Strength-Based Approaches to Assessment in Schools

Abstract

(from the chapter) Strength-based assessment (SBA) has been defined as "the measurement of those emotional and behavioral skills, competencies, and characteristics that create a sense of personal accomplishment; contribute to satisfying relationships with family members, peers, and adults; enhance one's ability to deal with adversity and stress; and promote one's personal, social, and academic development" (Epstein & Sharma, 1998). In this chapter, we briefly overview SBA, discuss informal and formal assessment techniques, and end with applied examples of SBA in the evaluation of children's services in school settings. The applied examples document the value of SBA in planning and evaluating children's services. This assessment approach affords several advantages to direct service providers: SBA (1) engages the child and family in a positive way; (2) minimizes frustration by emphasizing solutions as opposed to problems; (3) identifies for the child, family, and professionals what is going well in the life of the child and what skills and competencies can be developed; (4) fosters a positive parent-professional relationship characterized by communication, trust, cooperation, and supportiveness; and (5) empowers the family and, in some cases, the child to assume responsibility for decisions/actions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)