1. Asset-based approaches: to drugs & alcohol in Staffordshire A commissioner’s perspective Tony Bullock Public Health Staffordshire November 2014

2. Contents Asset-based approaches – our understanding Useful resources Applications - Staffordshire drug/alcohol strategy: – ABCD prevention pilot – Developing asset-based recovery communities – Treatment services – using and creating assets A virtuous circle?

3. Our understanding… Contrast with deficits… Positive approach Focus on solutions Recognising abilities, gifts, talents, opportunities…

4. Moving from a deficit approach to an asset approach Where we are now – the deficit approachWhere an asset way of thinking takes us Start with deficiencies and needs in the community Start with the assets in the community Respond to problemsIdentify opportunities and strengths Provide services to usersInvest in people as citizens Emphasise the role of agenciesEmphasise the role of civil society Focus on individualsFocus on communities/ neighbourhoods and the common good See people as clients and consumers receiving services See people as citizens and co-producers with something to offer Treat people as passive and done-toHelp people to take control of their lives ‘Fix people’Support people to develop their potential Implement programmes as the answerSee people as the answer From ‘A glass half full?’

5. Specific techniques Asset mapping Asset based community development (ABCD) Appreciative inquiry (AI) Participatory appraisal (PA) Open space technology (OST)

6. Useful resources/ organisations ABCD institute Health Empowerment Leverage Programme LGA papers – Glass half full? – What makes us health? Connecting Communities Nurture Development Asset-Based Consulting

7. Applications in Staffordshire “Building on the skills of local residents, the power of local associations, and the supportive functions of local institutions, asset-based community development draws upon existing community strengths to build stronger, more sustainable communities for the future.” www.abcdinstitute.org ABCD prevention project

8. ‘Hypothesis’ Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Community – empowerment/ resilience Improved outcomes

9. Contagion: what flows across ties (germs, money, violence, fashions, organs, happiness, obesity, etc.) Connection: who is connected to whom (ties to family, friends, co-workers, etc.) Homophily: the tendency to associate with people who resemble ourselves (“love of being alike”) Asset-based recovery communities

10. Treatment services Using community assets – Mainstream services – Voluntary associations Focussing on clients’ assets – Skills – Interests/ aspirations Creating assets to the community – People wanting to give something back

11. Recovery communities

12. Summary A different perspective Focus on positive, rather than negative Specific approaches – ABCD etc Numerous applications, including: – Using community assets – Focusing on people’s assets – Creating assets