The asset-based approach

The asset-based approach is an approach that uses assets as a way of addressing

problems in a variety of context. It is based on the belief that all individuals, families
and communities have capacities, skills, resources and assets that can make
contributions for positive change. This approach is based on the belief that people
who feel connected through supportive relationships are more readily to develop and
become people with resources and who are able to solve problems in partnership
with professionals. The asset-based approach does not deny the existence of needs.
While it acknowledges the needs, the main efforts of participants in an asset-based
intervention are devoted to identifying assets, accessing assets and mobilising the
assets for sustainable support. The assumption is that, while needs are indeed real,
they can best be addressed by focusing on assets.

Sustainability and intrinsic initiatives are strongly supported in the asset-based

approach. The asset-based approach to assessment begins with what is present in
the community rather than what is absent. This is in line with a principle of
community work which indicates that social workers should build on the
client’s system’s strengths. While identification of problems is an integral part of
this model, it takes the half full rather half empty approach, in which capacities and
skills of community members are identified in addition to the problems faced. This
leads to creating or rebuilding relationships among local residents, associations and
institution.

The asset-based approach is the bottom-up approach that shifts the emphasis from
a service to an enablement perspective. It implies a shift away from a mentality of
professional dominance to one in which collaboration, dynamic partnerships and
participation are encouraged, emphasised and practiced. It is viewed as the capacity
focused approach. The asset-based approach takes the social, holistic view by
focusing on capacities, skills and assets within the social system. This does not
mean that the deficiencies in any given eco-system or subsystem can be negated,
but rather that a focus on strengthening the inherent assets in a system, can address
the deficiencies.

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Our own view of the asset-based perspective

As social workers we view the asset-based approach as the theory which believes
that every individual has assets. The assets referred to in this perspective are
strengths, knowledge, abilities and the environment in which they live-out their lives.
Attention is not only on tangible assets but also to the inherent assets which people
are born with. This approach is more or less similar to the strengths base
perspective in that they all believe that people have capabilities and resources that
can be used to solve their problems.

The asset-based theory encourages social workers to recognize that clients should
not be treated as empty containers to be filled with sugar or clean and empty plates
which are ready to be used for lunch-meal. This is because social works are not like
medical practitioners who use their superior qualifications and knowledge to
prescribe medication to their patients. In the light of that when dealing with social
issues, the clients’, needs, feelings, values, traditions and their way of doing things
must be respected. This means that the principle of respect form the bases of the
working relationship. For example in community work; respecting the community is
the gateway to the community. Respect means that the social worker believes in the
strengths, knowledge, potentials, and abilities of community members as important
assets that must be utilised to bring about desired outcome.

Furthermore, in group work for example, asset- based oriented social workers will
realize that they cannot use, influence, or lead members to achieve their own
objectives or values. This will enable them to use the group to offer group members
the opportunity to express themselves and to satisfy their needs.

The assets-based approach assumes that social workers or professionals help

clients identify those assets and how to utilize them in order to solve their problems.
It focuses mostly on what resources are available in the immediate environment
rather than what is not available.

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Assets base approach is based in the notion that a community as a whole is an
asset to its people every organization ,community ,institutions ,which may be inform
of individual skills ,resources which are essential for the betterment of society well
functioning .however many people ,communities are not aware that they have
resources that’s where social workers enters and intervene in form of community
education, empowering the society as a whole. Every individual is an assets.

Means that when a practitioner tangles a problem instead of going outside the
community for the resources he or she should first study the community. It also
means that every community has its own resources, thus, it is essential for the
practitioner to acknowledge it and also accord the community the right to determine
its decisions.

In addition the practitioner should have non judgemental attitude because each and
every individual has the potential and ability to contribute positively within the
community they live in. In simple terms a social worker should view each person as
having assets or resources which may contribute to the betterment of their
community.

How to apply the asset-based approach in practice

Case example1

Xihoko is a village which is situated in Tzaneen and it is dysfunctional because there

is a high rate of crime and poverty. In addition to that, majority of the people in this
community are unemployed, and there is low standard of living which also ultimately
led to the village’s problem of high crime rate.

As social workers while conducting a community profile we found out factors that
contribute to the community being dysfunctional. Furthermore, we discovered that
the community has resources which may also help in reducing unemployment and
the crime rate and would moreover help the villagers to develop skills to reduce
poverty.