STRENGTH-BASED APPROACH IN WORKING WITH TERRITORIAL COMMUNITIES: A REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE

Abstract

Based on the analysis of literature, the paper reviews the characteristic of the application of the strength-based approach at the level of the territorial community, which has become widespread since the 1990s. It was stressed that this approach belongs to the emancipatory (developmental) macro-practice of social work and is aimed at using community resources to solve collective problems, as well as ensuring more equitable relations in the community. The paper highlights that for relatively stable situations in communities and in developing communities, the following strategies could be used: community participation; collective empowerment; asset-based community development. The authors specify the peculiarities of the application of these approaches in social work within territorial communities.While for crises and emergencies, a community resilience development strategy is more commonly used. This strategy involves building community members' ability to use their own resources to overcome emergencies and return to normal life. The paper reveals the process of working with territorial communities in emergencies and considers the following stages: assessment of losses and risks; determining community capacity; ensuring participation; education and training; formation of resilience. These stages are presented in such a way that the community can pass gradually or cyclically, in case when the impact of the emergency is prolonged or repeated.The paper features the key components of the strengths-based approach applied to social work with territorial community: community empowerment; collective action and self-organization; positive self-identification and community values; viability (resilience) of the community. The specifics of these strategies are outlined, their differences from the classical typology of community work models (by J. Rothman) are discussed.