SOCW-6210-6351-Wk1 Response 2: Discussion: Micro vs. Macro Practice
· Respond to at least two colleagues by identifying three reasons that macro practice should not be dominated by micro practice if social work policy is to effectively deal with the problems of oppressed and marginalized groups.
· Support your response with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.
Colleague 1: D
Micro practice is to work with individuals. Macro practice is to work at the organizational level. Micro practice has come to dominate the social work profession because if we were to break down the macro and mezzo levels, we are left with individuals. “Social workers have long recognized that micro and macro practice are complementary, but they have generally emphasized the micro, individual treatment aspect of the profession” (Popple & Leighninger, 2015, p. 7). It has been discussed plenty that social workers find themselves working with individuals a majority of the time. The root of the individual’s issues is based on things that are bigger than the individual (Popple & Leighninger, 2015, p. 7).
Popple, P. R., & Leighninger, L. (2015). The policy-based profession: An introduction to social welfare policy analysis for social workers. (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Colleague 2: R
The dichotomy between micro and macro social worker practice varies in the approaches used. Micro social worker practices are based on the ideas on how to better equip the individual to deal with societal needs and expectations. If there is an individual in need of services, the micro approach will link that individual to services to assist their individual underlying needs. The macro social worker approach attempts to have the community meet people at their levels of need. The idea behind the macro level approach to is discuss social worker and the needs of group of individual to larger organizations and agencies such as schools or child welfare agencies. In essence, and as mentioned in this week’s reading, the ideas of micro and macro practices are to compliment from one another. Understanding the needs of one might be just be the needs of the general population of that area, (Popple & Leighninger, 2015). Therefore becoming familiar and effective with using techniques on the micro level, might uncover solutions to bigger societal problems in communities.
Popple, P.R., & Leighninger, L. 2015. The police-based profession: Introduction to social welfare policy analysis for social workers. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Educations