Introduction
Macro Social work is a broad social work field that is concerned with the study of social problems that occur in society on a large scale (Netting, 2012). In addition, macro social work investigates the social intervention strategies whose purpose is to develop positive change in the community and on a national level. Some of the practices in macro social work include program development in the community, research work, evaluation of current programs, and development of education initiatives in the community advocacy, policy intervention, leadership, and administration. Macro social work is important in society because it brings desired change that aims to build the community and the individuals that reside in the community. It fosters good relations amongst community members and drives change and development in the community. An example of an important area in macro social work is community practice. According to Hardcastle, Powers and Wenocur (2011), community practice is concerned with applying specific practice skills that aim at altering behavioral patterns in the larger community. These include institutions, organizations, community groups and community structures. Furthermore, community practice is a section of macro social work that aims at bringing planned and desired change in a community. Some of the skills necessary for social workers who practice community practice include social action, social planning and administration.
Examples of personal strengths, areas of confidence and comfort zones that enable me to practice macro social work include excellent cognitive, analytic and sorting skills. In addition, I can establish strong partnerships and commitments with other social workers and community members. Furthermore, I can prioritize my duties and responsibilities. According to Hardcastle, Powers and Wenocur (2011), a social worker that practices macro social work needs to have excellent delegation and problem sharing skills. Also, it is important for the social worker to have profound assessment skills that are necessary in judging social problems. Assessment skills are important because they will help a social worker derive good intervention programs for the social problem.
Some of the areas that I am well equipped as a social worker include organizing skills that are necessary for enhancing the efficacy of social planning. Also, I can mobilize community groups to conduct economic and social functions at the grassroots level. However, I believe that I should improve my lobbying skills to facilitate the development of social policies at the political level. It is important for the local government to enact policies that will aid community development. Lobbying skills are important in macro social work, especially community practice because they will enable a social worker to form coalitions among community members to solve community problems (Netting, 2012). However, as a social worker, I can effectively initiate social planning to promote social justice in the community. Other important skills that am conversant with include the building of theory, listening and communication skills.
Netting (2012) asserts that social workers need to have excellent social skills because community practice involves the whole community. Specifically, social workers specializing in community practice need to have persuasion, representation and reframing skills that are necessary for handling various agendas at the community level. I can comfortably contend that I have excellent social skills. However, I need to work on biases when working with different people from different communities. It is important that I learn about different cultures for working with different communities without cultural biases.
References
Hardcastle, D. A., Powers, P. R., & Wenocur, S. (2011). Community practice: Theories and skills for social workers. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Netting, F. E. (2012). Social work macro practice. Boston, MA: Pearson Education.