Strengths-based research and policy: An introduction.

Abstract

A growing movement has emerged that promotes a strengths-based approach to research and social policy and seeks to counter the limitations of traditional deficits-based orientations. We refer to this as a "movement" in the sense that it is an unorganized collection of groups that share a common worldview and are generally moving in the same direction. This movement encompasses researchers, advocates, and policymakers who have organized themselves around different issues such as resilience, health promotion, school reform, and community development and have developed different formal or informal organizational structures. Table 1.1 briefly contrasts the focuses of deficits-based approaches with those of strengths-based alternatives in 10 content areas.The specific rationale, terminology, and strengths-based approaches emerging in these areas vary, reflecting in part the different types of deficits models that have traditionally influenced each (see column 1 of Table 1.1). The common element across content areas is that they transform deficitsbased approaches to ones based on strengths, as shown in column 2 of Table

Strength-based crisis programming: Evaluating the process of care

“…Moreover, strength-based approaches to crisis intervention that accentuate the positives of individuals by teaching new skills and linking with community resources in an effort to reduce individual vulnerabilities are needed (Maton et al, 2004;2002;Smith, 2006). Results of the present study affirm that the establishment of close personal strength-based relationships is key to client engagement and collaborative goal setting with informal and formal community resources viewed as potential assets so clients are able to live at their optimal level of independence.…”

“…The aforementioned Outputs lead directly to the Outcomes, which were viewed (Maton et al, 2004;Ornstein & Ganzer, 2000;Redko et al, 2007, Smith, 2006Tong, 2011). Goal setting is one of the more beneficial activities that clients can experience while a strong working-alliance between case manager (i.e.…”

“…The Initial Interactions component facilitates the understanding of the qualities an individual possess in an effort to capitalize on their strengths, an important element of the strength-based approach(Maton et al, 2004).…”

Addressing Cultural Factors in Development of System Interventions

“…For example, the deficits-based approach emphasizes tracking and remediation of less capable students; provides clinical treatment for children and adults with identified problems following expert-or government-defined prescriptions; focuses on negative emotions, cognitions, behaviors, traits and outcomes; tends to isolate, punish and pathologize families that are different; and views cultural differences as a problem for society. On the other hand, the strengths-based approach expects all children to succeed; capitalizes on child, teacher, and community strengths; emphasizes prevention of later development of problems by identifying and building on existing assets in individuals and communities; focuses on positive emotions, cognitions, behaviors, traits, and outcomes; supports all families and enhances family resilience; and values cultural differences and considers them as an asset to society (Maton, Dodgen, Leadbeater, Sandler, Schellenbach, & Solarz, 2004).…”

Measuring Youths’ Perceptions of Counseling Impact: Description, Psychometric Evaluation, and Longitudinal Examination of the Youth Counseling Impact Scale v.2

“…In the development and psychometric evaluation of the YCIS, it demonstrated sound psychometric properties and data confirmed the theoretical factor structure of the construct (Riemer & Kearns, 2010). Since this initial publication, however, the original 10-item measure was inspected for possible shortening in order to ease measurement burden and has been revised to include a question about a youth’s insight into his or her strengths, to reflect the growing emphasis on using strengths-based approaches in youth psychotherapy (Maton, Schellenbach, Leadbeater, & Solarz, 2004). Furthermore, the cross-sectional nature of the sample used in the original study precluded an examination of YCIS scores over time.…”