Week 4: Micro/Mezzo Versus Macro Social Work
A common conception of social work involves a practitioner and a single client in conversation in an office setting. But this is just one aspect of social work—micro practice—and it is not the only way to solve an issue, challenge, or social problem.
Often, social problems require intervention at all levels (micro, mezzo, and macro). At the micro and mezzo levels, social workers engage with individuals and small groups to target individual change. At the macro level, social workers target broader social forces impacting a group experience. For example, a social worker could address sexual assault by providing individual case management or facilitating a support group for survivors. A social worker could also address sexual assault at the community level by raising awareness of consent or advocating for policy change to increase survivors’ access to support and justice.
In this Discussion, you explore the possibilities for addressing challenges at various levels of practice.
To prepare:
- Review the Learning Resources on generalist social work and the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice.
- Envision a specific client population with whom you would like to work. Consider the challenges that members of this population might experience. Brainstorm how social workers operating at the various levels of practice might address these challenges.
Post:
- A description of a client population with whom you might work.
- An explanation of the challenges this population might experience.
- Two ways a social worker could address these challenges at the micro/mezzo level.
Tutorial for Micro/Mezzo Versus Macro Social Work
