Social work and substance use: Ecological perspectives on workforce development S. Galvani Sociology 2017 Abstract This paper offers a theoretical analysis of the place of substance use within social work education and workforce development in England. Davies, M., (2002) The Blackwell companion to social work, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. These characteristics include the focus on the dynamic interaction between the individual and his/her environment, the focus on the person and the environment as a single entity, combining concepts from many disciplines, and taking a context-specific view of behaviour (Greene, 2008). Sallis, J. F., Cervero, R. B., Ascher, W., Henderson, K. A., Kraft, M. K. & KERR, J. The ecological perspective helps in explaining inequality, viewing it as complex and multidimensional phenomenon (Maclean and Harrison,2006). This essay will discuss what a social ecological perspective consists of, what limitations it may incur and how it can assist us in developing best practice and understanding when working with children, young people and families. Promoting sustainable development and working for social justice can be areas of focus in this field. Also, to become an environmental volunteer, you just need not to litter. The person-in-environment perspective in social work is a practice-guiding principle that highlights the importance of understanding an individual and individual behavior in light of the environmental contexts in which that person lives and acts. Social workers can incorporate components of several different clinical theories in their work with clients. The study was informed by an ecological perspective which posits that people interact with their physical, social and cultural environments (Teater, 2014). Additional weaknesses, which might be generalised toward all models under the ecological perspective, are concerned with the implementation in practice. It's more likely, though, that there are several types of ideal environment. (2021, December 23). Ecological Processes: What Is Dynamic in Ecosystem? The critical concepts of the ecological approach are presented. Applying the factors and the descriptions to the identified model. Do I Need a Masters to be a Social Worker? IvyPanda. Several misconceptions of ecological systems theory and a cultist aspect of its current popularity are addressed. This theory maintains that individuals and groups of people will always compete for resources and opportunitiesthose who . All materials are posted on the site strictly for informational and educational purposes! must. Activities in Canada regarding water rights has informed and invigorated the study of community resilience. Child protection is concerned with protection children from maltreatment, which according to the ecological perspective is the result of interaction between several factors and systems. Thus, the environment in such perspective is not perceived as a separate entity, but rather as a collection of those levels of influences, that is contexts within the scope of the aforementioned model. Hence, following such principles within different areas and disciplines, the framework serves as an indication for which factors should be enabled, enforced and facilitated. But this, you see, is much simpler. ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. Thus, the ecological perspective not only helps in understanding such behaviour and the influential factors, but also the interventions that might be designed in social justice advocacy (Greenleaf and Williams, 2009). Green Liberal Solutions to Ecological Problems, Ecological Footprint and Its Impact on Human Life, Ecological Studies in Los Alamos National Laboratory, Environmental Management: Toyota, Honda, Jaguar UK, Waterborne Infections: Policy issues and Individual Input, Shaq Petroleum Station Environmental Management, Environmental Conservation: Anthropo- and Ecocentric Perspectives, Nature: Environmental Management in America. CDC twenty four seven. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Students in Florida State Universitys online MSW program learn about the ecological approach to social work, which emphasizes understanding a person in a holistic way (factoring in their biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors) and the transactions that take place between the person and their environment. The third level explores the settings, such as schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods, in which social relationships occur and seeks to identify the characteristics of these settings that are associated with becoming victims or perpetrators of violence. Is Getting a Masters in Social Work Worth It? From: Advances in Child Development and Behavior, 2019 View all Topics Download as PDF About this page Contextual Studies: Methodology -focus on transactions between individuals and their environment at the point where the individual and the environment meet "Ecological Perspective Theory and Practice." While individual resilience has long been a concept in social work, community resilience is a newer factor that ecological social workers consider. The ecological systems perspective is a way of thinking of issues. 5 Reasons to Consider a Career in Social Work, 5 Careers in Social Work in Child Welfare, 5 Careers For Those Committed to Social Justice, 5 of the Most Important Core Social Work Values. The modelling process can be seen through the following steps: The abovementioned utilization of the ecological perspective was proven applicable, and accordingly, several practical mechanisms were derived from such study. The database is updated daily, so anyone can easily find a relevant essay example. In conclusion, the social ecological framework is truly interdisciplinary and covers a broad scope when addressing health behaviors and designing health promotions programs. Hi, dear friends. This fourth edition remains committed to the Life Model's original conceptions and attempted to broaden and deepen them. The ecological perspective can be seen as an approach in which the focus is on the interactions and the transactions between people and their environment (Greene, 2008). MSW Degree Program: What Should I Expect? An ecological perspective on health emphasises both individual and contextual systems and the interdependent relations between the two. In: SOWERS, K. M. & DULMUS, C. N. Conflict theory. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29, 318-328. (2006), An Ecological Approach to Creating Active Living Communities. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Edgar Auerswald . This essay on Ecological Perspective Theory and Practice was written and submitted by your fellow We understand that, regardless of origin, all problems are systemic. The correction can be seen through elimination the source of pressure, if possible, helping the family develop coping mechanism to deal with the pressure, inspecting the larger system in which the family functions, suggesting policies that might have a positive impact on the familys interaction, and other. student. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. 3. Outline the resources in the environment, e.g. These factors include such distinct clusters: cultural differences, religious differences, compositional differences, and differential treatment (Micklin and Poston, 1998). One of the methods of working with family can be seen through group therapy and family therapy. This essay will provide a comprehensive overview of the theoretical concepts in the ecological perspective, its strengths and weakness, and several examples on the way this perspective is integrated into practical aspects. Learning spaces are principally immaterial in nature and are spaces of action, where learners goals, knowledge, doing and making emerge. The most effective methods for this task lie in the field of ecological social work. Similarly, the factors integrated into the perspective were derived from literature, namely Scheirers framework which was successfully used in fields such as mental health. professional specifically for you? IvyPanda. Stress normally occurs within an individual, so most attention is given to the kind of stress most people think of when discussing stress. Social Science & Medicine, 54, 1525-1541. Also, social work like any other discipline may find designing and implementing ecological programmes a challenge due to the complexity of the approach and the costs involved in operating it (Richard et al, 2004). What is ecological perspective in geography? It is a model that can assist in providing a complete perspective of the factors that affect specific health behaviors, including the social determinants of health. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. For example, the practitioner might consider the way messages are sent and received within the family unit as well as the paths of communication. In the example of school, the value of the ecological approach is suggested through relating the knowledge about the context to the key occupation group in such setting, e.g. Bronefenbrenner, U. . This theory was first developed by psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner to delve into relationships within one's community as they relate to personality traits cultivated from childhood. The difference in the approach proposed in Zhao and Frank is in using an ecosystem, rather than setting, and thus, the context was narrowed to the schools, rather than societies. Such weakness is mainly mediated through the various adaptations of ecological models, which take the main framework and modify it to suit specific purposes. December 23, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ecological-perspective-theory-and-practice/. The assessment might be performed through the way through analyzing communication occurring between the family members participating in the therapy. This is particularly challenging as the challenge of homelessness is often multifaceted, and a persons struggle with mental health or addiction may have been a source of their homelessness. Coping on the other hand, refers to a form of adaptation that implies struggle, and its generally used to refer to the response to negative conditions. One of such considerations can be seen through the identification of variables, specifically in quantitative researches that investigate causal relationships. The job of social workers is to improve the living conditions of a society, and a large part of that work involves studying and reshaping the surrounding ecology. Differentiation is perceived in ecological theories in static and dynamic perspectives, where in terms of statics, differentiation is the difference between groups concerning a particular variable, while in terms of dynamics, differentiation refers to processes that produce and maintain differences within and between groups. Principia Cybernetica Web. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. It gives social workers a way to address client problems through a research-based lens. In ecological systems theory, individuals are observed in multiple environments so that behavior is fully understood. Researchers use many categories to collect social data, including habitat, niche, adaptation, goodness-of-fit, self-esteem and self-direction. These mechanisms might be useful to identify the determinants of changes in one of the dimensions of the population or the indicated resources, such as the size, the specialty. Although the latter is mainly connected to the field of psychological counselling, it might be used in social work as well. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Social Work Professional Development: What's the Value for My Career?