Asset-Based Approach

Asset-Based Approach
Abstract
Assets can be termed as the combined resources that people possess, that defend against adverse health consequences and support health status. While health benefits are a component of every individual, they are not unavoidably utilized tenaciously or carefully. An asset-based approach increases the prominence and worth of proficiencies, experience, networks and ability in a group. It stimulates competence, relatedness, and collective capital. Asset-based approaches are centered on the need to equalize the fulfillment of demands and the cultivation of the resources and talents of individuals and societies. As a result, asset-based approaches are focused on recognizing the protective elements that reinforce wellness. These methodologies provide the capacity to improve the quality and continuity of life by emphasizing on the assets that endorse the self-worth and tolerant facilities of people and communities. The shift to incorporating asset based approaches as a fundamental part of standard service delivery will need a revolution in personal and structural outlooks, principles and practice.
Asset-Based Approach
Implementing an Assets-Based Approach to Health Disparities
Scotland’s health status is increasingly imbalanced with individuals from the most deprived communities continuing to perish inexplicably younger than those from wealthy backgrounds. Moreover, major health organizations reveal that health dissimilarities are elevating, especially for illnesses that are very preventable.

Again, the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (2016) demonstrates that 40% of government expenditure is directed towards intermediations that can be averted by selecting a precautionary method. Therefore, a large part of financing is in the management of immediate social and health issues instead of early intervention and prevention.
An Asset-Based Approach in Relation to Scotland’s Problem
Asset-based approaches present real prospects of minimizing health inequalities in Scotland. This is because asset-based approaches consolidate and support the capabilities Scots have that assist in safeguarding them from poor welfare and bolstering the advancement and continuance of wellbeing and quality life (McLean, 2011). Concentrating on the reduction of poverty, material imbalance, and scarcity must always be the center of all the country’s effort because these elements are the social factors of health and wellbeing.
Strengths and weaknesses of an asset-based approach. Indeed, an asset-based approach allows for an improved comprehension of the health and care requisites of Scots and aids in building resistance. Additionally, evaluating assets alongside needs increases personal and communal resources, and facilitates a change to more encouraging, viable and holistic methods to providing services and enhancing health. However, asset-based approaches are not able to, on their own; relieve the impacts of long-term structural disparity and difficulty. (The Scottish Community Development Centre, 2016) Nevertheless, they are primarily significant within the setting of current alterations in public strategy and a redefinition of the correlation between the Scots and their government.

References
Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland. (2016). Taking an assets-based approach to health inequalities. Retrieved from http://www.alliance-scotland.org.uk/viewpoint/2014/04/taking-an-assets-based-approach-to-health-inequalities/?iru=DJ2KRM788C
McLean, J. (2011). Asset-based approaches for health improvement: redressing the balance. Retrieved from http://www.gcph.co.uk/assets/0000/2627/GCPH_Briefing_Paper_CS9web.pdf
The Scottish Community Development Centre. (2016). Assets Based Approaches. Retrieved from http://www.scdc.org.uk/what/assets-scotland/