Strength-based asssessment is a new way of thinking about special education and mental health.  Rather than focus on "what's wrong," a strengths-based approach identifies the positive resources and abilities that children and families have.  Dr. Michael Epstein at the University of Nebraska has pioneered work in strength-based assessment, including developing a norm-referenced instrument, the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale (BERS): A Strength-Based Approach to Assessment, that can be used in planning and evaluation.  To learn more about strength-based assessment, please make use of the following resources:

Articles

• Using Strength-Based Assessment in Transition Planning
  Michael H. Epstein and Susan Rudolph
• Empowering Children and Families through Strength-Based Assessment
  Susan Rudolph and Michael H. Epstein

Online Discussion

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Additional Resources

• Review a list of additional articles and resources on strength-based assessment.

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