Strengths-based practice and ABCD

The following are some posts that might be of interest to students and practitioners in relation to strengths-based approaches and asset-based community-driven development (ABCD) .

A few good places to start are:

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Here are some of the other blog posts that could be of interest:

An introduction to strengths-based practice (a video lecture) - An introductory lecture on strengths-based practice I prepared for students in a course on engaging families and communities. In it I outline 8 principles of strengths-based practice. Continue reading →
Power and strengths-based practice - Strengths-based practice fundamentally challenges traditional approaches to power relationships in working with individuals, families and communities. Rather than operating from a position of power-over, strengths-based practice requires us to critically reflect on the dynamics of power in our relationships and to focus on power-with and power-to, and to nurture power-within. Continue reading →
A video introducing asset-based community development (ABCD) - This is a brief introduction to ABCD—asset-based community development (or asset-based community-led development)—produced by The Calabash Trust in South Africa. I like how it discusses the idea that the health of our minds and hearts affect our material well-being. Too much … Continue reading →
Resources for churches on asset-based community development (ABCD) - A while ago somebody asked me about resources on strengths-based approaches to community development for churches. Here are some suggestions, mainly related to asset-based community-driven development (ABCD). Articles about ABCD and churches or faith communities. Barrett, A. (2013). Asset-based community … Continue reading →
Strengths-based practice: more than being positive - In strengths-based and asset-based approaches to family and community work we focus on strengths, aspirations and potential rather than problems, needs and deficits by, amongst other things: Consciously looking for the strengths and potential of the people, families and communities … Continue reading →
A video and some tips on family engagement - This is a useful short video (produced by the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health) introducing some key concepts relating to engaging families. While its focus is child and youth mental health, it is just as … Continue reading →
An example of asset-based community development - Asset-based community-driven development (ABCD) is built on four foundations (Kretzmann, 2010; Kretzmann & McKnight, 1993; Mathie & Cunningham, 2003): It focuses on community assets and strengths rather than problems and needs It identifies and mobilises individual and community assets, skills … Continue reading →
Mobilising community assets and volunteers can have side effects - One of the strengths of asset-based community-driven development (ABCD) is how it builds on the passions and skills of volunteer community members. It’s amazing what communities can achieve when they rely on their own resources. But there can be a … Continue reading →
Rethinking the roles of families and clients in evidence-based practice - The principles which underpinned our approach to supporting Children and Parenting Support programs to implement evidence-based programs and practice as part of the Children and Families Expert Panel, had a large influence on how I presented evidence-based practice in the … Continue reading →
Seven principles for a strengths-based approach to working with groups - There is surprisingly little literature on strengths-based approaches to group work. Most of the available literature focuses on groups as part of a broader strengths-based approach to a particularly issue or target group, rather than a strengths-based approach to actually … Continue reading →
A reading list on ABCD (over 150 resources) - [Updated 9 November 2019 to add new resources. Click here for a list of the new ones.] The following are readings I’ve collected about asset-based community development (ABCD) and other asset-based approaches to working with communities. (If you want you … Continue reading →
Social change and strengths-based approaches - In 2009, after both my daughters had started school, I was ready to become involved in social change groups again. A few years earlier I had become immersed in strengths-based approaches to working with communities and wanted to explore this … Continue reading →
Jihad Dib on school transformation (TEDx talk) - This TEDx talk by Jihad Dib, the Principal at Punchbowl Boys High, captures the essence of strengths-based practice and highlights the importance of community engagement. In the school of around 450 students, 65% of the students come from the bottom … Continue reading →
Some good articles/links – strengths-based practice - My most popular post, is on strengths-based practice and the strengths perspective so this weeks collections of readings are about strengths-based approaches to working with individuals and families. Strengths-based practices: The evidence. A discussion paper by Natalie Scerra from UnitingCare … Continue reading →
ABCD and Making the invisible visible - This is a great TEDx talk by DeAmon Harges demonstrating some features of asset-based community-driven development (ABCD). The following are a few of the great quotes that stood out for me. Find the gifts and talents of everyone in the … Continue reading →
How painting can transform communities - In this TED talk, Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn talk about their community art which involves working with local communities to paint entire neighbourhoods. It is a wonderful example of a bottom-up approach to community development. I found their description … Continue reading →
Creating positive images of Aboriginal fathers - We are surrounded by negative images of Aboriginal men and fathers. In the mainstream media, and even academic literature, they are mostly portrayed in a negative context: the focus is on crime, domestic violence, alcohol and other drugs, unemployment, and … Continue reading →
Reflections on using conversations in a course on community engagement - In the undergraduate online community engagement elective I teach, I introduce students to strengths-based approaches (e.g., asset-based community-driven development and appreciative inquiry). To encourage them to think about the difference between deficit-based questions and strengths-based questions, I ask students to … Continue reading →
Bottom-up community development - [Updated 15 March 2018] “You cannot waltz into a community and fix the world…. no matter how well you can dance” (Melinda Jurd, a speech pathology student doing an elective on community engagement). I love this quote and I … Continue reading →
Seven principles of asset-based community-driven development (Jim Diers) - This is a short video with Jim Diers (from Neighbor Power) in which he outlines seven principles of asset-based community-driven development (ABCD). The seven principles are: Have Fun Start where people are… But don’t leave them there (Strive for results) … Continue reading →
Angela Blanchard – Building on the strengths of communities - In this TEDx talk, Angela Blanchard (Neighborhood Centers Inc) discusses a strengths-based approach to working with communities. It is an example of what asset-based community-driven development (ABCD) looks like in practice. ABCD is built on four foundations: It focuses on … Continue reading →
Looking for problems! - A few years ago, Jasmine came home with a survey for us to fill out as part of a university research project being conducted through the school. I didn’t know at the time, but the survey was the Child Behavior … Continue reading →
Playgroups as a foundation for working with hard to reach families - The Caravan Project at the Family Action Centre has been using playgroups for over 20 years as a foundation for working with families who are suspicious of, and reluctant to use, health and welfare services. Playgroups are valuable in promoting … Continue reading →
What is community capacity building? - According to the Western Australian Department for Community Development (2006) Community capacity building is about promoting the ‘capacity’ of local communities to develop, implement and sustain their own solutions to problems in a way that helps them shape and exercise … Continue reading →
10 things I’ve learnt about strengths-based community engagement - Strengths-based community engagement recognises that communities have many strengths that can help achieve a wide range of objectives. The following are 10 things I’ve learned from doing strengths-based community engagement in a variety of contexts. They aren’t commandments or principles, … Continue reading →
Setting the context for a world cafe - Over the next couple of days I’m facilitating some conversations at my daughter’s school which are essentially part of a visioning process. As with any school there are some parents who will attend with specific concerns. I want to ensure … Continue reading →
What is asset-based community development (ABCD)? - [Updated 7 November 2017] Asset-based community development (ABCD), or asset-based community-driven development as it is sometimes called, is a bottom-up way of working with communities that focuses on community strengths and assets rather than on deficits and problems. In another … Continue reading →
Ron Finley: A guerrilla gardener in South Central LA - An inspiring (and entertaining) video about urban guerrilla gardening. This is a great example of focusing on the strengths of a community. Rather than seeing abandoned, run-down blocks of land, Ron sees their potential as gardens. Rather than seeing people … Continue reading →
Asset-based community-driven development in Ethiopia - [Updated 1 November 2018 to fix some broken links.] Oxfam Canada and the Coady International Institute have been doing some asset based community driven development (ABCD) in Ethiopia. Below are three videos explaining how it has changed the lives of … Continue reading →
ABCD in Ethiopia - A short video by Oxfam Canada about an ABCD program in Ethopia. I like how they call it Asset Based Community Driven development. Thanks to Andre from the Centre for Appropriate Technology for passing it on. If you liked this … Continue reading →
A story of two communities - Some colleagues and I have recently started using a great asset-based community development (ABCD) training exercise—Community A and Community B—to explore how the questions we ask can shape how we see the communities we work with. There is a bit … Continue reading →
Libraries and community engagement - I’m meeting with somebody soon to discuss a workshop on asset-based community development (ABCD) for library staff. To help prepare myself I’ve been looking at some resources. Not surprisingly there isn’t much on ABCD, but there is quite a bit … Continue reading →
“I try and make it feel more like a home” – families living in caravan parks - A paper I presented in 2008. In this presentation I want to compare two pictures of caravan parks and their residents (especially families). One picture is created by focusing on the deficits or problems we can find in caravan parks. … Continue reading →
It’s nearly time to go: ABCD with transient caravan park communities - An article originally published in Parity in 2009. Caravan parks play an important role in pathways in and out of homelessness; and many marginalised residents are currently, or have been, homeless (Stuart, 2007). Because of their clearly defined boundaries and … Continue reading →
What is the Strengths Perspective? - The strengths perspective and strengths-based approaches offer service providers ways of working that focus on strengths, abilities and potential rather than problems, deficits and pathologies (Chapin, 1995; Early & GlenMaye, 2000; Saleebey, 1992d; Weick et al., 1989). Since the mid 1980’s … Continue reading →