Accentuate the Positive:A Resiliency or Assets-based Approach to Program Planning : Accentuate the Positive: A Resiliency or Assets-based Approach to Program Planning Julia Rosenbaum The CHANGE Project The Academy for Educational Development


Communities at Promise: Communities at Promise ?? !!!


Traditional intervention research and research-based planning: Traditional intervention research and research-based planning Identifies RISK FACTORS for a certain health outcome (e.g. teen pregnancy, ARI) Focuses on deficits that need to be filled (usually with outside resources), barriers that need to be overcome Creates dependencies on outside resources Leads to identification, labeling and stigmatization of ‘deviants’ and communities


Slide4: Ignores that the majority of 'at risk' populations are often surviving if not thriving, and resources and solutions already exist within communities to address problems


Assets-based Approaches: The Basics: Assets-based Approaches: The Basics Growing body of literature, coming largely from the domestic arena, youth development Look for existing resources or 'assets' on which to build interventions Search for protective factors rather than risk factors Demonstrate that protection ‘clusters’, just like risk


Youth Development Conceptual Model: Youth Development Conceptual Model


EXTERNAL ASSET CLUSTERS: EXTERNAL ASSET CLUSTERS Caring Relationships High Expectations Meaningful Participation within the home, school, community and peer networks


INTERNAL ASSET CLUSTERS: INTERNAL ASSET CLUSTERS SOCIAL COMPETENCE Cooperation and communication skills Empathy and respect Problem solving skills AUTONOMY and SENSE OF SELF Personal Conviction Self-Efficacy Self Awareness


INTERNAL ASSETS CONT’D: INTERNAL ASSETS CONT’D SENSE OF MEANING AND PURPOSE Optimism Goals and achievement motivation


What Protects Teenagers from Risky Behaviors?: What Protects Teenagers from Risky Behaviors? Taking an assets-based approach to teen pregnancy prevention in Jamaica


SURVEY DESIGN and ADMINISTRATION: SURVEY DESIGN and ADMINISTRATION Instrument adapted from the CA Healthy Kids Survey, West Ed Corporation, based in Oakland, California Conducted by Hope Enterprises / Rural Family Support Organization in collaboration with AED’s CHANGE Project Funded by USAID 13 external and 6 internal assets measured using 61 questions 1004 adolescents between 12-16 randomly selected for interview in RURAL Jamaica


Slide12: Teens self-assessed on the measures along a 4 point scale never, sometimes, often, or always true These were then coded as high (often or always), medium and low assets


RISK BEHAVIORS: RISK BEHAVIORS The prevalence of the following risk behaviors were measured: Early, unprotected sex and condom use Cigarette, marijuana and alcohol use Violent and suicidal behavior


Sexual Risk Behavior: Ever Had Sex By Assets in the HOME ENVIRONMENT: Sexual Risk Behavior: Ever Had Sex By Assets in the HOME ENVIRONMENT


Slide15: Adolescents with opportunities for meaningful participation with parents in the home and in the community were significantly less likely to engage in early sexual initiation.


Taking the results to the community for participatory planning: Taking the results to the community for participatory planning


Positive Parenting Program: The Triple P Rovers: Positive Parenting Program: The Triple P Rovers


Slide18: Little application outside of the U.S or in fields other than youth development/ adolescent reproductive health Ripe for exploration! Compatible with other assets-based approaches like PD Compatible with BEHAVE Planning Framework, but key factors don’t directly address ‘assets’.


For more information…. : For more information…. For an electronic copy of the research report or other information, contact: Julia Rosenbaum changeinfo@aed.org www.changeproject.org Thank you!