PURPOSE OF SOCIAL WORK

Social Work aims to maximize the development of human potential and the fulfillment of
human needs, through an equal commitment to: Working with and enabling people to achieve
the best possible levels of personal and social well-being. Working to achieve social justice
through social development and social change.

The social work commitment

 Upholding people’s interests and rights

 Working with individuals, groups and communities in the pursuit and achievement of
equitable access to social, economic and political resources
 Providing assistance to improve the well-being of clients. (Clients are individuals,
families, groups, communities, organizations and societies, especially those who are
neglected, vulnerable, disadvantaged or have exceptional needs)
 Raising awareness of structural inequities
 Promoting policies and practices that achieve a fair allocation of social resources
 Acting to bring about social change to reduce social barriers, inequality and injustice.

If you have a heart for helping others, social work could be the perfect career for you. Social
workers play a crucial role in assisting families in crisis, individuals with mental illness, and
communities plagued by poor health, unemployment, homelessness, substance abuse, child
neglect, and other complex social issues.

Understanding Macro, Mezzo, and Micro Social Work

These three areas of focus in social work practice may overlap but it is important to understand
the distinctions between these social work approaches.

Macro Social Work

What is Macro Social Work?

Macro social work encompasses practices like social work research, program
development for small and large communities, community-based education initiatives, policy
analysis and advocacy, non-profit administration and leadership, and organizational
development.

Social workers in this category can frequently be found at government agencies, non-
profit organizations, think tanks, and advocacy groups. They typically collaborate with a larger
team of researchers, advocates, activists, analysts, educators, and/or government employees.
They might lobby to change a health care law or organize a state-wide activist group to
advocate for large-scale social policy change.

Importance of Macro Social Work

Because of its focus on policy change and fighting against unjust government or
economic practices, macro social work ultimately builds stronger communities and provides
better quality of life for the people living in them.

Michael Reisch, the Daniel Thursz Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Social Justice
External link at the University of Maryland External, noted that macro social work focuses on
the big picture and the prevention of societal problems.
 Students in a macro MSW program receive general instruction in social work theory,
research methodologies, and ethics, as well as in the design and implementation of social
welfare and assistance initiatives.

Mezzo Social Work

What is Mezzo Social Work?

Mezzo social work is provided on an intermediate scale, involving neighborhoods,

institutions, or other smaller groups. Mezzo-level social workers, for example, serve on the staff
of schools, hospitals, community centers, and prisons.

Clinical social workers at the mezzo level could coordinate care for their patients and
diagnose mental health problems in a hospital setting.

Mezzo practice also can include facilitating substance abuse treatment groups or
working with offenders or victims within the criminal justice system.

Importance of Mezzo Social Work

Mezzo-level social workers advocate for and serve clients within all the public systems
that make up the fabric of our communities, regions, and nation.

School social workers, for instance, provide support services for students struggling
personally, academically or socially. They could provide guidance and intervention on issues
such as bullying and truancy.

Often, mezzo-level social workers are also engaged in micro and/or macro social work.
This ensures the needs and challenges of individual clients are understood and addressed in
tandem with larger social issues.

Micro Social Work

What is Micro Social Work?

When you think of social workers helping a child in foster care or locating housing for a
homeless individual, this is micro-level social work.

Family therapy and individual counseling are included under the micro umbrella, as is
military social work, where the social worker helps military service members cope with the
challenges accompanying military life and access their benefits.

Importance of Micro Social Work

Social workers on the micro level are protecting society’s most vulnerable individuals,
including young children, people with mental disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and
elderly people in many different aspects of their lives.

Along with providing individual counseling, micro-level social workers connect their
clients with important resources, such as temporary housing, healthcare, and mental health
services that will improve their lives.