Description
Urban communities may have multiple resources for its population, while many rural areas struggle to meet their communities’ needs. Understanding communities requires an analysis of structures and organizations and how they influence work with a client population. These structures can act as a resource to clients. The social worker must have a clear understanding of these structures and how they intersect with each other and with other systems in the community. You also need to be aware of any barriers or perceived barriers by the client that may prevent them from accessing these resources. Your community and its services depend on its location, funding sources, and political influences.
In this Discussion, you practice assessment at the micro and mezzo levels when you identify the needs of the Bargas family featured in the Southside Community Services video. Assessing your community for these resources provides you with the opportunity to practice at the macro level, thereby allowing you to initiate skills at all three levels of social work practice.
To prepare for this Discussion, watch the Southside Community Services video and review this week’s Learning Resources.
LEARNING RESOURCES
Required Readings
Netting, F. E., Kettner, P. M., McMurtry, S. L., & Thomas, M. L. (2017). Social work macro practice (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Chapter 5, “Understanding Communities” (pp. 116–152)
Chapter 6, “Assessing Communities” (pp. 153–187)
Document: Community Assessment Guiding Framework (Word document)Download Community Assessment Guiding Framework (Word document)
Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2018). Southside Community ServicesLinks to an external site. [Web site]. Baltimore, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://studyhall.waldenu.edu/bsw/
This is the web site for Southside Community Services, the fictional agency featured in the BSW video case studies. Here you can explore more details about the case studies, find sample job listings, or explore other aspects of social work.
Required Media
Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2017). Southside Community Services: Mrs. Bargas, Episode 4 [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Post the following:
Identify three needs that the Bargas family has for which the social worker could offer resources.
Using your own community as a point of reference, identify organizations and/or agencies that could address these needs.
Explain how these organizations or agencies could help the Bargas family.
