scholarly journals Opportunities to “Make Macro Matter” through the Grand Challenges for Social Work

2021 ◽  
pp. 104438942097248
Author(s):  
Samantha Teixeira ◽  
Astraea Augsberger ◽  
Katie Richards-Schuster ◽  
Linda Sprague Martinez ◽  
Kerri Evans
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Grand Challenges ◽  
Macro Practice ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
The Social ◽  
Macro Social Work ◽  
Instrumental Role

The Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative, led by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW), aims to organize the social work profession around 12 entrenched societal challenges. Addressing the root causes of the Grand Challenges will take a coordinated effort across all of social work practice, but given their scale, macro social work will be essential. We use Santiago and colleagues’ Frameworks for Advancing Macro Practice to showcase how macro practices have contributed to local progress on two Grand Challenges. We offer recommendations and a call for the profession to invest in and heed the instrumental role of macro social work practice to address the Grand Challenges.

Macro Social Work Practice

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Ellen Netting
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Macro Practice ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
The Social ◽  
Macro Social Work ◽  
Policy Arenas

Macro social work practice includes those activities performed in organizational, community, and policy arenas. Macro practice has a diverse history that reveals conflicting ideologies and multiple theoretical perspectives. Programmatic, organizational, community, and policy dimensions of macro practice underscore the social work profession's emphasis on using a person-in-environment perspective. Thus, social workers, regardless of roles played, are expected to have sensitivity toward and engage in macro practice activities.

Technology: Technology in Macro Practice

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
John G. McNutt
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Community Practice ◽  
Traditional Practice ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Macro Practice ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Macro Social Work

Information technology has had a profound effect on social work practice with larger systems. These tools improve traditional practice and allow new forms of practice. This entry reviews the use of technology in macro social work practice. It examines the role of technology in social administration, community practice, and social policy practice; discusses current practice and tools and discusses the challenges faced in the use of technology in macro practice.

Identity Construction through Theatrical Community Practice

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 364-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy C. Hammock
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Identity Construction ◽  
Dating Violence ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Community Practice ◽  
Construction Of Identity ◽  
The Social

Despite the longstanding use of theatrical techniques in community social work practice, the role of theater in the construction of identity is understudied in the social work literature. Drawing on over 100 hours of observation and 22 in-depth interviews with members of a theatrical community education troupe for youth, I describe how participation as performers in a play to prevent dating violence constructed youths’ identities as survivors of violence. Findings reveal that the process of identity construction through theatrical community practice occurred in three overlapping phases: first, learning the language to name the identity; next, embodying a character experiencing dating violence; and third, publicly claiming the identity in group interaction with audience members. Based on these findings, I draw implications for community social work practice with youth.

Educator and practitioner views of professional competencies for macro social work practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 1169-1186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven R Applewhite ◽  
Dennis Kao ◽  
Suzanne Pritzker
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Public Relations ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Community Practice ◽  
Social Work Educators ◽  
Macro Practice ◽  
Management And Development ◽  
Macro Social Work

To effectively prepare students for practice, macro social work educators need to keep pace with employers’ demands. This article reports findings from a survey of social work educators ( n = 52) and macro practitioners ( n = 184) in Texas to assess congruence in competencies perceived as necessary for macro practice. Findings reveal that both groups prioritize competencies related to interpersonal dynamics and leadership, program management, and community practice, and view financial management and public relations as least important. However, findings identify differences in practice competencies (e.g. policy practice, organizational management, and development), suggesting a need to better align educational and professional priorities.

scholarly journals Social Inclusion of Disabled Persons: Role of a Professional Social Worker in Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 643-649
Author(s):  
Syeda Mahnaz Hassan ◽  
Aliya Khalid ◽  
Muhammad Arshad ◽  
Shajiah Qursam
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Disabled Persons ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
The Social

This paper aims to explore the role of professional social workers in the social inclusion of disabled persons in Pakistan. This paper highlights the present scenario of social work practice with the disabled community and how professional social workers are bringing social inclusion of disabled persons by working effectively in the field. The data for this study was collected through qualitative approach. The semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data through in-depth interviews from thirteen professional social workers who are working for the social inclusion of persons with disabilities in Pakistani community. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The data revealed that social workers have enough abilities to create a bridge between disabled persons with their community. There are different sources present in the community which can be utilized by professional social workers to enable disabled persons to live a normal life. Unawareness of common people and government towards the roles of social workers has been observed in this study. Enhancement and encouragement of social work practice in the field of disability is particularly needed.

scholarly journals Restorative Justice: A Systematic Review of the Social Work Literature

2009 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward J. Gumz ◽  
Cynthia L. Grant
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Restorative Justice ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
The Social ◽  
Distribution Of Resources

Restorative justice is an alternative paradigm for dealing with the effects of crime and wrongdoing that seeks to bring healing to victims, offenders, and the community. Although a key element of social work's ethical code is the obligation to work toward social justice, this has been viewed primarily as efforts to ensure a fair distribution of resources and opportunities. Yet justice is also restorative in nature–-seeking to restore and enhance victims, offenders, and communities to fuller functioning. This article systematically reviews 80 social work peer-reviewed articles dealing with restorative justice. The role of social workers in restorative justice programs remains largely unknown. Suggestions are made for enhancing social work practice in the restorative justice arena.

scholarly journals Hitting the Ground Running

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea M. Newberry-Koroluk
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Values ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
First Year ◽  
Social Work Values ◽  
The Social

This paper explores how the popular use of the expression “hitting the ground running” in reference to beginning social work practice draws upon military imagery and reflects neo-conservative expectations of first-year social workers.  Discussion of the international and Canadian definitions of social work, key social work values, the neo-conservative paradigm, and the role of language in understanding human experiences provides context to this analysis.  Ultimately, it is argued that it is in the best interests of the social work profession for the phrase hitting the ground running to be abandoned (or used critically) when making reference to first-year social workers, and a new metaphor is suggested that could take its place in the social work lexicon.

Deciding to use the law in social work practice

2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzy Braye ◽  
Michael Preston-Shoot ◽  
Veronica Wigley
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Legal Knowledge ◽  
Legal Rules ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Low Profile ◽  
The Social

• Summary: This article reviews evidence on how social workers incorporate legal rules in their decision-making. It draws on a small empirical study in which practitioners shared with each other, in peer interviews, examples of their own casework, followed by individual interviews with a researcher. Taken together, the conversations cast light on the extent to which legal knowledge is foregrounded in practitioners’ accounts of their work. • Findings: The findings show that references to law are more likely to be implicit than explicit, particularly in adult social care, and that absence of legal references is a striking feature of the social workers’ narratives. The article draws on related literature to interrogate the potential reasons for the relatively low profile of ‘law talk’ and identifies four factors – lack of legal knowledge and confidence, reliance on organizational and procedural approaches, assumptions about the role of law in different service contexts, and individual orientations to practice – as significant factors in determining whether and how legal rules are relied upon. Thus it presents a more nuanced analysis of the relationship between law and practice than has hitherto been available. • Applications: The findings are significant in casting light on the complex range of factors that present barriers to the robust and consistent implementation of legal rules in social work. They have implications – in particular for the role of organizational management in the audit, development and supervision of practice – that are particularly topical in the context of the work in England of the Social Work Reform Board.

Organizational Wellness and Macro Social Work Practice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erlene Grise-Owens ◽  
J. Jay Miller ◽  
Larry W. Owens
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Staff Turnover ◽  
Professional Burnout ◽  
Macro Practice ◽  
Macro Social Work ◽  
Organizational Wellness

The profession of social work increasingly experiences the damaging impact of professional burnout, staff turnover, and compromised services. Organizational wellness involves planful efforts to address these concerns and promote employee well-being. A rationale for organizational wellness is articulated, including its value for social work. The evolving paradigm of a holistic, systemic approach to organizational wellness is then discussed. Next, how social work is ideally situated to lead organizational wellness efforts is detailed as an arena of macro practice and as providing a framework for designing and developing an organizational wellness culture. Using social work competencies, social workers can use this framework to provide leadership in conceptualizing, planning, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining organizational wellness. Further critical considerations underscore how this leadership promotes the profession’s mission, supports the profession’s viability, and establishes a vital arena for ongoing macro practice.

Civil Society in Macro Social Work

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocelyn Clare R. Hermoso ◽  
Carmen Luca Sugawara
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
The State ◽  
State Institutions ◽  
Macro Practice ◽  
State And Market ◽  
Macro Social Work

The connection between macro social work practice and civil society is inextricable. Macro practice focuses on forming and strengthening people’s organizations, communities, and other collectivities that make up the structure and foundation of civil society, defined as the sphere outside of the state and market where people can exercise their right to participate in decision-making on political, social, and other matters that affect their lives. Working with civil society can compensate for some of the limitations of working within state institutions. Civil society’s potential and ability to serve as an arena for realizing individual and community well-being, human rights, and social justice warrant positioning it on equal footing as the state as an area of practice for the social work profession.

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