Discussion 1: Resiliency
Do you ever feel trapped by circumstances that you sense you are powerless to change? As a social worker, you can anticipate having to regularly address clients who feel trapped in adverse circumstances and have no clear direction on how to improve their situations. How do you address the needs of such a client?
Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2016) define resiliency as “the ability of an individual, family, group, community, or organization to recover from adversity and resume functioning even when suffering serious trouble, confusion, or hardship” (p. 17-18). For this Discussion, you apply the concept of resiliency to the real life scenario of Talia Johnson.
To prepare for this Discussion, review the major concepts from your HSBE I course (Chapters 1–9 in Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman). Then, view the media about Talia Johnson’s visit with her social worker. As you reflect on the readings this week, imagine you are Talia Johnson’s social worker and consider how you might apply the concept of resiliency to Talia’s case. Also, consider how you might apply the concept of resiliency to social work practice in general.
Post a Discussion that includes the following:
- · An explanation about how you, as Talia’s social worker, might apply the concept of resiliency to Talia and her situation
- · Examples from the case study of Talia and the resources to support your strategy
- An explanation of how you might apply the concept of resiliency to your social work practice.
References: (please use at least 2 or more)
Laureate Education (Producer). (2013). Johnson family: Episode 5 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Discussion 2: Micro vs. Macro Practice
The foundation of the social work profession is rooted in two levels of social assessment and reform. One is the individual, or micro, approach, which examines the needs of the individual living in poverty and explores how trained social work professionals could assist the individual in overcoming barriers to economic self-sufficiency. The other approach, which occurs simultaneously, is a macro, or larger environment, approach. This approach identifies and influences changes in the larger systems (education, economic, etc.) to improve self-sufficiency. The social work profession incorporates both approaches and trains professionals to intervene effectively at both levels of practice.
For this Discussion, review this week’s resources. Then, reflect on the dichotomy between micro and macro practice. Next, think about how micro practice has come to dominate the social work profession.
- · Post an explanation of “the dichotomy between micro and macro” practice.
- · Then, describe how micro practice has come to dominate the social work profession.
References: (please use at least 2 or more)
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.
Steen, J. A. (2012). Critical thought within the social welfare policy course. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 32(1), 14–28.
