MSW-5000 v1

Poulin, J. & Matis, S. (2019). Social work practice: A competency-based approach. Unit III: Mezzo and Macro Social Work Practices: Chapter 9 281-315. Springer Publishing Company.

Read Chapter 9. This primary social work practice text, built around the nine core 2015 CSWE competencies, is the only book available that provides students with the benefits of a fully integrated competency-based approach. This unit addresses macro and mezzo social work practice.

Nichols Fairfax, C. (2017). Community practice and the Afrocentric paradigm. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 27(1-2), 73-80. DOI: 10.1080/10911359.2016.1263090

Community practice was developed by social reformers after Black people created communities after enslavement (Nichols Fairfax, 2017). Given America’s apartheid system of segregation, Black social leaders, also referred to as social reformers, were creating institutions and systems that not only attended to human needs but also affirmed culture, family, and traditions (Nichols Fairfax, 2017). As the Afrocentric perspective reinterpreted African philosophy, socioeconomic/political realities, and culture in the latter 20th century, social workers should apply this point of view within a community practice context to attend to systemic and environmental issues impacting the African American community (Nichols Fairfax, 2017). This article explores the intersection of community practice and the Afrocentric paradigm that social workers can apply in the 21st century (Nichols Fairfax, 2017).

Marx, J. D. (2014). Ten emerging “communities” for social work education and practice. Social Work, 59(1), 84–86. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swt042

Recent research has documented the decline of community organization content in social work education curriculums (Marx, 2014). There are several factors that contribute to this trend (Marx, 2014). Among them is the fact that most social work faculty members have little experience in community organization and do not feel prepared to teach such content (Marx, 2014). In addition, and perhaps more important, most students are unaware of or uninterested in community organization (Marx, 2014).

Ahmed, S. R., Amer, M. M., & Killawi, A. (2017). The ecosystems perspective in social work: Implications for culturally competent practice with American Muslims. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, 36(1–2), 48–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2017.1311245

The ecosystems framework is relevant to social work because it helps to envision a better fit between clients and their environments by improving the quality of transactions across different ecological systems (Sawssan, Mona & Amal Killawi, 2017). This approach can be useful to understanding the experiences of Muslims living in America, and is consistent with Islam’s emphasis on person-in-context Sawssan, Mona & Amal Killawi, 2017). This article analyzes American Muslims’ experiences at different ecological levels; namely, family and peers, organizations that individuals are in regular contact with (school, college, workplace, Islamic center), and pervasive sociopolitical influences at the macrolevel. For each of these ecosystems, the article outlines challenges the person may have in adapting, strategies that enhance the quality of the environment and person-environment fit, and practical recommendations for social work practice. The aim of this review is to provide social workers with a rich understanding of the various systemic factors that can influence the well-being of their American Muslim clients so that they can support their growth and empowerment (Sawssan, Mona & Amal Killawi, 2017).

Reisch, M. (2016). Why macro practice matters. Journal of Social Work Education, 52(3), 258–268. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2016.1174652

This article asserts that macro practice is increasingly important in today’s rapidly changing and complex practice environment (Reisch, 2016). It briefly explores the history of macro practice in U.S. social work, summarizes its major contributions to the profession and to U.S. society, and provides some suggestions for how social work programs can expand interest in macro practice among their students and increase the number of students who pursue macro-oriented careers (Reisch, 2016).

Segal-Engelchin, D., Kaufman, R., Huss, E., & Amos, O. (2017). Impacts of an intensive macro-oriented social work programme on first-year students’ values, practice preferences and sense of practice competence. British Journal of Social Work, 47(8), 2346–2363. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcw127

This study examined the outcomes of an innovative first-year programme that incorporated both macro-focused field training and service learning into the curriculum (Segal-Engelchin, Kaufman, Huss, & Amos, 2017).

Friedman, L., Karim, M., Feiler, K., Padner, S., & Eyrich-Garg, K. (2020). Political Social Work: An Essential Component of the Profession. Journal of Health & Human Services Administration, 43(4), 359–381. https://doi.org/10.37808/jhhsa.43.4.3