History
The strengths based practice model puts to use an individual’s personal strengths to aid in recovery, empowerment, and a humanistic notion that people can change and grow (Hepworth et al, 2013, p.274). The strength based practice approach also focuses on a person’s strengths and self-determination. The goal of this model is to build upon inherent strengths of a family or individual that is being assessed. The strengths perspective demands a different way of looking at people, communities and even families in which the social worker seeks to develop in their client the natural abilities and capabilities needed to improve their situation (Saleebey & Dennis, 1996). According to Nissen (2006), the strength-based model enhances strengths,
…show more content…
The client and her family have all recently entered into a time in which their family is in perpetual crisis. Perception plays a great role in the strengths based model. Changing the perception brings to the light that the client and her children continued to exist under stress and have strengths that have helped them survive together so far. The strengths-based social work approach is appropriate for the client in that she has been extremely depressed, frustrated and rarely speaking to anyone outside of her children, yet she has had the ability to maintain her family and health (Kaplan and Girard, 1994). Assessing the client’s strengths can potentially alleviate or redirect negative outlooks on the client’s current situation. Inquiring about the various strengths that a client possesses opposed to focusing on the problems or issues they may have is believed to be more effective in which a language of hope, strength and motivation are created for the client (Barwick 2004). In addition to the recent separation from her husband, the client now has added stress in regard to the safety of her children as they attend school in a violent prone neighborhood. Maintaining both jobs is also contributing to the clients stress levels along with the lack of a babysitter, yet the client has managed to keep both. Emily's socioeconomic status prohibits her from caring for her children the way she would like to. She has continued to work both jobs to be able to support her family with the hopes that they will not be separated in the same way she was from her