NCJ Number
175065
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 62 Issue: 1 Dated: June 1998 Pages: 46-53
Date Published
1998
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article explains the principles and techniques of strength-based practice, an approach to working with resistant youth that focuses on their strengths and competencies rather than their problems.
Abstract
The strength-based approach is outlined by discussing six principles organized around the "ABCs" of Accountability-Action, Believing-Brief, and Cooperation-Competency. The strength-based approach for challenging youth holds that "accountability" is realized through behavioral change, not passive admission of wrongdoing. From the beginning of contact, there is an expectation that the youth will do something to solve the problem behavior that has caused them difficulty and harm. The action phase of strength-based practice involves asking youths questions that will lead them into examining how they got into "this mess" and "How do I get out of it?" "Believing" that clients have the resources to solve their problems through behavioral and cognitive change is crucial in strength-based practice. Further, strength-based practice is "brief." It is not long-term work that is cut short or abbreviated. Rather, the route to success is shortened by how the problem is framed. There is no long-term exploration of the causes of delinquent behavior. The strength- based approach focuses on action and change, considering the future to be far more important than the past. The information and data needed to solve the problem are limited to the current time period. The principles of cooperation and competence are closely linked, because cooperation can be raised in proportion to efforts to identify and promote the competence of an adolescent. This article concludes with an overview of four advantages of strength-based practice. 34 references