Skip to main content
Log in

On Being a Strength Coach: Child Welfare and the Strengths Model

  • Published:
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Strength coaches help athletes assess their strengths and build on them. Likewise, social workers dealing with children and families in the child welfare system, rather than looking for pathology, can learn to help clients discover and develop their strengths, even while dealing with a child welfare bureaucracy. This article gives examples of the strength coach approach.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Callens, K. (1997). Ameliorating risk factors in abusive/neglectful parents through the psychoeducational group process. Unpublished master's thesis, Louisiana State University, School of Social Work, Baton Rouge, LA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cingolani, J. (1984). Social conflict perspective on work with involuntary clients. Social Work 29, 442-446.

    Google Scholar 

  • Germain, C., & Gitterman, A. (1980). The life model of social work practice. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, D. & Noble, D.N. (May/June 1991). Creative permanency planning: Residential services for families. Child Welfare 70, 371-382.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grinspoon, L. (Ed.) (July 1993). Child Abuse-Parts I and II. TheHarvard Mental Health Letter. Cambridge, MA: Harvard.

  • Hegar, R.L., & Hunzeker, J.M. (1988). Moving toward empowerment-based practice in public child welfare. Social Work 33 (6), 499-502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helfgott, K. (1991). Staffing the child welfare agency: Recruitment and retention. Washington, D.C.: Child Welfare League of America.

    Google Scholar 

  • Midgley, J., Ellett, C.D., Noble, D.N., Bennett, N., Livermore, M., Nauman, S., & Zimmerman, K. (1995). Statewide personnel needs study for child welfare employees in the Louisiana Office of Community Services. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petr, C.G. (1998). Social work with children and their families: Pragmatic foundations. New York: Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rappaport, J. (1981). In praise of paradox: A social policy of empowerment over prevention. American Journal of Community Psychology, 9, 1-25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rooney, R.H. (1992). Strategies for work with involuntary clients. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, S.M. (1992). Case management: An advocacy/empowerment design. In S.M. Rose (Ed.) Case management and social work practice (pp. 271-297). New York: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saleeby, D. (Ed.) (1992). The strengths perspective in social work practice. White Plains, NY: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D.W. (1981). Counseling the culturally different: Theory and practice. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tice, C., & Perkins, K. (1996). Mental health services and aging: Building on strengths. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weick, A. (November-December 1983). Issues in overturning a medical model of social work practice. Social Work, 28, 467-471.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weick, A., Rapp, C., Sullivan, W.P., & Kisthardt, W. (1989). A strengths perspective for social work practice. Social Work, July, 350-354.

  • Whittaker, J.K., & Tracy, E.M. (1990). Family preservation services and education for social work practice: Stimulus and response. In J.K. Whittaker, J. Kinney, E.M.Tracy, & C. Booth, Eds. Reaching high-risk families: Intensive family preservation in human services (pp. 1-12). New York: Aldine de Gruyter.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Noble, D.N., Perkins, K. & Fatout, M. On Being a Strength Coach: Child Welfare and the Strengths Model. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal 17, 141–153 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007510407262

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007510407262

Keywords

Navigation