| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺北大學 === 社會工作學系 === 103 === Empowerment is one of the essential factors in adolescent’s development. Adults usually show concerns on adolescent’s capacity of making decisions when encountering difficulties. For example, will they be able to remain rational to handle the complications or will they be more emotionally driven when there are inevitable unexpected conflicts? In addition, how can the empowering program benefit the participated adolescents? How will it contribute to their future?
In view of the above mentioned concerns, this study aims to explore, reflect and feedback on practical scenarios of empowerment and the inspirations for both adolescents and social workers, through the perspectives of Action Study and Focused Interviews.
The study discovers that the core values of empowerment are service user-oriented and self-determination. The core value also matches with the program goal, which is to enhance adolescent’s capacity of self-determination. Instead of taking over the role of decision making, social workers can seize the uncertainties and incidents as opportunities for adolescents to discuss on contingency plans and thus enhancing effective communication. The program finds out that the power-to perspective is more influential than the initial power-over oriented perspective as it facilitates adolescents to explore and recognize their ability.
This study summarizes the use of power-to oriented perspective in adolescent’s development into 6 conclusions:
1. Self-determination is the starting for enabling (power-to),
2. Self-play is a core media in problem-solving,
3. Teamwork can be improved ,
4. It is part of a learning process,
5. It inflicts positivity for others,
6. “To voice out” is a powerful resource.
In summary, the power of empowering adolescents is not only an outcome but rather than a process with stages of development which brings varies inspirations to different individuals. Therefore, social workers should be fully aware of dynamics and power struggles among adolescent and themselves. Last but not least, social workers should also avoid depowering the adolescents by continuous reflections.
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