THE MICRO AND MACRO LEVELS

ASSESSMENT AT THE MICRO AND MACRO LEVELS

Assessment is a structured approach to gathering and analyzing information about the client system and their story. How is the assessment process different when the client system is an individual or family versus a community made up of individuals and families?

Assessment involves gathering the needed information in order to determine appropriate intervention. Thorough assessment allows social workers to identify the problems that need to be addressed. Complex social problems often mean that both the micro and macro level factors contribute to social work cases.

In this Discussion, you compare differences in the assessment stage at different practice levels.

RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

BY DAY 3

Post a response to the following:

· Describe the assessment process as related to individuals and families.

· Briefly identify the types of information it is important to gather.

· Compare how assessment at the macro level is similar and dissimilar than at the micro level.

· Explain how you would gather the needed information at the macro level.

· Identify a situation where a client system (micro or macro) may be reluctant to engage in the assessment process.

Support your post with examples from the course text and any other resources used to respond to this Discussion. Demonstrate that you have completed the required readings, understand the material, and are able to apply the concepts. Include a full reference of resources at the bottom of the post.

BY DAY 6

Respond to at least two colleagues:

Recommend specific skills your colleague may use to engage individuals or communities who may be reluctant to accept social work services or participate in the assessment process.

References

st-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2018). Empowerment series: Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.

· Chapter 5, “Engagement and Assessment in Generalist Practice” (pp. 175–223)

· John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (2014). Clinical interviewing: Intake, assessment & therapeutic alliance: With John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD and Rita Sommers-Flanagan, PhD (Playlist “active listening”) Links to an external site. . [Video].

· Walden University. (2018, 2021). Child welfare [Video]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com