Theory provides the conceptual framework and language for professional discourse that allow us to examine social problems and the policies designed to address them. Furthermore, theory provides the means for organizing and interpreting our observations in a manner consistent with social work’s values and priorities. As such, social work theory provides the foundation for our work in advocacy and policy reform.
In this course, you will be using multiple social work theories in your interpretation of social problems, your evaluation of current social policies, and your envisioning of new avenues for social change. As with social policy, all theories are value laden and derive from a sociohistorical context. As such, they should be analyzed and critiqued with special attention paid to their cross-cultural applicability and their conceptualizations of the most vulnerable in our society. Social workers must use theory to shape their advocacy practice in the micro, mezzo, and macro practice environments in which they operate.
Background Information
In previous courses, you have learned about many theories and perspectives that inform advocacy:
Ecological systems theory is relevant to working with individuals, groups, and communities because such entities are subsystems that interact with and are influenced by larger systems in the social environment. An important consideration is the extent to which these subsystems are marginalized or have a relationship that promotes and sustains growth and development. For example, do groups and communities have equitable access to resources, and do they have power over the decisions that affect their functioning?
Conflict theory is compatible with systems theory, in particular because tensions between subsystems and larger systems may revolve around issues of power: either the lack thereof or attempts by marginalized subsystems to gain it.
Human agency theory refers to the capacity of individuals, groups, and communities to be active participants to increase their power to address inequality and injustice. Perspectives include empowerment, social justice, and strengths, each of which is amplified in human agency theory.
• The empowerment perspective assumes that power and powerlessness are inextricably linked to the experience of inequality. Understanding human agency theory at the individual and collective levels is essential to empowerment, in that both levels recognize the shared competence of groups or communities to act to prevent problems and to interact with the systems in the social environment to change their situation.
• Social justice, as articulated in the Council of Social Work Educational Policy Standards, includes economic and social justice. Social justice is broadly understood to include equality and fairness in access to and distribution of resources (distributive justice) and access to opportunity. Procedural justice relates to people’s participation in the decisions that influence their lives—for example, decisions about the distribution of resources.
• The strengths perspective emphasizes the potential of the individual. Instead of focusing on clients' problems and deficits, the strengths perspective centers on clients' abilities, talents, and resources. The strengths perspective focuses essentially on identifying, mobilizing, and respecting the resources, assets, wisdom, and knowledge that every person, family, group, or community has, as well as their potential for transforming their experiences and lives.
Instructions
- In a two- page APA-formatted document, address the following. Use the APA Template for Dropbox Assignments.docx to complete your assignment.
a. Think about the range of client problems in your agency practicum, or your own job if you work in social services. (rehabilitation for drug addiction in adults)
b. Identify one client system (individual, family, or community) with which you have interacted directly. Briefly explain the circumstances and challenges of the situation (change identifying information for confidentiality purposes). (low self-esteem is at all-time high, use strengths perspective)
c. What policy would you like to change that would benefit the specific client system you identified? (food stamps eligibility for felons -unless there is something better you would think)
d. Apply the theories and perspectives that will inform your advocacy work toward policy change:
i. Ecological systems theory: Does the client system (individual, family, or community) have equitable access to resources and have power over the decisions that affect its functioning? Please explain. How will you apply techniques/strategies/skills in your advocacy work in accordance with the ecological systems theory? How can this theory inform your social work advocacy? How can challenges at the micro level be influenced, exacerbated, or solved at both the mezzo and macro levels?
ii. Conflict theory: What tensions exist between subsystems and larger systems regarding issues of power (either the lack thereof or attempts by marginalized subsystems to gain it) with your specific client system? How can you apply this theory to your social work advocacy?
Sample Solution