8/9/2019 Advantages of Strengths-Based, Collaborative
Practice
1/1
PARTNERS FOR CREATIVE COLLABORATION
Dean C. Wolf, LCSW-C
Licensed Social Worker
101 W. Main Street 304 York Street
Westminster, Md. 21157 Gettysburg, Pa. 17325(410) 876-3030 (717)
337-9503
Advantages & Benefits of Strengths-Based, Collaborative
Practice Model
Empowering families to take charge by supporting them and their
involvement in
the process promotes the likelihood they will stay in charge and
have thecapability to solve future problems when the agencies are
no longer involved and
the supports no longer in place. In many ways this is a
prevention orientation in
that supporting families is likely to reduce recidivism and
prevent other family
members from entering the system
The child/family is likely to be less resistant and more
cooperative since they
have significant say over defining the problems they wish to
change and have thecooperation of agency staff in constructing
solutions that work best for them
Focus on strengths engenders hope and optimism in the
child/family regardingtheir ability to solve their own problems and
increases the belief in helpers that
families can be trusted to manage their own affairs.
Emphasis on working in a collaborative/integrative manner with
families, naturalsupports and formal supports/professionals takes
the heat off the helper in that the
responsibility for change is shared by the team
Focus on the social context/environment of the child/family
rather than the
internal condition of the child widens the lens of assessment,
intervention and
treatment possibilities as the team pools joint wisdom,
resources and authority infinding solutions to problems in home,
school and community.
Professionals from all systems begin to work together in
unprecedented ways andtruly come to understand each others
systems.
Natural support networks begin to be organized around the
mission of supporting
and empowering families to take care of their own.
The everyday work of agency staff becomes less crisis driven,
more rewarding
and often fun in that supporting families through
strengths-based thinking andpractice rather than control and
coercion strategies aimed at compliance results in
true behavior change.
May 2007
