SOCIAL

ENVIRONMENT
THE FAMILY, GROUPS
AND COMMUNITY

THIS
REVIEWER
BELONGS
FUTURE RSW
TO:
SOCIAL WORK R- roles
 The profession that is concerned
with man’s adjustment to his
R- Relationship R+R=S
environment, a person (or S- Self worth
groups) in relation to a person’s
(or their) social situation.
THELMA LEE MENDOZA

II. FOCUS OF SOCIAL WORK

C. CAUSES OF
 The focus of SW is to enhance
one’s “social functioning”.
DYSFUNCTIONING

A. SOCIAL FUNCTIONING 1. Personal Inadequacies or

sometimes pathologies.
- refers to man’s adjustment to
2. Situational inadequacy-
his environment.
factors lying in the
- result from the performance of environment.
his various social roles in 3. Both personal and
society. situational inadequacies.
B. ROLE
-A socially expected behaviour
D. WAYS OF ENHANCING OR
expected from/of a person given
by a particular status in the
IMPROVING ONE’S SOCIAL
society. FUNCTIONING
Example: 1. Changes strategies
Status: Student directed toward the
Roles: to study well; pass the individual
exam 2. Changes strategies
directed toward the
-fulfilling one’s role in society in environment.
general to those in the 3. Changes strategies
immediate environment and to directed toward both
oneself. This functions includes individual and situation.
meeting one’s basic and those of
one’s dependents and making
positive contributions to the III. WHAT IS THE PERSON IN
society. ENVIRONMENT

BORSON’S SOCIAL  A perspective which arose from

FUNCTION ACCORDING TO the experiences and
SKIDMORE (1991) observations of the pioneers that
person and environment affects
each other in a cause and effect
manner.
A. THE PERSON
- A human being
- Human, individual sometimes
used in combination especially
those who preferred to avoid
man compounds applicable to
both sexes (Merriam Webster
Dictionary)
- A biopsychosocial being or
biopsychosocial spiritual being.
B. THE ENVIRONMENT
- Refers to one’s surroundings
- A multitude of physical and
social structures faces and
possesses that impact on
humans and all other life forms.
- May be described as the totality
of factors and forces: air, climate,
human pollution, etc.
- External and extrinsic physical
conditions as well as the
complex of social and cultural
conditions.
- Total conditions
circumstances surrounding the
individual.
C. THE SITUATION
SOCIAL SITUATION
- An impinging segment of the
social environment (smaller,
more immediate environment)
- Roles, identities, is a group
member and role performer.
INSERT: DEZEROTE’S ILLUSTRATION
D. THE ENVIRONMENT
Dual Perspective:
Norton_________
Sustaining environment
Immediate/
Nurturing
person
Environment
1. NURTURING/IMMEDIATE
ENVIRONMENT
- Often interact with intimate
manner; family and friends.
- A person develops a sense of
identity
- Relationship in this environment
have profound/deep effect on
one’s functioning.
- Family, friends, neighbours,
close associates at school and
work.
2. SUSTAINING ENVIRONMENT
- Made up of people through
which one encounters the wider
community and broader society.
- Supports the individual
- Ex. Media, economic resources,
education, school institution,
general community and political
system.
or
GENERAL WELFARE UNDER DSWD:
RSCC- Reception and Study Center
for children
THE SCOPE
- Range of social work activity and
involvement
1. Direct services- social
worker meets face-to-face
with the client
-Counselling relationship
between a social worker and
a runaway youth is an
example of this
2. Indirect practice- social
worker acts on behalf of a
 group of people who have a
similar problem.
-example: when a social
worker writes a grant or
obtains support a new shelter
needed to serve the runaway
youth.
-Doesn’t have a face-to-face
contact with the client.
Sometimes you represent
them or act in behalf of them.
-Research, supervision, letter
for grant are just some of
indirect practice.
LEVELS OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
1. Micro level- social work practice is
focused more on the interaction at
the most intimate level.
- the served client includes
individuals, families, couples,
husband and wife and close
friends.
- Designated as direct (clinical)
because practitioners deliver
services directly to the clients in
face-to-face contact
- Also called as interpersonal
helping, direct practice and
clinical practice.
- Intervention is designed to
change the systems that directly
affect clients such as family, peer
group or classroom.
3. Macro level- involves the process of
social planning and community
organizing.
- Social worker serve as
professional change agents who
assist community actions
systems composed of individuals
groups or organizations dealing
with social problem.
- Works with group or private
and/or public organization.
- According to Meenaghan 1987,
activities of social workers
include the following:
o Development of and work
with community groups or
organization.
o Program planning and
development
o Implementation,
administration and
evaluation programs.
- Social worker is involved in
activities such as administration,
fund raising, policy analysis,
class advocacy etc.

2. Mezzo level- defined as the

interpersonal relations that are less
intimate than those associated with
the family life (micro level); more
meaningful than organizational and
institutional representatives (macro
level) including relationship between
individuals in self-help or therapy
group among peers at school, work
or among neighbours.
- Catering to the clients as a
group.

PERSPECTIVES AND
PRACTICE FRAMEWORKS
IN SOCIAL WORK
 GENERAL SYSTEMS THEORY
 STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVES
 STRUCTURAL/FUNCTIONAL
PERSPECTIVES
 ECOSYSTEM
IMPORTANCE OF PRACTICE
FRAMEWORK PERSPECTIVES
1. It directs your focus to certain
factors and place in the
background when approaching a
practice situation.
2. Operating from a clear and well-
conceived practice framework
improves one’s effectiveness
with clients.
3. The use of practice frameworks
enlarges or narrows the social
worker’s visions and options.
4. Utility depend on the nature of
the problems or issues, the
characteristics of clients, the
phase in the helping process or
context.
GENERAL SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE
Purpose: to assist the social worker in
maintaining a focus on the dynamic
interplay of the many biological and social
systems that affect clients’ behaviour and
functioning.
Application: most useful during the
beginning stages of the helping process,
especially during the assessment.
SYSTEMS- Parts that are
interconnected with each other and
makes a functional whole.
- Complex of elements standing in
interaction
- Structures and set of processes
by which those structures
interacts.
- A set of elements that are orderly
and interrelated to make a
functional whole.
What characterizes a system?
1. Consist of numerous subsystems
2. Each system is also a part of
larger supra-system.
3. a symbiotic relationship is
assumed to exist among parts of
the system.
4. Systems have boundaries
5. All biological and social systems
are open systems however,
systems may vary in degree of
openness.
6. all systems strive to preserve a
dynamic equilibrium or a steady
state
CONCEPTS UNDER GENERAL
PERSPECTIVES
1. Entropy- the tendency of
systems to become disorganized
to disintegrate or to run down
and die.
2. Negentropy- (negative entropy)
forces that preserve the systems
organization
3. Four interrelated activities for
system functioning
3.1. Input- taking in needed
energy, information, etc.
3.2. Conversion Operation-
activity that process the
input and convert it into
forms that can be used
by the system to sustain
functioning.

3.3. Output- interactions with
other systems
3.4. Feedback- process by
which the system
monitors its own
functioning and makes
needed adjustments in
order to maintain a
steady state.
4. Equifinality- a particular effect
may result from several causes;
many causes, one effect and not
following the linear thinking (1
cause ≠ 1 effect)
5. Multifinality- a given action may
produce several different
outcomes; one cause, many
effects.
6. Interface- the meeting or
overlapping of two or more
systems.
-also refers to social worker’s
role of doing “boundary work”
STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE
Purpose: to ensure that the social worker is
attentive to the clients’ strengths during
assessment.
Application: necessary in all phases of the
helping process.
- This ask the worker to be guided
first and foremost by the
profound awareness of and
respect for client’s positive
attributes, abilities and talents
and aspirations.
- It strives to understand how the
client “has managed to survive
perhaps thrives in an oppressive
and even catastrophic
environment.
- This approach recognizes that in
every environment, no matter
how harsh, there are individuals
and organizations that do care
and have something positive to
contribute.
- Focusing on the strength rather
than the problem.
- A support of the family to the
client is already strength.
Role of Social Worker
1. Facilitator
2. Consultant
STRUCTURAL MODEL PERSPECTIVE
Purpose: to ensure that a social work
intervention gives adequate and appropriate
attention to client’s social change.
Application: intended for use in all social
work intervention.
- Instead of focusing on helping
the individuals adjust to their
situations, this approach aims to
modify the environment first so it
better meet the needs of the
individuals.
- The environment is faulty and
not the person.
ASSUMPTIONS OF STRUCTURAL
MODEL
1. Problems are not viewed as
individual pathology, but as
manifestation of inadequate
social arrangements.
2. Social change is the obligation of
all social workers when they are
in the bureaucratic hierarchy.
 is slowly but constantly adapting
to an ever-changing
ROLES OF SOCIAL WORKERS environment.
2. Competition- is the major
1. Conferee- (from the word process that shapes ecological
‘conference’) where two or more community. (competition is for
people consult together, survival.)
compare opinions, deliberate 3. Symbiosis- refers to the close
and device actions. and frequent interaction between
2. Broker- links client into two species wherein one or both
community resources. benefit from the interaction.
3. Mediator- intervenes in disputes
to help reconcile differences, find 3 types of symbiosis
compromises or reach mutually a. Mutualism- both specie
satisfying agreements. benefit from the
4. Advocate- providing active interaction.
support for a position/cause of b. Commensalism- one
another. specie benefits while the
other is neither helped
nor harmed.
c. Parasitism- the parasite
ECOSYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE is benefiting while its host
is harmed.
Purpose: to maintain social worker’s focus
on the person in environment context of 4. Specialization- has the effect of
practice situation. reducing competition. As a
general rule, specialization will
Application: most useful during assessment increase a specie’s survivability
and planning. in a relatively stable
environment, but decreases
- It borrows ides from the science survivability in a rapidly changing
of ecology as well as the environment.
systems theory.
5. Niche- the composite of
Ecology- a branch of biology which focuses physical, chemical and biological
on the relationship between organisms and factors needed by a particular
their biological and physical environment. specie to survive, remain healthy
and reproduce within its
Ecosystem- the unit of study in ecology ecosystem; comfort zone.
that refers to partially or completely self-
contained mass of organisms (that engages
in) energetic interactions and material
6. Carrying capacity- the
cycling that link the organisms into
maximum number of individuals
community with one another and their
of each species that can life in a
environment.
particular ecosystem.
CONCEPTS OF ECOSYSTEMS
PERSPECTIVES
BOUNDARY- Those who belong and those
who does not.
1. Ecosystems are never static-
each specie is an ecosystem that
FIVE ELEMENTS IN A PRACTICE
SITUATION
1. Characteristics of individuals
2. Family lifestyle and dynamic
3. Cultural values and beliefs
4. Environmental-structural factors (ex.
Racism, sexism and ageism)
5. Historical experiences that
contributed to client’s situation.
Final note
- This perspectives reminds us
that the environment in which we
must function is constantly
changing and that individuals,
communities and whole societies
must adapt to these changes.
- From an ecological perspective,
“people’s needs and
predicaments are viewed as
outcomes of people’s
environment exchanges, not as
the products of personality or
environment alone.”
FAMILY
- A set if people related by blood,
marriage or adoption or who
share the primary responsibility
for production and caring for
members of society.
- Basic unit of society.
- Smallest yet foundation of
society
- Family is the foundation of the
nation. The state shall
strengthen its solidarity and
actively promote its total
development (1987 Philippine
Constitution)
- A basic social institution which
public policy cherishes and
protects. Consequently, family
relations are governed by law
and no custom, practice or
agreement destructive of the
family shall be recognized or
give affect. (Revised Family
Code)
What is family?
1. Social group characterized by
common residence, economic
cooperation and reproduction. It
includes adults of both sexes, at
least two of whom maintain a
socially approved sexual relationship
, and one or more children, born to
or adopted by the sexually
cohabitant adults. (traditional
definition)
2. Group of persons united by ties of
marriage, blood or adoption
constituting a single household,
interacting and communicating with
each other in their respective social
roles of husband and wife, mother
and father, son and daughter,
brother and sister, creating and
maintaining a common culture.
(traditional definition)
3. Composed of two or more persons
related by mutual expectations odf
emotional and material support, their
family-like behaviour conveying
mutual responsibility, intimacy and
care on a continuing basis,
regardless of their living
arrangement. (new definition).
SOME IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
1. Adoption- socio-legal process of
providing home and/or family to a
child whose parents are voluntarily
or involuntarily given up their rights.
2. Birth simulation- changing some
content of birth certificate such as
 the name of parents and is
considered to be illegal.
3. Consanguinity- family by blood/
same ancestor
CHARACTERITICS OF FAMILY
(Zaidee, 1983)
1. Composed of people united by ties
of marriage, by blood or by adoption.
2. Their members of the family usually
live together under one roof and
constitute a single housekeeping
unit.
3. The family members are associated
with one another with specific roles.
4. Family maintains a culture.
IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY
1. The strong or weak mental and
physical facilities of the child
inherited from the parents can
developed in the family.
2. In the family, the child learns on the
social responsibility and the
necessity for cooperation, it plays a
significant role in socialization.
3. The family is a transmitter of a
culture.
4. It serves as model for the
establishment of another family.
FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY
1. Childbearing function- provides or
the continuity of human kind through
reproduction, which is a prerequisite
for the survival of the society.
2. Regulation of sexual behaviour- it
only allows sexual activity if it is
within the standard norms of society
usually in the form of marriage. But
then, sex is socially sanctioned.
3. Identification of social status-
provides means by which the
individual’s social status is initially
fixed.
4. Mechanism for social control-
exerts pressure to make the
members conform to certain
standards or norms of behaviour
5. Child-rearing function- parents
look after the children’s physical and
material needs, giving them
sustenance, nourishment and
protection.
6. Educational function- family takes
the role of educator when
socialization process of a preschool
age child starts. The family transmits
knowledge, skills and appreciation.
7. Socialization function- tries to
shape the attitudes, values and
practices of the child in preparative
for his/her active participation in a
society.
8. Religious function- introduces the
children to religion.
9. Political function- certain aspects
of the family like the lines of
authority, decisions making, the
system of giving commands and
demanding obedience, loyalty to
members and the cooperative spirit
are carried over the political activity
on the larger society.
10. Gender socialization- the gender
role are learned in the family through
the division of labour.

FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY
 reproduction
 biological maintenance
 socialization
 status placement
 social control
 economic
 educational
 recreational
 religious
 political
FAMILY STRUCTURES AND DYNAMICS
Family structures
- various types of family existing in
today’s society.
- it is the nuclear family as well as
those non-traditional alternatives
to nuclear family that are
adopted by those persons in
committed relationships and
people they considered to be
family.
1. Nuclear family- considered to be
traditional family and consists of a
mother, father and dependent
child(ren)
Two kinds of nuclear family
a. Family orientation
b. Family of procreation
Advantages of nuclear
family
 Every member develops
greater interdependence
and self-sufficiency
 Each family members
shares bond with each
other
 Financially stable
Disadvantages of nuclear
family
 Self-centered view point
 Small support system
2. Extended family- family that
extends beyond the nuclear family,
consisting of parents, like father,
mother, and their children, aunts,
uncles, grandparents and cousins,
all living in the same household.
Advantages of extended
family
 Developing strong family
bonds
 Company
 Socialization
Disadvantages of extended
family
 Expenses
 Less privacy
 A lot of argument
3. Solo parent/single parent family- a
parent with children headed by a
single parent. They may be single
parent by choice or by life
circumstances.
Advantages of solo parent
or single parent family
 Fewer arguments
 Teaches independence
and security
Disadvantages of solo
parent/single parent family
 Financial difficulties
 Too many responsibilities
 It may be difficult to
discipline your child.
4. Women or girl headed family- Characteristics of same sex
family in which a female is the sole family (Crouch, McNair, Waters
or main income producer and and powers 2013)
decision-maker. This may be
because of the absent of the older  A single lesbian who has
male person who are capable of children from previous
decision making. heterosexual relationship.
 A gay couple having children
Advantages of women through surrogacy
headed family  A bisexual man having
children with a heterosexual
 Resilience woman
 Co-parenting arrangement
Disadvantages of women between a lesbian couple
headed family and a gay male couple.

 Poverty
 Academic
underachievement for Advantages of same sex
children. family

 Children raised in families

5. OFW parents- father, mother or
both parents are not present
because they opt to work abroad.
Advantages of OFW family
 Earn high income
 Better educational
opportunity for children.
Disadvantages of OFW
family
with gay or lesbian parents
are as healthy and feel as
good about themselves.
 Adolescents with same-sex
parents reported feeling
more connected at school
 Children in gay and lesbian
household are more likely to
talk about emotionally difficult
topics, and they are more
often resilient,
compassionate and tolerant.

 Lack of open
communication Disadvantages of same sex
 Indifference towards their family
parents
 Turns to rebellion  Adoption is allowed a by a
single LGBTQ+ person but
not by two people who are
identified as a domestic
6. Same sex family- any family in couple.
which at least one parent self-  They are at special risk of
identifies as being same-sex discrimination
attracted (Crouch, MCNair, waters
and Powers 2013); also called as
rainbow family.
7. Blended family- also called “step Disadvantages of blended
family”. Any non-traditional family
configuration of people who live
together, are committed to each  Stereotypes and
other, and perform functions misconceptions that they
traditionally assumed family. are receiving
Blended family is formed when you  Not having the sense of
and your partner make a life fulfilment that comes with
together with the children from one having a child.
or both of you previous relationships.

Advantages of blended
family

 More people to connect

with
 There may be more
money coming into home
if both parents are
working.

Disadvantages of blended
family

 Older children may find it

difficult to adopt living
with another family.
 Jealousy may be evident
among the children
 At times, cases of sexual
abuse.

8. Voluntary childless family- also

known as “child free” family. It is an
alternative family from where couple
voluntarily decides not to have
children.

Advantages of voluntary
childless family

 Save money
 More time in focusing to
develop their career
 More time to devote each
other
 Great freedom