Strength based

Strength-based screening and assessment

As one of the characteristics of effective Youth AOD work, we often talk about strength-based approaches but how is this applied to screening and assessment?

Adding one question to the end of an assessment that asks a young person “what are your strengths?” does not make an assessment strength-based. Instead careful attention to the questions asked (or tool) as well as the process and style of assessment can help elicit information about a young person’s resources and strengths’ and their capacity to overcome difficulties. In addition, carefully selected questions that help a young person identify strengths and resources can aid the development of competent identity turning assessment into a therapeutic process in itself.

In contrast, if not done well, screening and assessment can lead to a list of problems or pathologies. In this instance, assessment can emphasise a problematic world view and one where a young person experiences themselves as a collection of issues to be addressed.

To avoid this, strength based assessments

Uses positive language in questions where possible.

Applying these practices will help ensure screening and assessment is strength-based.