Empowerment

In social work, there are concepts that are so important they are referred to repeatedly.  Empowerment is one of those central concepts in the profession.  Used without being defined, the fullness of it's meaning and implication gets lost.  It's nice to have one word that means so much, until the details are forgotten and left behind in the fray of the day to day.

I am so grateful for the thinkers and writers and keepers of concepts and words.  Here is a powerful reminder of one of the most important aspects of our work: 

"The process of empowerment involves . . .
. . . the development of attitudes and beliefs about one's efficacy to take action;
. . . the development of critical thinking about one's world;
. . . the acquisition of knowledge and skills needed to take action;
. . . the support and mutual aid of one's peers in any given situation;
. . . and the taking of action to make change in the face of impinging problems.
It is both a process and an outcome."*

This is one of those passages that I could break down, exegesis-style, and preach from it.  But I'll spare you the sermon.  I will say that what strikes me about this definition is the universality of it.  It cuts across all populations.  Ms. Parsons may have been describing the process for clients although I can't help but see the application for social workers ourselves.  If we don't hold the attitudes and beliefs about our own efficacy to take action and develop critical thinking about our world and the rest of it, then how do we hold up and model these beliefs and skills in others?

How empowered are you right now?

*This definition is from Ruth Parsons, by way of Stephen M. Rose in Chapter 10, Empowerment: The Foundation for Social Work Practice in Mental Health in Mental Health Disorders in the Social Environment, Edited by Stuart A. Kirk (my adviser!!!)