It helps clients by intervening in large systems that may seem beyond the reach of individuals.įor many people unfamiliar with the field, macro-level work may not even be recognizable as social work. Macro-level social work involves interventions and advocacy on a large scale, affecting entire communities, states or even countries. Undergraduate degrees in psychology (with an emphasis on group psychology) or sociology help build a solid foundation for this kind of work. Since mezzo-level social work addresses group issues, it is a valuable tool for creating small-scale institutional, social and cultural change. Many practitioners use micro and mezzo social work simultaneously to solve problems in businesses, schools, organizations and communities. Of course, the smallest “group” is the family unit, but mezzo social work extends far beyond that. While micro social work happens on an individual level, mezzo-level social work zooms out to look at groups instead of individuals. Since micro-level social work involves sensitive interactions with individuals, undergraduate degrees in fields like psychology or sociology can be especially helpful for students hoping to work in this field. Micro-level social work can be offered by agencies and nonprofits, as well as in schools, police departments or even the military. Individual and family counseling also fall under this category, as do certain kinds of mental health and substance abuse treatment.
This is the most common type of social work, and involves direct interaction with clients to address individual problems.Ĭommon examples of micro-level work include helping people find housing, health care and social services. When people imagine the day-to-day activities of social workers, they’re usually thinking about the micro level. For those considering a career in social work, an understanding of the vast opportunities available at each level is imperative.
The practice is typically categorized into three interrelated scales: micro, mezzo and macro. In reality, this is only one type of work that social workers do. What does a social worker do? If you believe the mainstream media, which generally portrays social workers engaging in one-on-one sessions with individuals or perhaps with families, you might perceive the position as one that functions on a relatively small scale. Instead, it works across three scales - micro, mezzo and macro - to create change. Social work doesn’t just help individual people. Social Work and Public Safety Collaborative.
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