Tawnya Boileau, BScN RN, School Health Coordinator Denise Kall, RN BN, Child & Reproductive Health Program Leader Assets in Action

Nov 2010: Power of Assets workshop with Dave Huether He challenged all agencies think about: ‘How to begin to embed Developmental Assets into the organization’s way of doing business?’ Where it all began …

Challenged all: To look at what they were already doing with Developmental Assets (DA) To build on those strengths To look at how to intentionally build DA into our practice Where it all began …

Internal brain-storming session with ‘early adopters’ to initiate the plan Assigned staff to create a business case to embed DA into our culture Created a DA Backgrounder and Logic Model How we got started …

Presented DA Backgrounder and Logic Model at our Senior Management Committee o o Emphasized that this is NOT AN ADD ON How we got started …

Consisted of: DA overview Potential impact Local picture Connections to our mandate Recommendations DA Backgrounder …

Goal: To create Supportive Environments and build Community Capacity to increase DA in children & youth in LG&L Covers work internally & externally Used resources mainly from Search Institute to help develop it DA Logic Model

Activities were grouped into two main categories for our internal and external work: o o Awareness /Education/Skill Building o o Supportive Environments DA Logic Model

Presentations to all departments Incorporate DA education into new staff orientation Post a list of DA in high traffic areas Provide pop up tips on computer Awareness/ Education - Internal

Identify DA Champions to lead and sustain the DA work Map current programs/services using the DA framework Integrate asset building into decision-making re: programs offered Integrate asset building into strategic planning Supportive Environment - Internal

Create guidelines for staff working with young people Review current family - friendly policies with the DA lens Explore/develop a workplace policy supporting an extended lunch for volunteering opportunities. Supportive Environment - Internal

Create an accompanying list of volunteer opportunities that would support building assets in children and youth Explore if the Health Unit can involve children and youth as volunteers. Develop a policy and list of potential volunteer opportunities Supportive Environment - Internal

Give recognition to co- workers’ asset building initiatives Display asset-building resources in reception areas Post children’s artwork in reception areas Supportive Environment - Internal

Work with community partners to support awareness & skill-building activities/initiatives Implement and or support support programs & services identified within DA framework Awareness/ Education - External

Participate in community planning tables Liaise & advocate for guideline/policies supporting integration of DA Supportive Environment - External

Public Health Ontario initiated province wide research projects, including one related to Resiliency We supported this direction- later evolved to a Strengths-Based Practice research project Opportunity Knocked …

As the project plans evolved, became clear that the research dove-tailed with our agency’s plan Captures our goal to create an internal culture that supports developmental assets Will provide solid base to implement all activities in logic model Connections to our DA Strategy

Pilot Project funded by Public Health Ontario Collaborative effort among several health units with LGL as a co-applicant Funding to be confirmed this fall Partnership with Dr. Wayne Hammond of Resiliency Canada Research project

Enhances the positive development of children and youth Seeks to understand & develop strengths, assets, and capabilities Many practitioners agree with this concept but lack training to implement it Strengths-Based Practice

What is the current capacity of public health staff to embed strengths-based approaches into practice? What are the essential steps towards integrating strengths-based practice into the organization’s current culture & practice? How can public health organizations nurture strengths-based approaches in their community? Strengths-Based Practice Research Questions

DA strategy is still a work in progress We hope participation in research project will jump start our strategy Share the wealth – use & adapt items for your agency as you see fit Stay tuned- we’ll come back to report on progress with our next steps Summary

Asset Building Checklist Asset Building Ideas for any organization Any Questions? To help you get started……