Asset-based approaches Trevor Hopkins Freelance Consultant

Aaron Antonovsky ‘The father of salutogenesis’

The ‘salutogenic’ perspective Focuses on three aspects: Finding solutions Identifying ‘General Resistance Resources’ The concept of a ‘Sense of Coherence’

Health Health is seen as a movement in a continuum on an axis between total ill-health and total health: ‘Ease’‘Dis - ease’

Health Health is seen as a movement in a continuum on an axis between total ill-health and total health: ‘Ease’‘Dis - ease’

Health Health is seen as a movement in a continuum on an axis between total ill-health and total health: ‘Ease’‘Dis - ease’

Health Health is seen as a movement in a continuum on an axis between total health and total ill-health: Later analysis suggests this is a multidimensional concept rather than the unidimensional one Antonovsky proposed. ‘Ease’‘Dis - ease’

Sense of Coherence This capacity is a combination of people’s ability to: Assess and understand the situation they are in Find meaning to move in a health-promoting direction Have the capacity to do so

The Sense of Coherence Antonovsky expressed these as: Comprehensibility Meaningfulness Manageability

Generalized Resistance Resources These are: found within people as resources bound to their person and capacity in the person’s immediate and distant environment of both material and non-material qualities from the person to the whole society

Generalized Resistance Resources Mapping-Sentence, definition of Generalized Resistance Resources (1985) Antonovsky p. 103)

Generalized Resistance Resources material/financial knowledge/intelligence ego/identity coping strategies (rational, flexible, far-sighted) social support (ties, social resources) commitment, continuence, cohesion, control cultural stability, cultural resources magic religion/philosophy/art (a stable set of answers) a preventitive health orientation

The salutogenic model The Salutogenic Model from Antonovsky - Faltermaier, (2005) p. 66)

The salutogenic model The salutogenic model and “sense of coherence concept could be implemented as a systematic orientation and perspective in daily activities and professional practice – that is, creating empowering dialogues to enforce the strengths of people.” Encouraging the strengths of women patients - A case-study from general practice on empowering dialogues (1999) Malterund K & Hollnagel H

Asset Mapping......or how to find, build and connect the Generalized Resistance Resources

Assets mapping Can be done with: Individuals – circles of friends/support/accountability Communities – Community asset mapping Organisations – using Appreciative Inquiry “The key factor is not what is available but to be able to use and re-use them for the intended purpose”

Circles of support and accountability “When we seek for connection, we restore the world to wholeness. Our seemingly separate lives become meaningful as we discover how truly necessary we are to each other” Margaret J. Wheatley

Circles of support ‘Circles of support and personalisation’ (no date) Max Neill & Helen Sanderson

‘Using an assets approach for positive mental health and well-being’ (2012) Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Sciences Circles of connectivity

Community asset mapping “The emerging associational map will chart the complex, diverse, interrelated array of local informal and formal associations. The purpose of the map will not be to seek associational assistance or advice to systems. Nor will it be in order to create partnerships. Rather the map will be needed to better understand the center of local neighborhoods, civil society and the mediating structures of locality.” John L McKnight

Community asset mapping The actual and potential assets of: Individuals Associations Organisations ‘Building Communities from the Inside Out’ (1993) John P Kretzman & John L McKnight

Creating an asset map The actual and potential assets of: Individuals – heart, head & hand Associations Organisations

Adding more depth As well as individuals, associations and organisations, in a community this can also include: The physical assets The economic assets The cultural assets

Using an assets approach for positive mental health and well-being’ (2012) Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Sciences

Primary Assets Secondary Assets Potential Assets Analysing assets

“Good organisations know how to preserve the core of what they do best. Preserving the right thing is key. Letting go of other things is the next step” David Cooperrider Appreciative Inquiry

Agenda Reflection – remembering times when our culture, values and identity made us proud. Affirmation - inquiring into those strengths and how we can use them to create the future Action – practical planning towards the future

The appreciative cycle Define Discover Dream Design Deliver

...building the path as we walk it

Questions and discussion

It takes everyone to build a healthy, strong and safe community. “The asset approach is a set of values and principles and a way of thinking about the world.”