Arguably, macro social work activities go beyond individual point of view. The macro level of environment entails systems that affect individuals indirectly. It includes legal systems, health care provider, state government, schools as well as employer. Human service interactions in terms of macro system communities and organizations benefit the society in general, this is through the introduction of systematic solutions on various issues in society. There are various concepts related to human service interactions; these include personal, interpersonal, and political empowerment. Each of the concepts plays a crucial role in the macro systems communities and organization. Personal empowerment refers to the empowerment that is within yourself and results from self reliance. It embodies assumption of responsibility in decision making and understanding what one wants to achieve. The coming to realization that some issues need to change is one of the critical aspect of personal empowerment. Personal empowerment must have an impact on the social surrounding and interactions. Personal empowerment places more focus on developing abilities and knowledge at personal level that will influence people around you and events in the social environment.
Interpersonal empowerment is a matter of interdisciplinary concern that is inherently part of interpersonal behaviors and relationship. The interpersonal empowerment focuses on the group rather than the individual. It is crucial since it empowers groups and teams in a social system to be stronger individuals. In most cases, there are issues related to gender inequality in the political system (Lindencrona & Axelsson, 2009). It is through such disparities that call for political empowerment. The concept of political empowerment entails the transfer of elements of power, such as capabilities, positions, and resources to those individuals without them in society. It is worth noting that political empowerment needs inclusion in the decisions making process so that all people in society will benefit.
There are various occasions that individuals are involved in multiple social systems at work in the environment. There is an increase in the interdependence in the global arena. Every individual in society focuses at making the environment and social system a better place to be. Individual involvement in multiple social systems requires interactions in various personal systems and acting on the roles assigned. The macro environment is very wide but calls for the efforts of individuals to be involved in multiple social systems. Studies show that the environment people live in have a lot of shared characteristics and coexistence. Hence individuals are part on wide range decision making and the ever changing demands of society. Individuals are involved in multiple social systems at work environment due to the fact that there is need to be part of community development projects, legislative analysis, human service management, community education projects, policy advocacy, as well as program organization services.
Individuals are involved in multiple social systems at work in order to focus on changing the organizations and communities. In fact, it entails becoming part of various social work activities that calls for individual organization, evaluation, and planning skills. Individuals are part of the social structure and social systems, especially on issues of social networks, political issues, and economic outcomes. The multiple social systems in society are just people. Individuals are part of the general systems that drive the community.
There are various macro systems that respond to various activities going on in society. The society today is very dynamic and there is increase in child maltreatment, crime, sexual abuse, as well as delinquency. The macro systems in society respond to various situations related to such issues (Moffat, 2011). The macro system emphasizes on deals, values and attitudes of a culture. Child maltreatment entails all forms of emotional and physical ill-treatment, neglect, sexual abuse, as well as commercial exploitation. The macro system response on sexual abuse, crime, delinquency and child mistreatment are very essential since it helps in mitigating the problem in society.
The response on these problems in society is very crucial since it may cause dam age to the society. The macro system response focuses at implementing the law that will protect the victims and also to ensure that the law breakers are punished. On the same note, the victims require some psychological and social advice that will enable them to cope with the situations. The macro system responds is essential in provision of financial support and educating people in society on morality and respecting the law (Lindencrona & Axelsson, 2009). The macro systems help in understanding the impacts of this crimes and child abuse to the society. Children who fall victims of such criminal acts need to be guided and natured to overcome the trauma. The cognitive and psychological development of the victims is crucial. It is through the social service response that problems are solved and victims helped.
Functionalism and interactionist theory can be used to bring clear understanding of poverty. There are various sociological perspectives that bring out the understanding of poverty in various ways. The functionalist and internationalist perspective try to explain the issues of poverty. According to functionalist theory, there are structures and process in society that exist because of the purposes they serve. The social systems and organization in society are there to ensure that there is continuity and stability in society. Therefore, based on functionalist view the existence of poverty in society exists for a purpose. In this case, there are various reasons into why poverty exists in society. Without poverty there could be no explanation of wealth and rich in society. Those people who are poor according to functionalist theory deserve it because they do not have skills and strength to use the available resources to enrich themselves. This means that poverty serves various purposes which include motivating the poor and provide a scenario or poverty to the rich. Poverty makes various macro systems to response in various ways to eliminate poverty. In fact, it leads to creation of jobs, boost morale, and motivator. There are various bodies in society that must focus in eliminating poverty. Therefore, poverty has a purpose of restoring order in society because the poor are forced to work hard and in unity to make their life better.
On the other hand, just like functionalist theory, interactionist theory asserts that society is very possible to exists because individuals in society. The interactionist perspective to poverty is that we assert meaning to poverty because we encounter it in society. The world that we live are mostly constructed meaning that each aspect of life finds a fitting place in society. The interactionist focuses on how an individual became part of the poor group. Therefore, interactionist theory to poverty asserts that the poor individuals in society are in that state because they failed to make sense of various aspects in the world (Lindencrona, & Axelsson, 2009). It implies that the poor people just saw others struggling and never changed at all. The society provides a social environment where people can interact and expand their ideas and skills, but the poor have never utilized this opportunities.
In the modern world, there are many people who are excluded or neglected in society. Human service workers are there to ensure that their roles and responsibilities bring changes in the macro environment. In the macro environment, the services of human social workers are required in order to make the world a better place to live. The human social worker provides support services to those who are in need. In order to define the roles and responsibilities of human social workers it is worth focusing on the people they work with. Human social workers work with families, young people, drug and alcohol abusers, homeless, elderly, individuals with health conditions, as well as school non-attendees (Moffat, 2011). The responsibilities of the human social worker are to implement and administer various social assistance programs and the community services required by the people they work together. In addition, human social workers assist the clients to deal with social problems and personal issues. The responsibilities and roles of human social worker in the macro environment continue to intensify and diversify. This is because of the rising instability in families and society. On the same note, there is rise in health and social services in the macro environment that demands for human service workers hand. It is through the roles and responsibilities of human service workers that problems and issues in the macro environment are solved.
References
Lindencrona, F., Ekblad, S., & Axelsson, R. (2009). Modes of Interaction and Performance of Human Service Networks. Public Management Review, 11(2), 191-215. doi:10.1080/14719030802685404
Moffat, C. (2011). Helping Those in Need: Human Service Workers. Occupational Outlook Quarterly, 55(3), 22-32.
