The Strengths Perspective: Proving "My Strengths" and "It Works"

Author(s): Richard C. Rapp

Source: Social Work, Vol. 52, No. 2 (April 2007), pp. 185-186
Published by: Oxford University Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23721173
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 COMMENTARY

The Strengths Perspective: Proving

"My Strengths" and "It Works"
Richard C. Rapp

School of Social Welfare provided early findings

day-long follow-up training session for care about the value of strengths-based case management.
I was in Tampa, Florida, recently conducting a
coordinators who a year prior had undergone With a people-first orientation, they reported that
basic training in strengths-based case management patients leaving state psychiatric hospitals were able
(SBCM). Since the initial training, they had been to accomplish many of the goals they had identified
using a brief model of SBCM to assist newly diag in treatment (Rapp & Chamberlain, 1985). Since
nosed people who were HIV-positive obtain initial that time they have contributed to our understand
medical care. When I asked the group members ing of the conceptual basis for strengths-based work
about their experiences using the strengths-based (Saleebey,2006) and provided a tool for assessing the
approach over the past year, one woman spoke up key elements of strengths-based case management
softly, but pointedly saying, "It works!" The com (Marty, Rapp,& Carlson, 2001).This work serves as
ment prompted widespread agreement and a discus the touchstone for anyone interested in delivering
sion of how using the strengths perspective assisted strengths-based services.
people with HIV, and not trivially by any means, Empirical research, both quantitative and quali
helped the care coordinators as well. tative, has taken place elsewhere. For the past 15
The Tampa discussion about the strengths years the Center for Interventions, Treatment, and
perspective mirrored MacFarlane's description of Addictions Research (CITAR) at Wright State
personal and professional experiences with the University's Boonshoft School ofMedicine, Dayton,
perspective in "My Strength: A Look Outside the Ohio, has focused on the process and outcomes as
Box at the Strengths Perspective" (MacFarlane, sociated with strengths-based case management with
2006). She offered a powerful firsthand view of how people who have substance abuse issues. CITAR
her clients responded to the emphasis she placed has tested SBCM in controlled clinical trials funded

on helping them identify their strengths and take by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Results
charge of their own plans—both core principles of have shown that long-term SBCM, up to nine
strengths-based practice. Experiences like those of months, provided during aftercare treatment, led
MacFarlane and the care coordinators I trained in to improved retention in aftercare services and
reduced drug use and criminal justice involve
Florida are typical of social workers who practice
from the strengths perspective. ment (Rapp, Siegal,Li,& Saha, 1998; Siegal et al.,
Although practitioners and the clients they serve1996; Siegal, Li, & Rapp, 2002).The relationship
may believe it is effective, strengths-based casebetween SBCM and improved outcomes was not
direct. Rather it was mediated by the apparent
management will remain only a "feel good" state of
ability of strengths-based case managers to en
mind without empirical support for its effectiveness.
That lack of legitimacy would be most unfortunatecourage retention in aftercare. SBCM was also
associated with improved employment function
because strengths-based practice reflects several of
social work's core values. Some work toward evaluat ing, although the effects were mediated by time
ing the effectiveness of the approach has been taking (Siegal et al., 1996).This is not surprising given
place in several locations and demonstrating that we case management's focus on assisting clients with
do have some empirical basis for several elements employment. One study suggests that SBCM may
of the strengths perspective. operate as a stand-alone treatment intervention,
Dr.Charles Rapp (no relation),Dr.Dennis Salee rather than just as an adjunct to treatment (Siegal,
Rapp, Li, Saha, & Kirk, 1997).
bey (emeritus), and others at the University of Kansas

CCC Code: 0037-8046/07 $3.00 C2007 National Association of Social Workers 185

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 REFERENCES
Recently, CITAR has begun to examine
Brun, C., & Rapp, R. C. (2001). Strengths-based
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Gardner, L. I., Metsch, L. R., Anderson-Mahoney, P.,
two months, was found to improve linkage with Loughlin,A. M., del Rio, C., Strathdee, S., Sansom,
medical care among people who were recently S. L., Siegal, H. A., Greenberg, A. E., Holmberg, S.D.,
& the Antiretroviral Treatment and Access (ARTAS)
diagnosed as HIV-positive (Gardner et al., 2005). Study Group. (2005). Efficacy of a brief case manage
As yet unpublished results demonstrated that ment intervention to link recently diagnosed HIV
infected persons to care. AIDS, 19,423-431.
among people with substance abuse problems
MacFarlane, C. D. (2006). My strength: A look outside
there was a significant improvement in linkage the box at the strengths perspective. Social Work, 51,
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rate for the group that received brief SBCM
Marty, D., Rapp, C. A., & Carlson, L. (2001).The experts
compared with the standard care group. speak: The critical ingredients of strengths model
Qualitative studies are particularly suited to help case management. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 24,
214-221.
ing identify the elements of strengths-based case
Rapp, C. A., & Chamberlain, R. (1985). Case management
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mentioned earlier. In one ethnographic study,
Rapp, R. C. (2006).The strengths perspective and persons
clients identified the focus on strengths and the with substance abuse problems. In D. Saleebey (Ed.),
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their continued participation in treatment (Brun & Rapp, R. C., Siegal, H. A., Li, L., & Saha, P. (1998). Predict
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Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 24,603—615.
beneficial activities they had with strengths-based Redko, C., Rapp, R. C., & Carlson, R. G. (in press).
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with substance abuse problems and strengths-based
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critical to their success (Redko, Rapp, & Carlson, Saleebey, D. (2006). The strengths perspective in social work
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Siegal, H. A., Fisher,J. H., Rapp, R. C., Kelliher, C.W.,
The work we and others have conducted still rep Wagner, J. H., O'Brien,W. F., & Cole, P. A. (1996).
resents SBCM research in its infancy. What is really Enhancing substance abuse treatment with case
management: Its impact on employment. Journal of
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tematically examines the outcomes and mechanisms Siegal, H. A., Li, L., & Rapp, R. C. (2002). Case manage
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of action associated with strengths-based approaches.
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Siegal, FT A., Rapp, R. C., Li, L., Saha, P., & Kirk, K.
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researchers in general, should come together to

Richard C. Rapp, MStyACSty is assistant professor and
propose a plan to evaluate the role of SBCM in
principal investigator, Center for Interventions, Treatment and
diverse groups of people who have various life
Addictions Research, Wright State University, Boonshoft School
challenges. A possible mechanism for beginning of Medicine, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH, USA
such a plan is the recently released National 45435; e-mail: [email protected]
Institutes of Health program announcement,
Original manuscript received July 7, 2006
Research on Social Work Practice and ConceptsAccepted August 8, 2006
in Health (PA 06-234).
Finding out whether strengths-based case man
agement is effective in helping individuals with
life challenges gives the social work profession an
opportunity to support an evidence-based prac
tice activity that is based on our core values. An
organized research effort will serve to determine
whether there is indeed support for the anecdotal
observation that "It works!" 053

186 Social Work Volume 52, Number 2 April 2007

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