Empowerment-Based Practice Model
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Empowerment-Based Practice Model
Introduction
Social work is founded on a wide range of practice theories, models, and perspectives from which social workers draw and inform their practice. Thus, social works provide care that is based on tested knowledge. Among the many theories and models, there exists the empowerment-based practice model. Empowerment is critical for social work. Social workers strive to empower individuals to overcome day-to-day challenges, including drug abuse, emotional trauma, abuse, illnesses, and the death of a close friend or relative, among others (Virginia Commonwealth University, 2021). Social work not only seeks to empower individuals but also groups and communities. Therefore, the empowerment-based practice approach focuses on guiding people to gain control over their lives through appropriate intervention methods.
Central Concepts of Empowerment Model
The empowerment model’s central concepts revolve around factors that could prevent marginalized or oppressed individuals, groups, and communities from feeling empowered and in control of their lives. These concepts include direct power blocks, indirect power blocks, collective experience, and collective action (Brown, 2018). Direct power blocks refer to structures that hinder individuals or groups from achieving their goals, for example, employment, education, and decent housing. Direct power blocks include unfair admission to well-funded and high excellence education institutes, prejudiced lending approaches in housing, or gender discrimination in business culture.
Indirect power blocks denote internalized oppression. More often than not, individuals or groups with a history of oppression often consolidates and absorbs the negative impulses emanating from past mistreatment. They create narratives about their diminished options and performance capabilities and trickle down these notions to future generations. These negative ideas are deeply ingrained in their mindsets since when they were oppressed. On the other hand, collective experience relates to several people’s experiences that that portray some similarity. In most cases, when groups of people are oppressed by a particular means, for example, sexual assault, until those individuals have been able to hear stories from other people who have experienced the same oppression, it is very common for them to feel alone in their suffering (Brown, 2018).
Lastly, collective experience in empowerment facilitates shared learning of forms of oppression and experiences amongst groups (Brown, 2018). Collective experience often precipitates to collective action. When groups of people discover that they are not alone and there is a commonality in their experiences, they begin unraveling some indirect power blocks, moving them to collective action. Since these people face common challenges, they leverage the power in unity to initiate positive collective action.
The Application of Concepts in Social Work Practice
By understanding direct power blocks, social workers can create awareness about direct power blocks empowering individuals and groups against them. Social workers can develop social movements and programs to help individuals overcome oppression and marginalization. A good example is programs that promote pride in the LGBTQ+ community, eliminating discrimination against them. Also, understanding direct power blocks empower social workers to call for policy reforms. Secondly, understanding indirect power blocks enables social workers to institute proven approaches such as trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, which effectively alters mental patterns helping individuals deal with internalized oppression. This approach can improve the self-esteem of oppressed youth hence empowering them against childhood trauma and boosting their performance.
Social workers can use collective experience to bring oppressed individuals together and provide a platform to share their experiences. As the saying goes, a problem shared is a problem half solved. Victims of rape or domestic abuse often experience difficulties opening up about their experiences. Bringing such individuals together avails a safe space where they can openly express themselves and support each other. Support is critical in avoiding cases of depression that could lead to suicide. Additionally, when individuals with shared experiences and challenges come together, they can effectively initiate collective action against their perpetrators. Collective action can effectively deter such forms of oppression from happening to others.
Client’s Personal Power
People have the power to take action against oppression or marginalization thereof. For example, the power of advocacy can help an individual meet his/ her needs or gain access to resources. Advocacy entails purposeful actions that help individuals advance their rights, opportunities, and human dignity (Sage Publications, 2019). Social workers believe that advocacy is a crucial means to improve livelihoods, community functions, and organizational dynamics. Another source of personal power is boycotting. Boycotting can help individual’s effect positive change facilitating their access to resources and meeting their needs. Boycotts entail refusing to purchase a particular product or service until specific demands are met. Boycotts are an effective way to exercise personal power to cause a positive social change.
Conclusion
Social work is founded on a wide range of theories and models. One critical model is the empowerment-based model. The empowerment-based model facilitates social workers to empower individuals, groups, or communities to overcome challenges, including oppression and marginalization. The empowerment-based approach has four key concepts, including direct power blocks (structural barriers), indirect power blocks (internalized barriers), collective experience (commonly shared challenges), and collective action. These concepts are essential in facilitating social workers to empower individuals and groups. Additionally, individuals can use personal power, boycotts, and advocacy, among others, to effect positive social change.
References
Brown, A. (2018). Empowerment Theory: Key Concepts. YouTube. Retrieved from. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU_DcR1qvzk
Sage Publications (2019). Advocacy In Social Work. Retrieved from. https://us.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-assets/90577_book_item_90577.pdf
Virginia Commonwealth University (2021). Empowerment Theory in Social Work. Retrieved from https://onlinesocialwork.vcu.edu/blog/empowerment-theory-in-social-work/