances people’s resilience in the future (Roebank, 2007, p. 7). After going over the concepts of strength-based philosophy, it’s important to understand the tools that form interventions in the youth justice field in the real world.
Usually in youth justice settings, level systems or point systems are the main way to control and adapt behavior. For good behavior a person may receive more points that results to more privileges while bad behavior will receive less levels of points and negative consequences (Roebank, 2007, p. 8). The negativity to this practice is that it does not prepare children to effectively become responsible adults in the future. With point and level systems youths have limited control, but with strength-based perspective the youth does have control over themselves so that can develop am internal locus of control. There was a report of an agency who was transforming their multi-services for children into strength-based model and had issues of control and spent too much time debating over the issues. Although there was a struggle with control, it did motivate them. People tend to resist when they feel like they have limited freedom and when staff pressure individuals, it makes them feel powerless. Therefor when young people feel like they have no control over their life, they are less likely to accept any behavior changes. To change behaviors, it must be done internally and by choice. So when someone realizes the difference between their personal goals and their behavior, then out of motivation and choice, will change
their behavior (Roebank, 2007, p. 9). When a person’s life is completely controlled from them, then this method does not work.
The strengths perspective is based on the fact that everyone have the capacity for change, adaptation, and growth (Rogers, 2013). In order to change the course of his life Antwone joined the Navy to change his surroundings that had not been too pleasant. One of Antwone’s main strengths was that he was honest with himself and others even when it came to sensitive issues such as depression and mood swings. The strengths perspective also basically states that people are experts on their problems and circumstances so they can logically help develop solutions to their problems as well. This is definitely apparent in Finding Fish, because with the help of Lieutenant Commander Williams, Antwone knew that they could resolve problems from his
Identifying and understanding your own personal strengths is key to being a successful leader. Knowing your strengths means you can focus your efforts to maximize results, in yourself and in others. Strengths Finder 2.0 is designed to uncover your strengths and utilize these strengths to your advantage (Rath, 2007). Identifying and applying these strengths to your leadership style, will enhance your effectiveness as a transformational leader.
After reading Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath, I learned that there are thirty four different themes that one could have as strengths. Each strength has its own positive that allow people to better work with the people who have this style of strengths. Another key topic that I learned is that everyone has their own types of personal strengths. The main principle that was taken away from reading this book was that the old phrase of “You can be anything you want to be” is not a true statement (p. 6). We are all taught this idea at a very young age and it tends to stick with us for the rest of our lives. Forced by the past, most people are required to try to fix their weaknesses, but not improve on our strengths. We cannot truly be anything we want to be because we are not built this way. We are programmed to tend to stick with things that we are good at and when thrown at a task similar to the one we are good at we do not just excel at the other task. By sticking to increasing our strengths that we already have instead of fixing our weaknesses, we will be able to become a better human being because we are better the things in which we are good at.
Identify two strength-based behaviours and describe the effects to Linda and her family. (4 marks)
The definition of motivation according to Kennedy (2000), “[t]he internationalist view asserts that internal and external factors influence the change process From this perspective, motivation is seen as an interpersonal process that can be influenced in a positive way by the professional (para.18). A high-risk youth is defined as a male or female between the ages of 12-17 years old who has had some contact with the law or is at risk of becoming an offender. There is a lack of motivation in some high-risk youth to positively change their lives around. According to Stinson (2009), risk factors associated with juvenile delinquency include “poor academic performance, early childhood aggression, and hyperactivity; lack of parental involvement/interaction and inadequate parental supervision and monitoring; and community/environmental factors, including access to drugs and weapons, and lack of access to community resources due to poverty” (p. 11). At risk youth that engage in community based programs in Ridge Meadows, B.C. such as KidStart, Connex, Yardworks, Community Work Service, sports and leisure and counseling, are more successful later on in their young adulthood versus high risk youth who do not attend such programs. The KidStart program is a mentoring and one-on-one program that works with youth who are at-risk and experiencing difficulties in their lives. According to PLEA (2010), “[t]he primary objective of the program is to strengthen the young person's resilience to the risk factors that are known to lead to victimization, violence and criminal activities” (para. 1). Yardworks is a program that provides youth with work experience and life skills to allow them to enter the workforce and work alongside with a PLEA staff membe...
Weick, A., Rapp, C., Sullivan, W.P. and Kisthardt, W. (1989). A strengths perspective for social work practice. Social Work, 34(4), 350-354.
Kaifi, B. A. (2010). Strengths based leadership. Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship, 15(1), 139-141. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/203918383?accountid=12085
...(2004). Applying the principles of effective intervention to juvenile correctional programs. Corrections Today, 66(7), 26-29. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=4bd9d7f2-8ac5-42c6-a100-a2443eda9cbf@sessionmgr4002&vid=1&hid=4213
In the lecture presentation by Dr Homes (Homes) he discussed how the strength-finder is a tool that he uses in his operations to help and identify strengths that both compliment and fill missing gaps. These assessments help identify compatibility. Compatibility includes your co-workers, superiors, subordinates and other in the work place but also in your personal life. He discussed the need to understand the strength of others so that we can relate to them better. And by relating better, we are able to manage, motivate and lead them better. He clearly articulated the value of the strength finder assessment for better leadership.
It has been suggested that a worker’s intervention begins from the moment a referral has been made to their service (Walker and Beckett 2003 p.22). In this case study it could be said that the intervention started from the time I received the family’s referral and spent time with Sally and the children listening to their concerns and needs.
Lamb, F., Brady, M., & Lohman, C. (2009). Lifelong resiliency learning: A strength-based synergy for gerontological social work. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 52(7), 713-728. doi:10.1080/01634370802716216
However, in some ways the approach seems that it neglects important components in how children can learn from their mistakes. The synonyms for strength are courage, power, stability and main force, it is these words that help provide children with the ability to move forward. Using the Strengths Approach can in some ways help children to see past their weaknesses and strive to develop on their strengths but in order to find your strengths you must test out and find the gap between them. “Simply focusing on people’s strengths is not enough to liberate people from oppressive realities” (McCashen, 2005, p. 2). The approach hides the ability to sort out the weakness and “not able to give a complete picture of a child” (DEECD, 2012, p. 8) therefore the approach is designed to neglect the areas in need of further
The Circle of Courage identifies four universal needs of all children: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. When these needs are met, children grow and thrive. But when these growth needs are frustrated, multiple problems follow. Circle of Courage model is for creating environments in which all children can thrive. It also defines problems of youth in terms of strengths and developmental needs. These principles are grounded in resilience science and positive psychology. The Circle of Courage provides a unifying theme to various strength-based interventions (Brendtro, Brokenleg, & Bockern, 2005:1).
Around the world many people are faced with adversities and constant obstacles in the life that they will have to overcome. People often have to face adversities such as death, poverty, illness, disabilities, and environmental issues on a daily. Many people can overcome the adversities they are faced with, while others may struggle and need help overcoming their situation. Never the less if a person fails or succeeds at overcoming their situation this is still a part of their resilience.
Strength is a term with many definitions. What does strength mean? Anyone can sit down and start to write down their strengths but, how many different types of strengths are there? There are personal strengths, mental strengths, and spiritual strengths that all have a positive effect on people’s lives. Throughout life, strength is what helps overcome the problems we face. Strength is defined by Dictionary.com as “a good or beneficial quality or attribute of a person or thing.” No matter what kind of strength different people in society have; strength is something gained through personal experiences and life. Strength is having the mind set to overcome all of life’s challenges and battles.