Asset-based approaches

www.assetbasedconsulting.net

Trevor HopkinsFreelance Consultant

Aaron Antonovsky1923 - 1974

‘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 connectthe 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

www.helensandersonassociates.co.uk/media/75948/circlesofsupportandpersonalisation.pdf

‘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 themediating 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

http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=18364393

Primary Assets

Secondary Assets

Potential

Assets

Analysing assets

“Good organisations know how topreserve 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

...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.”

www.assetbasedconsulting.co.uk