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Responses

Hello Summer,

In 2012, 15.0% of Americans, or 46.5 million people, were estimated to be living below

the official poverty level. Poverty is still pervasive in the country. Social professionals are able to

handle this problem in several ways. On a micro level, they help families find resources such as

daycare, low-cost housing, and jobs while imparting financial literacy (Ritter & Ofahengaue,

2015). Mezzo-level interventions include setting up support groups, identifying children who are

at-risk inside schools, and offering preventive measures against future poverty. Macrosocial

workers play a critical role in the creation of national policies for poverty reduction by doing

important research to identify and address micro causes that contribute to poverty.

Hello Alison,

Macro-level social workers seek to improve policies that impact the poor and to meet the

needs of the community. This include working with committees and representatives, taking part

in demonstrations, and planning fundraising events. Known as "big picture" social work, it

prioritizes structural reform over providing one-on-one support (Miller, 2022). In contrast to

mezzo and micro techniques, which assist individuals and small groups, macro social work

addresses problems at a level of the larger system. The establishment of programs, community

education, and advocacy for policies that alleviate poverty are essential components of macro

social work's efforts to fight poverty and promote social change.

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References

Miller, Ashley. “Social Workers’ Roles in Helping the Poor.” Work, 19 Apr.

2022, work.chron.com/social-workers-roles-helping-poor-24938.html.

Ritter, J. A., & Ofahengaue, V. H. F. (2015). Careers in Poverty and Homelessness.

In 101 careers in Social Work (pp. 179–192). essay, Springer Publishing Company.