Ideas
Bank
Our Scrapbook of
Strengths
Our Scrapbook of Strengths uses a family scrapbooking
metaphor to explore eight broard topics: communication,
togetherness, acceptance, resilience, affection, support,
sharing activities and commitment. The cards are a
starting point for conversations and creativity, and can
be used by individuals and families, as well as groups.
Use these cards to explore a wide range of strengths, not only
in families but in a wide range of other relationships as well. Our
Scrapbook can be used to identify the strengths we want to strive
for and suggest strategies for how a vision of new possibilities might
be realised.
Family Work
When people are struggling with a problem in their family or any other
group, Our Scrapbook of Strengths can be used to reflect on past
struggles and to gain insight into the coping strategies that they used
during that time. Questions can then be asked about the success
of those strategies and how useful they may be for dealing with the
current issue.
• What strengths did the group (or family) use to overcome the issue
previously?
• Did different group members use different strengths? How did they
complement each other? How did any difference hinder resolution?
• What would other people who know your group (or family) say were
your greatest strengths at this time of struggle?
• Is the group using any of those strengths or skills that were useful
then, now?
• If so, how helpful have those strengths or skills been? Do new ones
need to be added?
•How do you think the group will be able to use what it learned about
its strengths in the future?
Strengths-Based Storytelling
It is not uncommon for families or groups to forget the positives and
focus on deficits. Inviting members of any group to tell stories of
strengths and success can be a powerful re-energiser.
Spread out the Our Scrapbook cards and invite members of the group
to scan them, and choose one that reminds them of a highlight in the
group’s life:
Caregiver Assessments
Identifying strengths is a key component in the assessment of
caregivers for out-of-home placement programs such as foster care.
The greatest asset that care-givers can offer is their accumulated
strengths. However, often these strengths are assumed or left implicit
because they are hard to talk about and identify.
Use Our Scrapbook as a tool for articulating the caregiver’s
experience of family. Useful questions may include:
• Can you use Our Scrapbook to tell the story of your family of origin?
• What are the key strengths you have replicated in your own family?
• What are the key strengths you will rely on to face the demands
of caring for another child?
• Do you imagine you will have to work on some strengths or develop
new ones?
• How will you go about discovering the individual and family
strengths of the child in your care?
• When do you think you will need some extra help?
Our Scrapbook in the Classroom
Family dynamics impact on the school lives of children and young
people in countless ways. In classroom discussions about family
dynamics, teachers can explore family strengths with questions
such as:
• What do you think makes a strong family?
• Here are some cards that describe what Australian families think
make them strong. Do you agree?
• Which of these strengths would you say your family has?
• Are there some strengths that you can see in other families?
• What strengths do you think are most important to keep families
together during the tough times?
• Can each of you tell me a story of the group at its best?
• What was happening at the time? Why was the event or situation
so successful?
• What can be learned from these stories? Do they suggest strategies
that need to be relearned or strengths that can be developed?
• Does the group have a culture of celebrating the strengths that
are noticed? Are there strengths that have gone unnoticed
or uncelebrated?
OUR SCRAPBOOK OF STRENGTHS
42 laminated, full-colour cards, 210mm x 150mm,
laminated cardboard box, 32-page booklet.
ISBN: 9 780 957823 181
Authors: Russell Deal & Simone Silberberg
Illustrator: Carolyn Marrone Designer: Tim Lane
Product Code: 3825
St Luke’s Innovative Resources
62 Collins Street, KANGAROO FLAT
Victoria 3555 Australia
$49.50 inc. GST
Email: [email protected]
www.innovativeresources.org