Which statement best describes the focus of asset-based approaches in community work?

• A. Focus on strengths and capacities rather than deficits.
• B. Focus on funding gaps.
• C. Focus only on short-term fixes.
• D. Focus on top-down mandates.

Answer: (A)

Asset-based approaches in community work focus on strengths and capacities—the existing skills, resources, relationships, and institutions a community can mobilize. Rather than starting from what’s missing, these approaches identify what the community already has and build on it to address needs. This perspective promotes empowerment, ownership, and sustainable change because solutions come from within the community’s own assets and networks.

That’s why this statement is the best description: it directly captures the emphasis on strengths and capacities. In contrast, focusing on funding gaps centers on deficits; seeking only short-term fixes emphasizes immediacy over durable growth; and top-down mandates reflect external control rather than community-led, asset-driven collaboration.