Strength –based approach is the practice of identifying the
positives and strengths of children, adults, families, and communities. According
to Chang, practitioners use this perspective to explore client competencies,
capacities, abilities, and resources and then focus on future possibilities (p.
39, 2012). This approach acknowledges an individual’s unique set of fortes and
challenges and engages their microsystem at a meso level to develop
individualized, strength based service plans.
Focusing on the strengths in people is the foundation towards positive
change. This approach is different from other practices in the way it defines
the problem. Typical deficit approaches emphasize a problem and pathology.
Common change-focused interventions maintain the belief that people need help
because they have a problem (Hammond, Resiliency
Initiatives, 2010).
The strength-based perspective holds the belief that
individuals, families, and communities have the strengths, resources, and
ability to recover from adversity. As opposed to emphasizing vulnerabilities
and deficits, such as an analytical approach, the strength-based perspective
sees opportunities, solutions, and power. Embracing a strength-based paradigm
encourages the act of seeing beyond the risk behaviors of children, youth, and
families in high need communities to the potential of what can be.
I like this approach because it focuses on a positive
language to describe our struggles rather than letting our struggles define us.
It believes that change is inevitable and we have the power to initiate and
guide that change to meet our individual, family, and community needs. It
requires us to value our differences to recognize our successes rather than
complain about our failures. It’s the practice of appreciating what you can do,
not beating yourself up for what you can’t. Though I agree with a lot of the
principles of this development, it has a tendency to undermine the kind of
resilience that overcomes diversity; it is important to consider all factors
while forming an approach.
