• The Master Narrative story about resilience

• Why there is no such thing as a resilient or vulnerable person

• What resilience really is • Protective and risk factors• The multisystemic context of resilience• Resilience theory and assessment

Not even the horse gets any credit.

The rugged individual…

Who made those clothes yer wearing feller?

The self made man…

It’s gonna be a mighty long day without any help.

The pioneer…

You say you’re standing on your own two feet.You’re not.You’re standing on our heads.And then you mystify the whole process And pretend it isn’t happening.

The Color of Fear

• Resilience and vulnerability are notcharacteristics of individual personalities.

Resilience is not…

• An intrinsic quality of lucky or virtuous people

Vulnerability is not…

• An intrinsic quality of people who – Are less virtuous

– fail to pull their socks up high enough

But you wouldn’t know it from the social work literature

Most people who experience adversity have positive

outcomes.

Deficit and Strengths Perspectives

• The irony of social work…– We identify as a strengths-oriented

profession, but– We're trained to look for trouble…– And there is plenty of trouble to find!

• Both perspectives are reductionistic.

Defining Resilience

• Resilience is not an intrinsic characteristic.

• Resilience is an outcome.

• Resilience is positive adaptation in response to adversity.

Resilience and vulnerability are outcomes that can only be

understood in ecological context.

Ecological Context

• EVERY problem makes sense in context– Biology, psychology, family system, resources,

relationships, institutional racism, etc.

• Ethnographic approach to interviewing– The client’s perspective

• The person is not the problem—the person is struggling with the problem.

• Protective Factors– facilitate positive outcomes by operating

as buffers between individuals and the risk factors impinging on their well being.

• Risk Factors– threaten positive adaptational outcomes.

Defining Protective and Risk Factors

biological

social

economic

environmental

cultural

psychological

biological

social

economic

environmental

cultural

psychological

Resilience and Vulnerability are Dynamic

They result from a particular balance of protective and risk factors at a particular time.

An adverse life event

may lead to positive outcomes.

The same life event

can pose a risk

for one person

And lead to positive outcomes

For another

Cultural Context• What are some risk and protective

factors related to:

1. Following traditional beliefs and practices

2. Discrimination and marginalization

3. Collectivism/Familism

4. Immigration

5. Bicultural Identity

Economic Context• What are some risk and protective

factors related to:– Poverty

– Unemployment

– Lack of access to healthcare

– Inadequate childcare

– Inadequate schools and after school resources

Implications for Practice• What might obscure a client’s strengths?

– The client may not be aware of his/her strengths/assets/resources/potential.

– Strengths may be obscured by symptoms or oppressive circumstances

– Social workers may find the pathology they’re looking for in order to

• Make a diagnosis

• Complete requisite documentation

• Expedite the disposition of a case

Assessment

• All our clients have tapped and untapped reservoirs of resources– Individual, family, community, etc.

• Our job is to help– Mitigate current and potential risk

factors – Identify and access current and potential

protective factors

Probing for Protective Factors

• How have you managed to survive?• What do you do well?• What do other people look to your for?• Who are the people you can depend on?• When things were going well, what was

different? How did you know?• What are your hopes?• How can I help you achieve your goals?

Reflect

• Let your imagination travel beyond

– The medical model

– The documentation

– Time constraints

– Institutional hassles

– Personal interference

Preoccupations/Prejudices/Reactivity

Every Person is Vulnerable Sometimes

Benefits of the Resilience Perspective

• You can make a difference.

• Nobody's stuck.

• No client is lost.

• You will have more fun in your work.

• You are less likely to burn out.

• You’ll be a more powerful advocate.

Find and mobilize strengths and resources at all systemic levels.

Psychological Resources

• Cognitive– Optimism, problem solving abilities, perspective,

useful knowledge

• Emotional– Self esteem, stable mood, attachment to caring

others

• Motivational– A dream, vision, goals, confidence

• Coping– A repertoire of effective strategies

Social Resources• Play

– A necessary ingredient for well being

• Work/Meaningful life roles– Job (s) to do that he/she does well and is

appreciated for– A way to contribute, to feel needed and

useful

• Belonging/Support (perceived)– Friends, family, mentors, you

Cultural Resources• Beliefs

• Values

• Traditions

• Stories

• Strong Positive Ethnic identity

• Sense of Community

• Bi-cultural Identity

Nutritive Environment• Safe places to live, work, play

• Access to needed resources

• Enough space to – Have a “place of one’s own”

• Free of social and environmental hazards

Economic/Material Resources

• Adequate income• Housing• Transportation• Access to needed resources• Access to health care• Child care• Opportunities for enrichment

Political Resources• Equal opportunity

• Having a ”voice” in decisions that affect you

• Opportunities and avenues to work for positive change

• Strong caring advocates (that means you!)

• Critical Mass

Protective Factors

Risk Factors

Resilience is positive adaptation

in the context of adversity.

• The Master Narrative story about resilience

• Why there is no such thing as a resilient or vulnerable person

• What resilience really is • Protective and risk factors• The multisystemic context of resilience• Resilience theory and assessment