The Process of EMPOWERMENT

The Empowerment Process has four sections that go in the

order of; engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
Each is equally important but all of the steps come together to
ensure a smooth transition from the helping relationship into
self-sufficiency.

ENGAGEMENT
Intake:
Meet the new client/first session
Engagement:
Identify issue and circumstances that brought them to a
Social Worker
Build relationship with strong rapport
This step is extremely important to the function of the
following steps. If the client is
welcomed properly and feels
comfortable they will be more
likely to return for another
session and therefore more likely
to continue the relationship until
the issue is resolved. Engage
the client! Your warmth, inviting attitude, and
trustworthiness will comfort them!

(Life as a Human)(photo credit)

ASSESSMENT
Using the information gathered in the first step while
getting to know the client, do the following;
Analyze the situation
Define their strengths
Define their resources
Define resources that are needed
Select the methods that will be used within the next step to
address the issue
This step allows for preparation of the intervention (step
3). This step also allows for the Social Worker to document
the state of the client in the beginning of the relationship so
that their progress may be review at the end of the
relationship. Once the Social Worker feels that all facets of
the situation have been evaluated, this step is completed.

(CommunityCare) (photo credit)

INTERVENTION
After defining the issue and planning the actions that will
work towards solving it, begin the intervention.
Order of goals for the client that use the clients strengths
Begin to employ resources that were previously identified
Complete goals and continue sessions until issue is
resolved
A set of goals will put the schedule into perspective for the
client, helping them see their capabilities. Allow them to do
most of the work. The Social Worker can locate the phone
number for the local job agency, but the client needs to be the
one to call. This establishes strong empowerment in the client
that tells them they can take care of themselves. The Social
Worker gives the tools, the client does the work

(Talisen Construction Company)(photo credit)

EVALUATION
This final section includes the finalization of the helping
relationship.
Evaluate client based on information collected during
the Engagement stage
Re-evaluated the original issue; verify that it has been
solved as well as possible
Prepare the client for the termination of the helping
relationship
After the issue has been officially resolved, the
relationship will be terminated
Client should be empowered to take charge of their
own life and leave with confidence
This process
encourages the
development of
empowerment within
the client in
preparation for the
termination of the
relationship. This theory of self-empowerment ensures that
the client will know how to rightfully make decisions for
themselves. From the first meeting till the final step, the
clients strengths and resources are used to reveal to them
the power they have over their own lives.( Party
Excuses.com) (photo credit)

Trouble shooting
If there are any questions or struggles with this theory and
the execution of the Process of Empowerment, please look
to the National Association of Social Workers at
http://www.socialworkers.org/. Or turn to the book entitled
Social Work Skills for Beginning Direct Practice, in which
the Process of Empowerment is thoroughly described.

General Warnings
Know the audience: if clients in a certain facet of Social
Work tend to be aggressive be prepared. This may include:
Locating desk so that easy access to an
exit is possible
Use calming tones and specific
phrasings
Understand the clients life holistically: Is someone forcing
them to come to the sessions? Is someone preventing them
from coming to the sessions? Are their issues linked to
other things within their life?
Beware of time spent per client. If a client has a certain
number of weeks they can afford, be conscious of this fact
and plan for it in advance.
*Rapport is very important for the sanctity of the relationship between the Social
Worker and the client. Build trust and the relationship will grow in a more natural
way (Cummins, Linda K., Sevel, Judith A., & Pedrick, Laura, Social Work Skills
for Beginning Direct) (whole document).

Works Cited
Cummins, Linda K., Sevel, Judith A., & Pedrick, Laura.
Social Work Skills for Beginning Direct
Practice. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson
Education, INC., 2012. Print.
N/A. bigstock-Hands-giving-a-thumbs-up-okay-19276811.
2011. Party Excuses.com. Party Excuses.com. Web. 27
July 2016.
N/A. Goals_18267357-XSmall. 2011. Talisen Construction
Company. Talisen Construction Company. Web. 27
July 2016.
REX/GARO/PHANIE. Interview. 2015. CommunityCare.
CommunityCare. Web. 27 July 2016.
Wilson, Phyllis. shake-hands-concepts-3-550x412. 2011.
Life as a Human. Life as a Human. Web. 27 July 2016.