Macro-Level Systems Perspective
What services currently exist in the community to address the identified need?
Has a community needs assessment or agency needs assessment been conducted to identify needs? If not, what is the evidence that need exists?
Students should make a case for why this is a concern and discuss the human rights, environmental justice, or social justice, or economic justice implications.
Sample Answer
What services currently exist in the community to address the identified need?
The first step in addressing any community need is to identify the services that currently exist. This can be done by conducting a community needs assessment or by reviewing the websites of local government agencies and nonprofits.
Some examples of services that may exist to address the identified need include:
- Food banks and soup kitchens
- Homeless shelters
- Transitional housing programs
- Job training programs
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment programs
- After-school programs for youth
- Legal aid services