prevention/ management and mosquito-vector control (to meet client-partners' needs for competence/ self-ef-ficacy, self-esteem/affirmation, sense of control and autonomy) done within the social context of the patients and families (to reinforce social support and network). Integration of behavior change into existing lifestyle (stage 3) is facilitated through e,'(J)eriential learning and practice-based options that ensure ease of implementation based on time and resources. To illustrate using empirical data on the community-bas ed research on family empowerme nt to¼-ards malaria prevention and control, stream cleaning/cleai-ing as mosquito-vector control strategy was simplified from the big group village-base d activity to household or small group/ neighborhood cluster approach to save on waiting time and address distance issue (Maglaya and other, 1999). The consensus of family work groups was to clean the part of the strean1 nearest to the house or yard of cacl1 family or neighborhood cluster. Stream management through thi. s option increased the frequency and 1·egularity of the implementation of the mosquito-vector control strategy. · EMPOWERMENT: NATURE, PROCESS AND OUTCOMES The research team's experiences working with the Abra-based l1eal thdecision-makers, rural health unit, local leaders and empowered families generated explicit insights and lessons on the what and bow of partnership options rooted on empowerm ent for transformational leadership and change. The experiences of both the local government unit (LGU) and the families showed parallel directi1;ms, patterns and cyclical processes of understanding the goals/ meaning/ purpose behind empowe rment and develop ing self/group efficacy for malnria prevention and control options achieved through planning, practice and reflection-feedback-eva luation e:\.-perien tial learning sessions. As end result of each set or combination of parallel and cyclical processes experienced by the LGU and the families, affirmati on of commitment to sustain the change is achieved. The complement-supplement nature of the LGU-family empowerment experiences deepens the effect of each set o( parallel and cyclical direction and pattern on resource access and exchange. See illustrations 18. 1 and 18. 2. The empowerment experiences of the families focus on thedevelopmentof thef91lowing competencies: 1. Recognize the existence of malaria as disease and health risk/threat 2. Decide to take prompt aad appropriate heal th action. What to do upon detection of cases with or witl1out laboi-atory tests or when life threatening signs and symptoms are encountered. 3. Provide adequate care to the sick, dependent, vulnerable or at-risk member (e. g., carry out measures for accuralte and complete treatment ; management of related health problems/compl ications; self-protection measures) 4. Provide a home environment conducive to health maintenance (i. e., carry out measures to reduce mosquito breeding and resting sites, and measures to, reduce man-mosciuito contact). 5. Maintain a mutual/reciprocal relationship with the community and its resources to increase access to health services, sustain activities on suxveillance, casefinding, follow-up, referral and environmen tal modification/ manipulation and other vector control measures. Each empowe rment journey is facilitated through a deepening of the family's insight 436 