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Name
the Frame
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| The Strengths Cafe is an online publishing project sponsored by Innovative Resources. find out more:
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A set of cards for building respectful, socially-justdecision making
We all make decisions constantly. Most people are aware that some of these decisions can have a profound and lasting impact. But how might an individual, organisation, group or team critique its own blind spots and develop confidence that its decisions are socially-just, respectful, inclusive and empowering for all?
Name the Frame is designed to help people reflect on both the outcomes and consequences of their decision making, as well as the processes they adopt to reach decisions. It recognises that respect is not simply an attitude, it is also an action: respect is something we do.
These cards have a place on boardroom tables, in management retreats, in council chambers, in offices of parliamentarians, in community centres, as well as on kitchen tables. In fact, anywhere decisions that affect the lives of others-and ultimately, the nature of our communities-are made. |
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Name the Frame in Australia's Northernmost Town
Gabrielle Tidey-Passlow, a trainer and consultant, tells the story of a training event for isolated youth workers that took place in the Cape York Peninsula township of Bamaga-Australia's northernmost town.
As a trainer and consultant I have found St Luke's Innovative Resources' to offer fantastic tools in the training environment. I have used The Bears, Strength Cards, Angels with Attitude and Reflexions cards to encourage and explore discussion of training content; to explore participant confidence with topics; and to practice client assessment processes-to name just a few activities! Recently, I purchased Name the Frame cards from St Luke's. I was really impressed with these cards and the many situations in which they can be applied. As a trainer, I have used Name the Frame:
Training for isolated youth workers One such training event took place for community workers (youth workers) in the Cape York Peninsula township of Bamaga. The training event provided an opportunity for isolated youth workers to undertake accredited training in their field with a further option to complete assessment and receive nationally recognised competency. The training content focused on 'Effective Work with Young People', 'Responding to Crisis' and 'Youth Participation'.
For many of these participants, this was their first ever opportunity to participate in accredited training. In this context it was important that the training be a rewarding and non-threatening experience. The St Luke's Bears certainly opened the way to relaxing participants during the ice-breaker period of the training. Participants were asked to select a Bear card that represented how they were feeling about attending the training over the two days. Each participant spoke about what feelings the chosen card represented for them and any specific concerns they had about participating in the training.
Youth empowerment and participation As the training progressed over the two days, the group had opportunities to explore the different models of youth work and Name the Frame cards were used to focus the group on specific questions around youth empowerment and participation. The bright colours of the cards and the thought-provoking questions encouraged the participants to reflect on practice, organisational and community issues of empowerment and inclusion. Once the cards were introduced into the training, participants kept referring back to the focus questions from the cards and nominating their own arenas for further use of the cards. Many participants recognised the value of the cards in working in groups with community stakeholders and specifically youth in a participatory capacity.
For this training event the cards were particularly relevant to the following content areas: Inclusion, Participation, Empowerment and Diversity.
However, since this training event I have already been inspired to use Name the Frame in other settings as a consultant. Some of these areas include work undertaken in independent evaluations of services and programs, presentations on community capacity building and participatory practices. As the days go by and further consultant opportunities present themselves, I find myself drawn to Name the Frame as a starting point, process mechanism and reflection framework.
Name the Frame gets a thumbs-up Of all the St Luke's resources, I would have to nominate Name the Frame as my favorite. It is both practical, relevant and versatile in so many settings. Whether I'm training, consulting or reviewing my own work practices I know that Name the Frame will be featured in there somewhere. I recommend having Name the Frame as an essential organisational and practice resource in all community and human service programs.
The following is a list of training delivered by GTP Training and Consultancy in which St Luke's resources have been incorporated as a learning tool:
Name the Frame is a valuable resource and one that has become part of my training and consulting toolbox essentials. Thanks Innovative Resources, and keep the resources coming!
Gabrielle Tidey-Passlow, GTP Training and Consultancy
"Name the Frame is not just another tool; it is one of the most interesting and innovative resources I have seen. . Name the Frame makes visible the lenses through which prejudice and self-centredness are formed and maintained. But it does more than this; it also 'sings up' ways of shaping our relationships to encourage generosity of spirit, compassion and social justice."
From the foreword by Dr Hilary Byrne-Armstrong, Consulting Services, St James Ethics Centre |
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Elements of Name the Frame
Name the Frame is a kit of 32 cards and over 130 questions, each of which provides a window to examine decision making according to social justice principles.
Each of the 32 cards identifies and names an important concept to be considered in any type of decision making. These 32 cards act as reminders or prompts that can be used to challenge both decisions and decision making processes.
Each card contains at least four questions that can help expose discrimination, disadvantage and inequality, and conversely can help promote fairness, respect and justice.
Thirty-two cards are too many for any group or organisation to use at once. However, because they fall easily into four sets of eight cards each, it is suggested that cards with a particular relevance can be chosen from each set. One particular set may be more relevant than others or the sets may be used sequentially.
To make grouping and selection easier, each of the four sets has been colour-coded.
The four sets consist of:
1. The Principles of Empowerment Cards These principles are the essential components or building blocks of respectful, socially-just, decision making. They are the lenses through which we look to consider the ethical basis for any decision or decision making process.
These eight principles talk about the values that ensure that decision making is inclusive and participatory, and that decisions are grounded in fairness and respect.
The eight Principles of Empowerment cards are:
2. The Focus Cards The Focus cards identify the eight domains where the principles of empowerment need to be applied. They are some of the key areas in which discrimination and disadvantage have been most acutely experienced.
Respectful, socially-just decision making suggests that every effort should be made to ensure that people are not discriminated against because of any of these factors. Because discrimination can be subtle and hidden, identifying these common manifestations of discrimination can help ensure inequity is not deliberately or inadvertently promoted.
The eight Focus cards are:
3. The Processes of Inclusion Cards These cards focus on processes of decision making and provide eight key indicators that suggest how decision making processes can be inclusive, participatory, reflective and solution oriented.
How decisions are made has as much significance in terms of social justice as the outcomes of decision making. These are the cards that examine the 'doing' of respect and justice. The eight processes of inclusion cards are:
4. The Barriers Cards The eight Barriers cards identify common constraints, blind spots, stumbling blocks, corrosives and blockages to respectful, socially-just decision making. These are the deliberate or inadvertent barriers to fairness. They signify ways in which 'power with' can descend into 'power over'.
The Barriers cards work as a checklist of the factors that one must be ever vigilant to challenge and counteract. The eight Barriers cards are:
The full set of questions that accompany these 32 cards is listed in the booklet accompanying the set.
"Of all the St Luke's resources, I would have to nominate Name the Frame as my favorite. It is both practical, relevant and versatile in so many settings. Whether I'm training, consulting or reviewing my own work practices I know that Name the Frame will be featured in there somewhere. I recommend having Name the Frame as an essential organisational and practice resource in all community and human service programs."
Gabrielle Tidey-Passlow, trainer and consultant |
