RESILIENCE COMMUNITY ASSETS AND ASSET MAPPING Nicolette TeufelShone

RESILIENCE, COMMUNITY ASSETS AND ASSET MAPPING Nicolette Teufel-Shone, Ph. D Dine College

Strength or Asset Based Thinking Focus and identify what is going well Taking stock of what we already have in terms of resources, abilities, and commitment Public Health tends to use deficit based statements Example? American Indians have the highest rate of diabetes in the US

Asset based statements American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adolescent females were 30% more likely to receive an HPV vaccine in 2011, as compared to non-Hispanic whites The 32 tribally controlled colleges experienced a greater increase in AI/AN student enrollment than all other colleges (Trujillo and Alston 2005) A tribe-specific social service program documented a decrease in intimate partner violence over the last 5 years

Asset based thinking Does not ignore the challenges Identifies successes Documents processes and lessons to be learned from positive outcomes Tests application of successful approaches to other challenges Encourages us to thinking outside of the box

Draw 9 Dots Connect using 4 lines

Solution

Words can be powerful Health promotion Protective factors Heart disease Opportunities Learning from mistakes Disease prevention Risk factors Heart health Problems Failure Change the way you see and talk about everything

Measuring or Evaluating Resilience Individual outcomes? Academic achievement in a adverse/less than supportive environment Individual process? Protective or contributing factors Family/peer support Cultural strength

Measuring or Evaluating Resilience Community outcomes? Rate of college graduation in a community with low incomes and low numbers of high school and college Community process - Protective or contributing factors Supportive community activities (recognition) Cultural connection activities

Result Asset/Strength based thinking Builds on previous accomplishments Using existing resources and skills Recognizes resilience Builds confidence Deficit based thinking Identifies barriers and limitations Creates a mentality of hopelessness Supports an environment of low morale and repressed motivation Assets Success breeds confidence

How do you document and track community assets?

Asset Mapping Provide information about strengths and resources of a community Can help uncover untapped resources or connection between resources to build a solution Relies on existing resources

So what as you Mapping? Physical resources (physical capital) School Clinic Chapter house Boys and Girls Club Businesses Social capital (connections) Booster club for school sports School club – health professions Cultural capital (knowledge and practice)

When do you use Asset Mapping? Start a new local program Need information on resources Health promotion – safe exercise Making program decisions, need evaluation information Pre and post mapping – have the program improved resources As a community/group activity has the program increased awareness of resources

Exercise Draw a collective or individual map of local community Purpose: To assess formal and natural (informal) resources Color code Categories ○ Non-native resources (clinics, counselors) ○ Safe/neutral places ○ Healing places ○ Positive physical resources ○ Native resources

Reflection on the process Other applications? Other health areas Settings? Parents Community leaders Mixed groups or like groups, i. e. just teens or just health care professionals Can reveal all resources using diverse experiences and perspectives