What is the strengths approach?
Clients are the experts
The strengths approach means we operate on the assumption that people have strengths and resources for their own empowerment. But it's just as important to recognise that structural and cultural impediments constrain people's empowerment. These need to be addressed in ways that enable the people we work with to control the process of change. We call this 'client-directed' practice. In other words, clients, not workers define goals, and identify and mobilise strengths and resources. This means that workers and agencies need to be ever mindful of the danger we can be to people by inadvertently using power over others and approaching them as if we are the experts rather than approaching them as the experts.
Parallel process
St Luke’s has tried to bring the strengths philosophy and social justice principles into both our service delivery and our organisation. This is called 'parallel process'.
We have also been able to articulate our learning from our own experience and that of others in ways that seem to speak to anyone involved in human service work. We have done this through training and the development of resources and tools that are published by Innovative Resources, and also by carrying the strengths approach into our community development work.
Useful texts
Through St Luke’s publishing arm, Innovative Resources, we have developed a range of resources and tools. These books focusing on the strengths approach are available through Innovative Resources
Wayne McCashen, The Strengths Approach, St Luke’s Innovative Resources, 2005
Wayne McCashen, Communities of Hope, St Luke’s Innovative Resources, 2004
Linda Beilharz, Building Community – The Shared Action Experience, St Luke’s Innovative Resources, 2002
In the foreseeable future St Luke’s is not able to accept any more requests for training in strengths based practice. We may re-open our books at a later time as our training capacity builds.
St Luke’s Innovative Resources is still offering training in strengths based ideas and practice tools. You might like to check them out http://www.innovativeresources.org