Strengths Institute

Strengths Institute Mission

To provide the environment, resources, perspective, and
language to educate practitioners, students, and faculty about the strengths model;
To disseminate strengths ideas and practices widely;
To encourage the incorporation of strengths concepts and methods in classrooms, agencies, and conference rooms, stimulating research.
To provide support and direction to those educators, practitioners and administrators interested in bringing the strengths approach to their work.

About us

The KU School of Social Welfare has devoted 20 years to the development and testing of a strengths perspective for social work and other helping professions.

The strengths perspective arises from the commitment of the profession of social work to social justice, the dignity of every human being, and building on people’s strengths and capacities rather than focusing on their deficits, disabilities, or problems.

The strengths model has been used in several fields and it is our intention to ensure that strengths-based, resilience and health-oriented concepts, ideals, values, and practices imbue all approaches to helping individuals, families, and communities, within and beyond social work, through research, education, and practice.

What do we do

The Strengths Institute provides

Information
Resources and tools, including books, articles, and links to other resources
Research, evidence-based practice
Training and consultation, including upcoming events
Curricula of universities providing education in strengths model
Recognition of community programs and practice using strengths model
Exchange of ideas and ongoing discussion about the Strengths Perspective.

Contact us:

University of Kansas
School of Social Welfare
1545 Lilac Lane
Twente Hall
Lawrence, KS 66044-3184
Phone: 785-864-4720
Website: http://www.socwel.ku.edu/Strengths
Email:strengths@ku.edu

Quote

“There is no change without the dream, as there is no dream without hope”

Paulo Freire
The pedagogy of hope