Resilience and the Strengths Perspective in Action
“Resilience and the Strengths Perspective in Action” connects the summer camp experience to the strengths perspective and related concepts. Major principles of the strengths perspective, identified by Dennis Saleebey, are summarized. The constructs of risk factors and protective factors are reviewed in relation to the positive outcome of resilience. The strengths and resilience perspectives link to empowerment practice in social work as associated with Simon, Solomon, and Gutierrez. Positive youth development—often found in the youth services field—focuses on skill building, character development, health, and prevention. Michael Ungar suggests that camps can bolster resilience by identifying and meeting campers’ individualized needs. The milieu offered by camps described in later chapters embody these social work approaches as do few other settings.