Governors Prevention Partnership - Strength Based Approach

Strengths-Based Approach

The Governor's Prevention Partnership uses a strengths based approach for its Student Assistance Program model. This is informed by decades of research examining the factors that build resiliency in young people and help them grow up to be safe, successful and drug-free. An effective Student Assistance Program uses strategies that are backed by research to identify student needs and build on students' strengths in order to assist students in making healthy decisions for themselves and their future.

The emphasis on strengths does not deny or ignore problems, but instead widens the field of vision to include all the assets that are available to the student, including his or her individual assets and those of his or her family, school and community. The Partnership focuses on three theoretical, research and strengths-based models:

Resiliency Model
40 Developmental Assets of the Search Institute
Social Development Strategy

Together, these models offer Student Assistance Programs multiple strategies to assist young people to get back on track.

The Shift to a Strengths-Based Approach

Safe and Drug-Free Schools & Communities